Doing More Than Paid For in the Rebuild

The definite decision I made in late August 2017 to leave my full time position and join Cindy in our business took a while to play out. With Cindy’s backing, we indeed had unwavering courage - even if our definite plans left a bit to be desired. I worked out the full two months I committed to; it took that long just to identify someone to fill the role I had been in. Still yet, anyone starting a new position, especially one covering the wide range of safety and human resources, needs support while they get their feet under them so I stayed on in a part time capacity for yet another month.

As a quick side note, October 2017 was the most productive month we had seen to that point in our own business. For the third consecutive year, we hosted a full day leadership event locally. That had grown to near-capacity, and we had opportunities to facilitate a couple of similar private events in our area geared specifically at raising money for and promoting non-profit groups. We also hosted a public event about an hour away that mirrored what we had done locally. That offered a whole new set of adversities to find seeds in so we’ll come back to that more later.

Once I worked out the full notice and had those events in the rear view, I started providing what I thought would be light safety and human resources support to another small business locally. Like each full time position I had held since leaving manufacturing, I soon learned that they needed more than I anticipated. I worked for them in a W2 capacity for an average of fifteen hours each week, handling the bulk of their hiring process and helping them get up to speed on a number of compliance issues. Between the two part time roles, November 2017 had little space for developing much definiteness in any plans we were building in our business - the business we hoped would soon keep our lights on.

Hill’s sixth leadership attribute, willingness to more than paid for, was alive and well. Juggling all that through the month of November provided around the same compensation I would have earned in my full time role and each individual scenario offered a level of flexibility I had never experienced. This change of employment relationship structure, though, also meant I no longer had any type of benefits package; something I had since I was 17 years old. About the same money, more work, and less benefits - but a different kind of hope. That hope, as naive as it may have been, was what drove my willingness to assume full responsibility for our future, Hill’s tenth leadership attribute. Bold shifts forge the exact traits needed for values-driven leadership—uncertainty becomes a competitive advantage.

All said, we were excited about the overall direction. Despite not having the definite plans we probably should have prior to making such a leap, we were developing a picture of where we wanted to go, albeit a vague picture at that point. But like everyone will encounter at one time or another, there were some family struggles going on at the same time. We’ll look at how we navigated those adversities and the seeds we searched for through them next. Before we do, think about a recent decision you were faced with; where did courage or extra effort lag? What steps can you take to strengthen that decision moving forward?

Gaining Strength through Unity & Emerging Influence

Late 2017 and early 2018 provided us with the opportunity to run the gamut of highs and lows as new mostly self-employed business owners. The public events were successful overall, and full of learning experiences. Locally, we hit a groove in our third year and the event was the most successful one we had hosted to that point. The other being an hour away (while I worked the final month in my full time role) offered more adversities to draw seeds from than we can sift through here so we’ll circle back to that more later on. Both, though, were emceed by a gentleman we had gotten to know a year prior. The business relationship we had built with him and his team had grown substantially, and it was some of the most fulfilling work we had experienced.

My final day of full time employment was either late October or early November; I honestly can’t remember and I don’t have anything special noted on the calendar I follow so meticulously. If I’m being completely honest, I didn’t give much thought to it as a milestone since I supported that company for a month after. I do remember being annoyed when I received my first ever summons for jury duty just after leaving a salaried role that would have provided me full compensation rather than a $50/day stipend. If nothing else, it was a wake up call that anything less than accepting full responsibility for the success (or failure) of our new business was no longer an option.

While we had some wonderful opportunities through the final months of 2017, with a few adversities mixed into those, a few personal gut punches came during the same time; Cindy’s mom was diagnosed with a very aggressive cancer, which was caused by treatments she received for another form of cancer a few years prior, and my grandmother, who was in her early nineties but still living independently, fell and fractured several vertebrae. Each scenario brought its own challenges. Thankfully, we were both in a spot where we could be present to support them however we could. We still had tremendous workloads to juggle but the opportunity to move much of that around to serve our family members through some incredibly hard times was something we cherished.

I’ll share it again here because it’s that important: I’m not suggesting that the adversities we’ve been through are worse (or even as bad) as you may have been through. Truth be told, detailing them is one of the most awkward things I’ve ever done. That said, my hope is that each serves as a starting point for you to look at yours in a way you may have never done before. This particular period spanning several months not only pushed us to lean into doing more than we were being paid for in ways we never had; so many highs and lows in such a short time span helped us build a kind of unity that we may not have had otherwise, all while continuing to do everything in our power to strengthen the emerging influence we had worked so had to earn with each client we had even the slightest opportunity to serve. Pivoting through family shifts builds authentic relational power; consistency in uncertainty earns trust no title grants.

