In a recent LinkedIn post, Callum Laing explores a critical, yet often overlooked, factor in entrepreneurial success: the ability to endure the “feedback gap.” Laing, founder of Network IT and a seasoned entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience, argues that while quick decision-making was his initial focus during the dot-com boom, true leverage in business comes from the capacity to withstand the extended periods between taking action and seeing tangible results.
Understanding the ‘Feedback Gap’
Laing defines the “Feedback Gap” as the interval between executing a significant business action and observing its measurable outcome. He posits an inverse correlation between the speed of feedback and potential earnings, highlighting that roles with immediate feedback, such as shelf-stacking or burger-flipping, are typically lower-paid.
He elaborates on this concept:
“The ‘Feedback Gap’ is the time between taking a significant action and seeing the measurable result. For most people, a gap of more than a few days creates massive anxiety. For a founder, that gap might be eighteen months. It might be three years, or a decade. Or it might never come (the fear that hangs over us all!)”
According to Laing, this prolonged absence of immediate validation is what makes entrepreneurship mentally taxing, more so than just the long hours.
The Psychological Toll of Minding the Gap
Laing emphasizes the psychological burden of operating without a clear, immediate signal of progress. He notes that common business actions, like pivoting strategy, hiring key personnel, or launching a new program, often yield no instant results, leading to significant internal pressure.
This lack of immediate feedback can be particularly deceptive, as Laing points out:
“It is incredibly easy to mistake a lack of immediate feedback for a lack of progress. The temptation to ‘meddle’ with the strategy just to feel like we’re doing something.”
This temptation, he suggests, can lead entrepreneurs to make hasty adjustments rather than allowing their strategies time to mature.
Long-Term Orientation and Compounding Returns
Laing supports his argument with data and examples that underscore the value of patience and a long-term perspective. He cites McKinsey’s Corporate Horizon Index, which found that companies with a “long-term orientation” achieve significantly higher revenue growth and economic profit. Laing suggests these firms are not necessarily more intelligent but are simply more adept at navigating periods of uncertainty.
A powerful illustration of this principle is the wealth accumulation of Warren Buffett. Laing highlights:
“One of the exercises we do with our clients is ask them to imagine 5 years into the future, what would you be most grateful that you began building today? It might be healthy habits, it might be a powerful network or a board career.”
This exercise, according to Laing, encourages individuals to focus on the foundational actions that yield substantial long-term rewards, much like Buffett’s investment strategy, which saw the vast majority of his wealth accumulate after age 65, demonstrating the power of compounding over extended periods.
Endurance as a Key Entrepreneurial Trait
In conclusion, Laing’s analysis, shared on LinkedIn, shifts the focus from rapid decision-making to the crucial entrepreneurial skill of endurance. He argues that the ability to “sit in the silence” and trust the process, despite the lack of immediate feedback, is a fundamental differentiator for long-term business success. Laing encourages founders and business leaders to cultivate this patience, recognizing that significant achievements often require navigating extended periods of uncertainty.
📝 About This Content
This article is based on insights shared by Callum Laing on LinkedIn.
📅 Originally posted on March 7, 2026 | View original post on LinkedIn →