Beginnings, Endings, and the Benefits of Discomfort

The first 19 (that’s when I am writing this) days of 2026 have been…interesting. I started the year with an assistant and someone working to help create processes and systems for my practice as well as for some of my clients. I had a job offer out to someone that I was really energized about joining the company. Well, both my assistant and process builder aren’t with me anymore, and that individual who would have added so much to the strength of our strategy and offerings called me to let me know that they felt like it wasn’t their time to leave their current role. 

In the meantime, the word simplicity has been running in the background of my mind. Simplicity of scheduling, simplicity in streamlining what we do with usable and client-friendly technology, and simplicity in getting our processes down so when our next coach starts in April (I’ll introduce him to you then) he has a strong piece of scaffolding to build from. So I’ve decided to not hire another assistant. I’ve decided to hire a process and systems expert who has some event experience. I connected with someone who I would love to come work for us, but it may not be the right timing for her yet either. We will see. I’ve decided to go deeper with my clients this year, reducing the number down so I can make space to think and to support our new coaches as they begin. 

In the midst of all of this going on, I picked up Hidden Potential by Adam Grant. I have a tremendous amount of respect for his thought leadership, and have personally benefited from his content in my own leadership. In the first third of the book, he explains that one of the key factors in individuals unlocking their potential is their relationship with discomfort. He talks about our willingness to look silly, incompetent, and a failure as a key factor in our ability to improve. Why? We all love the saying “we learn more from our failures than our successes,” but only as a pain reliever when we have experienced defeat. Turns out that this is more than mere sentiment. It’s scientifically verified. 

It’s that knowledge that builds our resiliencies and knowledge-bases so that the next attempt we make is more informed than the last. Why? Because when things don’t go the way we thought they would, we take the time to figure out what happened. When we win, oftentimes game film is not run. We high-five each other and move on without figuring out what went right, what could be improved, and how we can see our latest victory as a stepping stone rather than a destination. 

I was at a quarterly meeting with a client last week. Her team shattered their five-year revenue goal in two. They are looking at seven figures next year, and there was a recurring theme in this session that some things were going to have to change for that to become real. There were going to have to be some necessary changes that involved people that she deeply cares about. Marshall Goldsmith’s book titled What Got You Here Won’t Get You There aptly described the place this organization was in. The business owner remarked during our meeting, “This feels harder than our last one.” I responded by asking, “Are you open to me sharing why I think that is?” She welcomed my thoughts. “Because the things we are talking about today are the things that we delayed during our last quarterly, and now the need for them to happen is even clearer than it was then.” I continued, “I want you to understand what I am about to say from a deep place of love for you: you are holding your business and your team back.” She nodded in agreement and apologized to the senior leaders who were there for doing that. She knows how hard everyone is working, and the last thing she wants to do is restrain anyone. In fact, she recommitted herself to doing the hard things so that her company can more than double this year. 

To bring this full circle, I had a similar moment with my own coach on Monday. We were doing some planning for 2026. I asked her what she saw as possible for us. She told me. My soul agreed while my mind went, “Wow, that’s a big number.” We spent the rest of our time unpacking my relationship with goals and crafted a game plan that will propel the company to its fourth consecutive year of 200%+ growth. I’m ending with this story, because it’s the time of year when goals begin to fade because things aren’t going the way we thought they were. We cannot control what happens to us. People will leave companies. Some people will not be willing to leave to come work for us. Clients will not renew when we thought they would. We can influence this, but we can’t control it. What we can control is our focus, effort, and to embrace the discomfort as the way for us to unlock greater potential. 

 

Quote: 

“Fear is contraction.” ― The Way of Mastery

 

Question: 

What discomfort are you avoiding that can help you unlock your potential?