When I began learning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, I would often grab onto my opponent and hang on for dear life. If I was able to get their head, I felt that much better. Control the head, control the body.  It usually didn’t lead to anything, but I had control and I assumed I’d eventually figure out how to turn it into a submission. After all, it felt so solid.

One day, I had a match with someone far more experienced than myself. At one point, I wrapped my arm around his neck and squeezed. But it didn’t stop him. After forcing me to submit, he gave me important advice, “I know it feels good to you to hold on like that. But it isn’t helping. And in fact, because you aren’t changing your position, you let things get worse.”

Sometimes what we are holding onto, what makes us feel safe is actually holding us back.

Are You Feeling Held Back?

Some leaders feel “held back.” If something would just let go – they’d be able to leap forward into the vision they’ve set. This something could be anything. But often, they are the ones holding themselves back. There is something they are clinging to that isn’t really helping them. But it feels safe. To move forward, they need to let go of an old something that may feel secure and reach out to something new.

Hanging On For Dear Life, Even If It Costs Us

Every year, I try to take time to reflect. This year, I was struck by how the best things in my life were the result of having to do something that I didn’t want to do. Something out of my comfort zone. Something accompanied by some element of fear. Marrying my wife. Having kids. Launching my business. Specific actions needed to grow my business Authoring a book. Even starting Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in my 40’s.

Every single one of those choices has been richly rewarding. Every one of them required letting go of the familiar and reaching out to the unknown. You’ve heard the old definition of insanity, “Doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result.” It’s easy to do this. We all have a tendency to hold on to what is secure, what feels familiar, what is known. And we hope that this time, for reasons unknown, we’ll finally get the different results we seek.

It is so easy to do this is because we often don’t think about it. Instead, we make decisions based on the sense of comfort, safety, or familiarity they offer. Unfortunately, those feelings are deceptive. And they cost us.

Bottom 15 & Top 15

Years ago, a mentor of mine advised me to make an annual habit out of dropping the bottom 15% of my business and replacing it with more of what made up the top 15%. This makes sense – but is surprisingly challenging to do. Because the bottom 15% rarely feels like the bottom. It feels reliable, consistent, dependable. Safe. Comfortable. But it was holding me back.

I’d like to offer this same advice to you. As you look forward to 2021 – what are the behaviors, choices, or patterns in your life that produce the lowest 15% of value? What produces the top 15%? (for the more pedantic readers, adjust the percentages as needed.)

Personally, for 2021, I realize I need to let go of a tendency to almost compulsively start something new, all the time. Early in my career, this seemed to work because I never knew what idea would bear fruit. So, I’d “plant lots of seeds.” Because I wouldn’t see immediate results, I’d start planting more and more. Eventually, something would work. Then several and even many “somethings”. Soon, I’d find myself overwhelmed and maxed out trying to keep up (to be specific – I’m talking about practices I use to grow my business and expand my reach).

Over the years, I’ve gotten better at planting higher quality seeds. Which means even more ideas bear fruit. But when I’m trying to nurture several of these all at once – they all tend to suffer. This year, I plan to let go of planting new seeds and focus on nurturing the old seeds that have started to grow. For me, my bottom 15% are new ideas which may or may not work. My top 15% are proven ideas which will benefit from regular nurturing and attention.

Your Turn

What one or two things should you let go of – so that you can reach out to growth and new opportunity? What one or two things should you reach out to?

Take good care,

Christian

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Further reading:

What To Do When Who Got You Here Won’t Get You There

Failing Before You’ve Begun? Discover the Link between Self-Confidence and Leadership

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Vision Building Sprints

If you or your team are wrestling with defining your vision and would like help, I’m offering the opportunity for a “Vision Sprint”. This is a dynamic calibrating exercise. We will tightly dial in on your vision for the year and the key steps you need to take to get there. I’m offering either individual sessions ($2500) or team sessions ($4000).

Contact me at christian@christianmuntean.com if interested in learning more or setting up a time.

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The Successful New CEO – FREE BOOK OFFER
As an executive coach, I’ve found that the experiences for new executives (or experienced executives in new roles) tend to touch on familiar themes. No one’s situation is the same. But there are common principles that, when followed, do guide executives to success. I introduce those core principles in my new book, The Successful New CEO. I’d like to give you a free copy (just pay shipping)!

The book is divided into four parts:

• Becoming an Executive: Leaders can only lead out of who they are. How do you become the kind of person who successfully and gracefully inhabits this role?
• Seven Essential Executive Skills: The skills that earned you this new role may not be the ones that you need in the role. What are the key leadership skills that become even more important at the executive level?
• Leading Your Leadership Team: More than likely, you’ll be leading other leaders. How do you lead a confident, effective leader? How do you build a team out of leaders?
• First Things: Where do you start? How do you quickly build credibility and engagement? What is too fast or too slow?

The goal of The Successful New CEO is to help you quickly gain the confidence of your team, successfully address the issues you will discover, score early wins, and set a course for a fruitful future.

If you’d like to see how this book will benefit you or someone you know, I’d like to make it available to you for free! Click Here.

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Find the value of your company with my free assessment tool: The Value Builder System

The Value Builder System™ is a 13-minute online questionnaire that evaluates your business on the eight factors that contribute more to its attractiveness and value. These factors are scored on a scale of 1-100. Businesses that score over 80 are likely to command 70%-100% higher value than others.

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THE LEADERSHIP COACH Podcast

In my podcast, THE LEADERSHIP COACH, we explore effective, high impact and enjoyable leadership. We talk about personal development and the attributes that all effective leaders possess. I interview other leadership experts who share their knowledge and tips to help you build the confidence to lead and learn the habits of good decision-making.

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Opportunities

Free Resource: How To Accomplish More Without Doing More is a workbook I created to walk leaders through a process of helping you own your calendar, liberate your time, and still get more done. Download it for free!

Executive and Leadership Coaching: Do you feel overwhelmed? Are you not getting the results you expect from the effort you are putting in? Do you find yourself facing similar challenges time and time again? Would you like to change specific ways of relating or reacting? If you would like to experience predictable, measurable growth Contact me.

Profitable Exit Strategy Workshop: Are you a business owner or partner? Are you over 55? Are you starting to think about exiting your business or active management in the next 3-5 years?

• Are you curious about what your business might be worth?
• Would you like to discover the specific steps you need to take to increase its value and become highly attractive to a buyer?
• Are you planning on handing it over to family or employees and you want to ensure long-term success?

If so, contact me now