When Life Happens FOR You, and not TO you with Sarah Laird
Most founders have a five-year plan. Sarah Laird has never had one.
And yet, she's built one of the most respected artist management agencies in the world. For over 30 years, Laird and Good Company has represented top-tier photographers, directors, and stylists for clients like Apple, Netflix, and Lancôme.
But this conversation isn't about her impressive client roster. It's about something far more interesting: how she built it all by trusting energy over strategy, and how she's learning to let go of the very thing she created.
I met Sarah through a mutual friend in the advertising world. What struck me immediately wasn't just her warmth or her wicked sense of humor. It was how comfortable she seemed with uncertainty. Most agency founders I know are control freaks (said with love). Sarah's the opposite. She follows what feels right, not what looks right on a spreadsheet.
Which is why her mantra "It's happening for me, not to me" hits so hard. It's not toxic positivity. It's a practice she's developed over decades of trusting that the universe has her back, even when things don't go according to plan.
“I think I’m just an energetic antenna. Life happening for you, not to you... life is just a little bit gentler for you, even with the hard things.”
In this episode, we talk about:
The fear that almost kept Sarah from doing this interview
Why she started her business from her bed with a newborn and a Rolodex
The moment she realized she couldn't keep everyone happy
How following energy (not plans) became her competitive advantage
What it's like to represent artists when you can't control their success
Why she's never wanted to "scale" in the traditional sense
Her emerging next chapter: climate activism through 1% for the Planet
My Key Takeaways from Sarah Laird:
1. People-pleasing isn't sustainable leadership.
Sarah spent years trying to make everyone happy. Eventually, she realized that was impossible. The shift? From "I'm responsible for your happiness" to "I'm responsible for clear communication and showing up with integrity." That's the difference between drowning and leading.
2. Following energy beats following plans.
Sarah's never had a five-year plan. Instead, she pays attention to what feels alive, what has momentum. She describes it as being an "energetic antenna." Most founders would panic at that approach. But she's built something enduring by trusting her instincts over her spreadsheets.
3. Trust is the ultimate leadership tool.
Sarah can't control whether her artists book the job. She can only support them and trust they'll do great work. That level of surrender? Most leaders never get there. But it freed her to focus on what she actually can control: the relationships, the culture, the energy of the company.
4. "It's happening for me, not to me" is a practice, not a platitude.
When fear shows up (and it does), Sarah returns to this mantra. It's not about pretending everything's fine. It's about choosing to see challenges as opportunities for growth rather than evidence you're failing. That reframe changes everything.
5. Visibility is terrifying, even after 30 years.
Sarah almost didn't do this interview. Why? Fear. Fear of being seen, fear of saying the wrong thing, fear of being too much or not enough. The fact that she did it anyway? That's courage. And her honesty about the fear makes the conversation even more valuable.
Whether you're building something from scratch, struggling with control, or wondering if there's a better way than grinding yourself into the ground, this conversation will meet you exactly where you are.
Listen to the Full Conversation:
Connect with sarah :
Website: https://lairdandgoodcompany.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/lairdandgoodcompany
Email: sarah@lairdandgoodcompany.com
Connect with Clay stelzer:
Website: https://15sixty.com/
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/claystelzer
Email: info@15sixty.com
If you have a topic or guest you'd love to see on Fearful Giants, reach out to me at info@15sixty.com
Clay
#Leadership #EventPlanning #Perfectionism #TrustInLeadership #TeamBuilding #FearfulGiants