We admire conviction.
People who stand firm bring a sense of calm and certainty - it feels safe to be around them. We like that in leaders. Perhaps now, leading with conviction that we will figure it out can work for us too?
Clinging to your beliefs no matter what changes around you?
That’s not strength. That’s rigidity. And rigidity burns more than it builds.
Why did Homo sapiens survive while other species vanished?
Adaptability.
We adjusted to the world as it was, not as we wished it to be. We bent instead of breaking. That’s what made us the dominant species on the entire planet Earth.
And now, as we walk through rapid transitions, AI reshaping industries, careers transforming overnight, identities shifting, maybe it’s time to remember that skill?
What if there is no “normal” coming?
What if fog is here to stay?
We need a different system. We need to remember the time when we didn't know what the world was.
The only way through fog is one step forward at a time.
I loved my conversation on this week’s Change Wired podcast with Dr. Anne-Laure Le Cunff. She introduced me to the idea of replacing rigid planning and goal-setting with low-risk, tiny experiments - small moves that reveal the path as you walk it.
I use this with my clients, and in my own life a lot now. It feels like everyone's transitioning. In life, with others, at work, in business.
Each week, we set an experiment. Sometimes it’s a win: “Yes, let’s double down on this.” Sometimes it’s a clear no: “That didn’t work. Time to pivot.” Either way, we’re learning. And the map keeps unfolding.
When I began my own transition, I stopped obsessing over income targets and five-year plans. Instead, I asked:
-
What do I want more of?
-
What feels missing?
The answers were simple:
Work on meaningful problems in the world with smart, dedicated people.
Design systems for human thriving at scale with behavioral science, system thinking and human-centered change methodology.
Have meaningful conversations with people every day to learn, to empower, to inspire, to enjoy life.
Travel the world for work that matters, to learn more about the world, people and my place in it. Experience awe.
Earn enough to never think about money and help the people I care about.
I chose to stay present, using what I had, being who I am, present to where I am, building as I went. No fixed route. No rigid plan. Just experiments, gratitude, and forward steps.
I’ve never felt happier, more fulfilled, or more energized. Things didn't change - I did.
And the results are coming faster than ever.
If you’re standing in the fog right now, maybe the way forward isn’t a grand plan. Maybe it’s one tiny experiment?
PS: Our conversation with Dr. Anne-Laure Le Cunff is live today on the 🎧 Change Wired podcast. She shares how she pivoted from Google to neuroscience researcher to founder of Ness Labs with thousands of subscribers - without a clear plan, experimenting her way forward, one tiny test at a time. Tune in. Let's step into the fog together.