What’s Your Pain Point? Why Leaders Must Move Beyond the Symptoms

What’s Your Pain Point? Why Leaders Must Move Beyond the Symptoms
By Jeremy C. Garlington, Point of View LLC

Pain point (noun): That moment when discomfort shifts from tolerable to urgent. When the DIY fixes stop working and you’re forced to admit—privately or publicly—that you need help. In medicine, this might mean reaching for the phone to call your doctor. In business, it often means finally calling the consultant, advisor, or expert you’ve been avoiding.

Pain, whether real or perceived, comes in many forms. In business, it typically shows up in three categories:

1. The Unknown: “We don’t know what’s causing this or how to fix it.” So we bring in someone who might.

2. The Regret: “We’ve really messed this up.” Now we need a way back—fast.

3. The Breaking Point: “That’s it. I’ve had enough. Give me the cure.” (Spoiler: it’s rarely a one-size-fits-all solution, even when we convince ourselves otherwise.)

A Wake-Up Moment

A recent meeting brought this idea home in a visceral way. After a long silence following a prior conversation, a prospective client casually offered this:

“You weren’t fully aligned with my pain point at the time. Which, right now, is funding the business.”

Gulp. Honesty hits hard when you’re listening.

His words, however blunt, were a gift. They underscored a universal truth: unless you understand your client’s actual pain point—and respond directly—you’re just noise. Great companies, firms, and leaders design their sales and marketing strategies around this understanding. They don’t just diagnose the symptoms; they go after the root.

But here’s the catch: more and more, we’re seeing people mask their business pain behind polished presentations and curated confidence. The “I’ve got this handled” facade is common, even when it’s clearly not true. Vulnerability and transparency are in short supply—even when it’s obvious to everyone in the room that help is needed.

Pain Demands Truth

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: real transformation starts with honesty. Transparency isn’t a luxury—it’s a prerequisite. And truth, when delivered with care from a trusted source, is the prescription. Anything less breeds denial, confusion, and eventually chaos.

When truth enters the room, one of two things happens:

• Valuable service is embraced.

• Or people scatter, like cockroaches under a light.

Lately, we’ve seen more of the latter. But for those with the courage to confront their pain point and admit they need help, there’s real opportunity on the other side.

So… What’s Your Pain Point?

Are you still managing symptoms or working toward a real cure?
Are you leading change—or just reacting to pain when it becomes unavoidable?

If you’re a leader trying to create impact in your career or business and it’s not happening—reach out. We see it every day, and we’re here to help.

P.S. This post is dedicated to the 42nd President of the United States, William Jefferson Clinton, who visited Atlanta recently to meet with President Jimmy Carter. Clinton’s understanding of human pain—and his ability to translate brokenness into hope—was evident in his touching remarks at Muhammad Ali’s memorial. If you missed it, take a moment to watch: Clinton at Ali Memorial

Jeremy C. Garlington
Point of View LLC
4060 Peachtree Rd., Suite D-#117
Atlanta, GA 30319
📞 404-606-0637
🌐 www.pointofviewllc.com
📝 www.povblogger.blogspot.com
🐦 @jgarlington