It’s late February in Colorado. The conditions in the air were brutal – wind whipping and snow driving into our faces. And the conditions on the ground? You’ve probably heard- the snowpack in Colorado sucks this year! In other words, conditions were far from ideal.
Manley III and I had been waiting. And waiting. And waiting to finally start our ski season.
“When it improves…”
“When the snow gets better…”
“When it’s worth it…”
Then we looked at each other and said, “This is ridiculous.” We cannot sit on the sidelines all year waiting for perfect conditions!
So we committed. Not 99 percent. 100%! No complaining. No hedging. No halfway effort. Just full commitment.
As we clipped into our skis at the Mary Jane base of Winter Park that February, it hit me. This isn’t about snow.
Leaders and Their Teams Are Waiting Too
I see this all the time in organizations. Leaders and their people waiting for:
- The market to stabilize
- The board to fully align
- The culture to magically improve
- The strategy to feel safer
- The team to be “more ready”
- The backfill to finally get approved
- The perfect hire – or the dream team to finally be in place
Then we push forward. Then we restart the initiative. Then we finally go all in.
But conditions are almost never perfect. Most of the time, waiting for the perfect conditions is just procrastination dressed up as being smart and cautious.
80 Percent Ready. 100 Percent Committed
On the mountain and in business, I’ve learned something powerful. When you are 80 percent ready, commit 100 percent. That’s Exponential Commitment™.
Because 100 percent changes everything. When you’re 99 percent in, your brain is still looking for an exit. When you’re 100 percent in, your brain starts looking for solutions.
That shift in commitment changes behavior. Behavior changes culture. Culture drives results. Exponential results. Not because conditions improved, but because commitment did.
The Real Question
Here’s what I want you thinking about this month. Where are you waiting?
Personally? Professionally? As a leader?
Is there an initiative stalled at 60 percent because uncertainty feels heavy? A strategic move on hold because alignment isn’t perfect? A conversation delayed because the timing feels off?
At some point, leadership is about going first. More often than we’d like, we have to Declare Our Current Climb and choose a route we believe will take us to the top before we know exactly how we’ll execute every move along the way.
That’s leadership. It’s not clean. It’s not always comfortable. But it’s real.
What My Son Reminded Me
Standing there with Manley III, I was reminded of something simple and powerful. My kids are watching how I respond to conditions.
Your team is too.
Courage is the foundation of commitment.
No courage, no commitment.
When you step up and fully commit, people feel it. Commitment spreads. Courage ignites commitment, and commitment unlocks results.
That’s why I say, “Exponential Commitment Unlocks Exponential Results.”
People aren’t inspired by perfect conditions. They’re inspired by visible commitment.
If you want your team to step up, you must nurture courage and encourage others every chance you get. This is how you build a culture of courage where your people feel empowered to show up, step up, and lead – no matter what their title is.
The Vertical Lesson
The mountain does not wait for perfect days. And neither should you.
You don’t need better conditions to start. Or restart.
You need clarity. You need courage. And you need 100 percent commitment.
So here’s my challenge. What are you 80 percent ready for that deserves 100 percent commitment?
Stop waiting. Step up. Go all in.
On Belay for you,
Manley
