"The Weight of Leadership: Embracing Courage in Life's Hardest Decisions"

The Weight of Decisions: A Leader’s Burden and Opportunity

Tomorrow marks a solemn milestone—four years since I made the hardest decision of my life: the choice to remove my son Parker from life support. At 7:36 AM the following day, his bright light left this world. It’s a decision I will carry forever, one that redefined my understanding of leadership, responsibility, and love.

As business leaders, we are no strangers to hard decisions. Each day, we face moments that test our judgment, integrity, and courage. These choices shape not only the trajectory of our companies but the lives of those we serve—employees, clients, and communities. But what happens when the stakes transcend spreadsheets and strategy? What do we do when decisions cut to the core of our humanity?

The Courage to Decide

Decisions are often painted as purely intellectual exercises—pros and cons weighed, outcomes projected, and action taken. Yet, the hardest decisions are made not with the mind alone but with the heart. In business, this may mean choosing to let go of an underperforming employee who is also a single parent, knowing the personal toll it may take on their family. Or shuttering a project you’ve poured resources into because the greater mission demands it.

In life, as in leadership, the courage to decide often emerges from a place of immense vulnerability. Removing Parker from life support was a decision that shattered me. It was not a choice between right and wrong—it was a choice between love and mercy. In that moment, I learned that true leadership is not about avoiding pain but stepping into it, fully and unflinchingly.

Decisions That Define Us

As leaders, every choice we make becomes a thread in the fabric of our legacy. It’s easy to think of decisions in terms of profit margins or quarterly goals, but the true impact of our choices often lies in the intangible—in the trust we build, the lives we touch, and the example we set.

In my journey as a CEO, I’ve had to make decisions that risked everything. I’ve faced losing major clients, nearly shuttering the business, and risking personal assets to protect the livelihoods of my team. In each case, the guiding question was not, “What’s easiest?” but “What’s right?”

That question brings clarity in moments of uncertainty. And it’s a question I carried in that hospital room, holding Parker’s hand. What is right isn’t always what feels bearable, but it is what defines who we are.

Lessons for Leaders

1. Clarity Comes from Values Whether in business or life, decisions become clearer when rooted in core values. For me, those values are love, integrity, and service to others. Aligning with these principles has guided me through every fork in the road.
2. Lean on Your Community Just as I leaned on my family and faith during my darkest moments, leaders must draw strength from their teams and support networks. Collaboration isn’t just a professional tool; it’s a human necessity.
3. Hard Decisions Build Resilience Every difficult choice strengthens your capacity to lead with empathy and courage. These moments test us, but they also prepare us for greater challenges ahead.

Moving Forward

Tomorrow, as I remember Parker, I’ll honor his life by living fully, loving deeply, and leading courageously. His memory reminds me that every decision—no matter how hard—holds the potential to create meaning and impact.

To my fellow leaders: embrace the weight of your choices. Do not shy away from the hard decisions. They are what shape us, not only as professionals but as people.

In your toughest moments, remember this: You are not defined by the ease of your decisions but by the strength and integrity with which you make them.