Most business advice fails not because it is bad, but because it is applied without the right thinking. In this episode of the GSD Show, Mike Arce breaks down why copying strategies, tools, and tactics almost always leads to frustration. Using clear analogies and real operator examples, Mike explains how principle-based thinking creates better decisions across marketing, sales, retention, and leadership. This episode is for business owners who are tired of chasing best practices and want a framework for thinking that actually transfers across industries, stages, and seasons of growth. If you want advice to finally work for your business instead of against it, this episode shows you the shift that makes everything else easier.

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction

(01:20) The Wrong Question Entrepreneurs Keep Asking

(03:10) The Marriage Analogy That Explains Everything

(04:30) “What Do You Do?” vs. “How Do You Think?”

(06:05) Why Copying Tactics Fails in Marketing and Sales

(07:45) Assets, Context, and Decision Filters

(09:15) Principle-Based Thinking vs. Best Practices

(10:55) How to Ask Better Questions Going Forward

What is one area of your business where copying tactics has not worked for you? Leave your answer in the comments.

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