When Progress Depends on Others, Act Anyway
The Friday Forge
Hello Friends,
You’re ready. You’ve prepared. You’ve got your goals lined up and your systems in place. But you can’t move forward—because someone didn’t reply. A department didn’t deliver. A boss didn’t sign off.
This is common. And dangerous.
The mistake is in waiting too long. In thinking that you need everything before you can begin. That the ideal version of the task—the “perfect” conditions—are the only version worth doing.
That’s not leadership. That’s fear in disguise.
Moving Forward
Here’s what I’ve learned: when you lead in real life, the data is always incomplete. The timing is never perfect. But the duty remains.
So I made a rule: I hold my monthly team reviews no matter what. Whether I get the data or not. I share what I have, fill in the blanks, and clarify what’s missing. Because consistency forges clarity. And showing up—despite friction—builds trust.
You want to lead? Then lead. With 60% of the picture. With 30%. Even with 5%. Because hesitation is failure disguised as prudence.
Don’t let other people’s silence become your excuse. Move forward. Loudly, if you must. But move.
Journal Prompt
Reflect on a situation in which you have to move forward with limited information. What do you know? What do you not know? What’s your plan for moving forward and dealing with the unknown?
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