There’s a moment before every big decision, whether in business, leadership, or life, when you’re standing on the edge, weighing the risks, feeling the cool rush of uncertainty. You can’t know exactly what the water will feel like until you’re in it. That pause can feel endless. The “what ifs” echo louder than the voice that says, “Go.”
In leadership, the jump often comes before you feel fully prepared. You’ve run the numbers, consulted the experts, and gathered as much information as possible, but there’s still no way to eliminate the unknown. At some point, you have to trade hesitation for action. You have to move from the safe comfort of the deck into the uncertainty of the open water.
The leaders and organizations who thrive aren’t the ones who wait until the conditions are perfect — they’re the ones who are willing to act when the conditions are good enough. They trust their preparation, their team, and their ability to adapt mid-course. They understand that momentum is often the missing ingredient, and that waiting too long at the edge can mean the opportunity passes by.
Gather enough insight to make an informed decision, then act decisively. Half-measures rarely make a splash. Expect the shock (even positive change comes with a jolt). That’s not failure; it’s part of the transition. And once you’re in, focus on forward motion, not second-guessing the leap. If you keep looking back at the edge, you’ll miss the opportunities unfolding right in front of you.
I’ve seen this principle play out on mountain slopes, in boardrooms, and in expedition camps thousands of meters above sea level. Whether you’re leading a summit push or launching a bold business initiative, there comes a moment when you have to stop planning and start doing. The leap is never entirely comfortable, but it’s almost always necessary.
This is one of the key messages I share in my keynotes and leadership programs — the idea that high performance isn’t about avoiding risk, it’s about understanding it, preparing for it, and then having the courage to step (or jump) into it. The leaders who do this inspire confidence in their teams, because they model decisiveness and adaptability in real time.
Opportunities don’t always wait for you to feel ready. Growth rarely happens in the safety of your comfort zone. Sometimes, the only way forward is to stop peering over the edge, take a deep breath, and leap. Trust that the water will rise to meet you and that you’ll have the skill, resilience, and support to swim toward your next goal.