Uncertainty Turns Leaps into Values Alignment

Cindy’s mom passed away in mid-January 2018, less than 60 days after the diagnosis. That was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever seen Cindy go through, and the helplessness I felt was like nothing I had ever experienced. I’m a fixer and there wasn’t a damn thing I could do to fix that. I was, however, able to be present and make sure Cindy knew she had the time and space to do anything her dad needed through that time. Make no mistake, we felt some pressure to keep the plates spinning in our business at the time but that paled in comparison to the pressure we would have had on us had we still been in full time roles - especially the role Cindy held prior to stepping into our business. 

Aside from family, our closest friends, and a select few business associates, no one even knew Cindy was dealing with any of that. I frequently share how much smarter and stronger she is than I could ever hope to be. During the most difficult season I’ve seen her experience over the three decades we’ve been together, she served other people at a level few ever attempt to. One thing I can say about all that with absolute certainty is that each adversity she and I experienced leading up to that, many of which were insignificant, helped us both grow stronger and more unified in every aspect of our lives together. Without those previous experiences, I can’t imagine either of us having the strength to place any focus whatsoever on running a business through a time like that.

In September 2016, we made a bold leap when Cindy gave up a substantial salary to step into our very new business. One year later, we made another when I did the same - leaving us with no guaranteed household income or employer-paid benefits plan. Our unwavering courage to take each of those leaps was built on years of relatively minor adversities. Our willingness to accept full responsibility for the outcome was based on doing exactly that in hundreds of situations over the two previous decades where the stakes weren’t nearly as high. Through each of those, though, our shared values served as the foundation for every decision. Making the best of bold leaps isn’t about guaranteed success—it’s intentional preparation that transforms uncertainty into chains of purpose and values-driven readiness.

We’ll close this look at how embracing uncertainty earns influence and strengthens values alignment next by working through a set of questions you can reflect on to make sure you’re not just identifying the seeds to equal or greater benefit in each adversity you face, but planting and nurturing those seeds to make that potential benefit a reality. First, though, think back on each reflection I’ve challenged you with through this process and outline how any one leap you make could amplify your leadership impact.

Mining Leaps for Courage and Purpose Seeds

Looking back, several of the biggest leaps Cindy and I have ever taken occurred in a very short period of time. As I’ve shared several times before, I’m not detailing the adversities we encountered along the way for sympathy. And I’m certainly not bragging about it; I’m thankful Cindy tolerated me through so much nonsense. My hope has been (and will continue to be as we move forward) that each one I reference gives you the perspective you need to find whatever seeds may still be hidden in any similar adversity you have or will face in your journey. 

One thing I’ve learned through it is that embracing uncertainty - rooted in values alignment and building on prior seeds from scarcity, setbacks, and transitions - clarifies purpose further and builds the foundation for values-driven leadership. Over time, we get a firsthand look at how bold leaps can feel like steps backwards initially but set us up to regain anything we may have lost through other adversities and provide opportunities for building stronger family alignment and making a great impact than we ever imagined - which rarely happens without being willing to make a leap.

My challenge for you here is to mine your leaps for any possible courage or purpose seeds you may have otherwise missed. Here are five questions for you to consider:

1. What bold leap or family shift still carries uncertainty or weight?
2. What blind spot or habit did it reveal, and what seed (e.g., courage or doing more than paid for) was hidden?
3. How could a decisive pivot strengthen your courage or definiteness of plans?
4. In what ways might nurturing this seed improve your influence without title—at home or work?
5. What three small, immediate actions can you take this week to plant and nurture it?

Every leap we’ve ever taken came with its own kind of uncertainty. Targeted reflection turns each shift (family or career) into leadership gold. Reflection, though, is often a tough choice that requires intentional discipline. I’m forever grateful for how Cindy helps me build time for focused reflection into our schedule; with my fast-paced approach, I likely wouldn’t give it a second thought otherwise. And that reflection is absolutely where we’ve found the seeds we’ve been able to plant and grow into the leadership gold we’ve needed. Start embracing your uncertainty now because you’ll need it as you experience more significant adversities - and I’ll share some of the bigger ones we’ve faced next.