Milestones, Discomfort and Transformation

802 words? 3 minutes ?

As I write this, I’m having coffee overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Manhattan Beach, Ca. ?

The water is calm and I see a pod of dolphins gracefully moving through the surf.

I love mornings like this in southern California.? I’m very reflective and full of joy. ?

Milestones are often easy to identify.? Birth of a child, marriage, (changing partners), buying a first home, a degree, job promotion, retirement or re-wirement as a former business colleague likes to say. ?

These are events you can put a pin in.? We all have them. My wish is that each of you has celebrated many of your own. ?

This past weekend, I was able to not only witness, but participate in a transformational milestone that I experienced with my two sons. ?

My youngest, Tyler was a competitor in The Catalina Classic. The “Classic” is a 32 mile, open ocean paddleboard competition from Catalina Island to the Manhattan Beach pier. ?

Only 130 people qualify for The “Classic.” ?It is billed as the toughest open ocean paddle race in the world. ? My oldest, Jared and I had the privilege to be alongside him in a support boat for the race. ?

Over the past 7-8 months, as Tyler trained for the race, I watched a transformation take place. ? It was born out of resilience, grit, determination and DISCOMFORT. ?

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT: Milestones are opportunities for transformation, both personally and professionally. ? IT’S AN ONGOING CELEBRATION, vital for maintaining motivation and reinforcing positive behaviors.

• Celebrating small wins along the way creates a sense of accomplishment, making the larger goal more attainable.
• Tyler trained for 7 months.? During his journey?he did multiple paddles of between 6-25 miles. All in different ocean conditions.? Each new adventure a small win leading up to the larger goal.
• Each small win built his confidence and established a new benchmark in his training.?

These check points affirmed his continued improvement and acted as reminders for how far he had come. ?

DISCOMFORT: “Lean into Discomfort” is a powerful concept in the context of personal and professional transformation. ? Commonly used in 12 Step rooms around the world…Embracing true discomfort both physically and mentally is a catalyst for transformation.

• Growth happens?with a willingness to step outside?of your?comfort zone…Discomfort is a sign you’re pushing boundaries and challenging the status quo.? If you can't name it, you're not there.
• For leaders, discomfort often arises from challenges that expose vulnerabilities or a sense of identity.?
• For Tyler, hours of training, transforming his body and more importantly his mind when he and his training partners were sitting on paddleboards 15 miles out in the ocean alone.? Sitting with their thoughts and fears.

He told me on the boat ride to Catalina…”Dad, I’m scared shitless.”? Talk about leaning into discomfort. ?

ZOOMING IN: Discomfort is often linked to self-limiting beliefs and fears. ? Until acknowledged and more importantly embraced, fear based narratives are like chains that hold us back. At times you don’t realize they are there. ? Embracing Discomfort Builds:

• Resilience & Adaptability, which is crucial in any fast paced environment.
• Authenticity & Vulnerability, “leaning in” gives you permission to acknowledge fears and imperfections.? This builds trust and openness.
• Empathy & Compassion, Leaders who embrace their own discomfort are better equipped to understand and support others in their challenges.

There were 130 uncomfortable competitors.? Each on their own journey. All pulling for each other.? Celebrating the accomplishments of everyone who crossed the finish line and the journey they took to get there. ?

Character, honesty and integrity are often by-products of discomfort. Discomfort can become a value proposition. ?

LEADERSHIP PLAYBOOK,A CLOSER LOOK: Tyler’s success and journey were not an accident. ?

He began with a VISION…

BUILT A TEAM where everyone knew their roles.

CREATED and COMMUNICATED the strategy

SET his intention AND EXECUTED his game plan ?

He was vulnerable, asked for help and didn’t try to do it alone. ?

He said in a LinkedIn post, “It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Going to be looking at my job a lot different now, because if I can handle this, I feel like I can handle anything.”

The last 5 miles were really tough.? We could tell he was struggling.? He said afterwards, "I trained for the last 5 miles." ?

I only wish I could have been as wise at 32.? ? EPILOGUE…There are moments in our lives where observing, being present and simply witnessing is transformational. ?

I watched in awe as Jared, Tyler’s older brother took the role of the “Leader from Behind”?selflessly supporting his brother, not only with encouragement but with the love and guidance of a steady and confident hand. ?

Tyler knew that Jared and his entire crew had his back, despite being out in the middle of the ocean, he felt safe in all the discomfort. ? And I got to watch all of this play out in real time, creating a milestone none of us will ever forget. ?

Tyler’s team…Jared, Blane Flora, Tony Powell, Noe Jimenez and myself.? Thanks to all of you, A special thanks to all of Tyler's friends, family, colleagues who were there at the finish line.? I know how overwhelmed and grateful he was.

and Ty you became a true leader and most of all a WATERMAN in the process.? Now that is a MILESTONE! ?

To Be Continued ? ?

Ron ? ?

Please check out the video below?

This was Tyler in the "zone" about 20 miles into the race. We were all pretty damn inspired.

TYLER IN THE ZONE