Many entrepreneurs believe success comes from doing more. JM Ryerson argues the opposite: businesses grow when leaders learn what not to hold onto.
That philosophy has shaped every chapter of Ryerson’s entrepreneurial career. Featured on Humans of Fuzia, a global thought-leadership platform where founders, entrepreneurs, coaches, innovators, executives, women leaders, and changemakers share ideas that advance leadership, entrepreneurship, coaching, business growth, and socially conscious innovation, his journey demonstrates that scaling isn’t simply about building companies—it’s about building leaders who empower others to succeed.
Now leading his fourth business after building and selling three companies in the financial services industry, Ryerson has become clear about where he creates the greatest value.
“The three things I’m really good at is sales, leadership, and building teams.”
That clarity is more than self-awareness—it’s a business strategy. Rather than trying to master every function, Ryerson concentrates on the areas where he can create disproportionate impact while allowing specialists to own the rest. In today’s entrepreneurial landscape, where founders often struggle with burnout, knowing your strengths can become a greater competitive advantage than trying to become good at everything.
One lesson, however, took time to learn.
“I know I’m not a good accountant.”
Instead of treating delegation as a loss of control, Ryerson reframed it as an act of leadership. He believes many founders unintentionally limit their companies because they’re reluctant to hand authority to people who may perform certain roles better than they can. Sustainable business growth depends less on working harder than on trusting the right people with meaningful responsibility.
That philosophy extends across his current ventures. From Lenryx.ai, which helps businesses implement artificial intelligence more effectively, to Winning Coverage, focused on reducing employer healthcare costs, and The Cheerful Dentist, a mastermind community addressing both business performance and the mental wellbeing of dental professionals, each initiative reflects a common theme: solving practical business problems while improving people’s lives.
Honesty, for Ryerson, isn’t a business tactic but a non-negotiable principle.
“I think there’s no other way.”
He believes integrity strengthens relationships with clients while allowing leaders to remain accountable to themselves—an increasingly valuable quality in a marketplace built on trust.
Execution Tip
List the three business activities where you create the greatest value. Then identify one responsibility outside those strengths that you can delegate or automate within the next 24 hours.
Whether through his businesses or the Let’s Go Win Podcast, Ryerson consistently returns to the same idea: authentic leadership isn’t measured by how much a founder can do alone, but by how effectively they help others grow. Stories like his remind us why Humans of Fuzia continues to feature leaders who build organizations by empowering people—not by trying to be indispensable.
Connect with JM Ryerson
- Podcast: Let’s Go Win Podcast
- JM Ryerson-Sales and Culture Expert | LinkedIn
