Surfboards, Not Bridges: How Leaders Stay Ready
The future’s not waiting for any of us.
And it’s definitely not waiting for leaders still trying to build “bridges” to solid ground.
I see it all the time: Smart, hard-working leaders who should be winning — stuck instead.
Not because they lack talent.
But because they’re still operating like the next “stable moment” is just one more reorg, one more pivot, one more big effort away.
They build the bridge… only to watch the landscape shift again.
Practical Tip: Shift from Bridges Thinking to Surfboards Thinking
If you’re facing disruption right now, try this shift:
Bridges Leadership: Launch a detailed, multi-phase change plan assuming conditions will stay stable.
(“We’ll roll out Phase 1, then 2, then 3 over the next 18 months.”)Surfboard Leadership: Build a short-term action sprint, test conditions, and adjust course in real time.
(“Let’s build a 60-day action plan, see what the tides are doing, and adapt fast.”)
Micro-Shift You Can Make Today:
→ Instead of asking your team, “How do we stick to the plan?”, start asking, “How do we stay ready to pivot?”
Small language shift. Massive mindset shift.
Because the future isn’t a destination anymore — it’s an ocean.
The truth is: stability is out. Disruption is the new normal.
Leadership isn’t about crossing one big change anymore — it’s about learning to ride wave after wave without wiping out.
That’s why I built the Alchemy of Talent Learning Labs.
These are not long courses. Not theory-heavy downloads.
They’re 60-minute, live, high-impact skills labs designed to help you and your teams master the real game:
staying steady in chaos
making better calls when information is incomplete
rebuilding trust, belonging, and connection under pressure
Because today’s best leaders?
They’re not the ones who wait for calm waters.
They’re the ones who grab the surfboard, stay flexible, and ride disruption like a pro.
If you’re ready to build those muscles — fast, practical, and in community with other growth-minded leaders — the Labs are open.
P.S.
No giant time commitment. No jargon.
Just the kind of leadership skills you’ll actually use — on Monday. #LetsSurf
