The Next Step

When was the last time you got out and hiked in the mountains?

I was fortunate enough this weekend to hike the Appalachian Mountains of South Carolina. The rhododendrons surrounded me. The trail was serene — the kind of silence that gives the mind space to think. The only sound was my shoes stepping on the jagged rocks.

As the climb steepened, the rocks demanded attention. Each choice mattered: step on the rock, step around it, move forward. Micro-decisions made in real time. No analysis paralysis — it only slows progress.

Leadership is the same. Each decision carries risk, but all must move you closer to the vision ahead. Leaders remember: each step matters, but no one is going to judge the one you just took. Keep moving.