28/10/2026
Imagine looking at someone scaled halfway up a sheer rock face, completely frozen in place, while from a distance, it looks like they are simply pausing to take in the view. In reality, their fingers are cramping, their muscles are screaming, and every single ounce of their energy is being consumed just to avoid falling.
That is exactly what leadership feels like when you hit a season that is no longer about climbing, but entirely about holding on.
From the outside, your business looks perfectly stable because the deadlines are being met, the commitments are being honoured, and the face you present to the world is one of absolute control.
But internally, underneath the surface of that calm exterior, you are gripping that cliffside with both hands, drawing on every single lesson, mistake, and piece of grit you have accumulated over your entire career just to stay exactly where you are.
We talk so much in the corporate world about momentum, scaling, and constant upward trajectory, yet we rarely acknowledge the sheer, exhausting bravery it takes just to maintain your grip during a storm.
What decades in business have taught me (Cindy Jacobs), however, is that the white-knuckle seasons are rarely meant to be survived in isolation. True resilience is not about how long you can hang there alone until your grip inevitably fails; it is about having the wisdom to realize that the safety ropes are already attached to a community around you. When you finally look up from the rock face, you realize that the breakthrough does not come from your own isolated strength, but from the mentor who offers perspective, the team that quietly shoulders the extra weight, or the colleague who steps in right when your fingers begin to slip.
At Glean we partner with businesses navigating these exact transitions, because we know that no leader ever scales the peak entirely on their own. If you are currently in a season where you feel like you are white-knuckling the cliffside instead of climbing it, remember that true leadership lies in knowing when to trust others to help carry the load.
Let's talk about how we can support your business through this season - reach out to me directly or connect with us at Glean Group to ensure you don't have to navigate the climb alone.