February 10, 2026 | Issue Archive
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Don’t Worry If It Doesn’t Look Like Anything Yet
Hey friends,
It’s been a couple of weeks since I last wrote to you...
While I’ve missed meeting you here, it’s been great being back on the road...
Last week I delivered two keynotes in two very different rooms, to people navigating real pressure, real change, and real uncertainty.
(If you were in one of those rooms, welcome to our community!)
What stood out to me most from those sessions wasn’t the applause or praise. It was how people said they felt after:
- “Calm.”
- “Clear.”
- “Grounded.”
- “Equipped.”
Because in the world we live in today, what we all really need—especially right now—is reassurance that we’re not behind… we’re in process.
Which brings me to something I couldn’t stop thinking about this week.
A Living Example of Beginnings on the Other Side of Endings
The Seattle Seahawks just won the Super Bowl.
And I keep thinking about their quarterback, Sam Darnold.
Here’s the short version of his story:
- Drafted third overall.
- Labeled a bust in New York.
- Traded to Carolina.
- Moved again.
- Helped Minnesota win 14 games… and they still chose to move on.
Five teams. Eight years. Multiple public endings. Plenty of moments where the story could have stopped there.
And now? He’s leading a Super Bowl champion team.
What struck me most wasn’t the win—it was something Sam said recently when asked about his journey:
“The days in New York, the days in Carolina—those were part of my journey, and they’re part of my experience—and I loved every single part of it.”
Read that again.
Not tolerated.
Not survived.
Loved.
That’s someone who didn’t rush to judge the middle of the story.
The Trap We All Fall Into
Most of us make the same mistake at some point:
We look at an ending—or a messy middle—and assume it’s evidence of failure.
But often, it’s just evidence that the next chapter hasn’t revealed itself yet.
One of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever received, which I share with every audience, is this from Steve Ross:
Don’t worry if it doesn’t look like anything yet.
Seeds don’t look like forests.
Endings don’t look like breakthroughs.
Transitions rarely look like progress.
But that doesn’t mean nothing is happening.
This Ends Now
Here’s the quiet question I want you to sit with this week:
What are you telling yourself about an ending that might not be true?
- That it “should’ve worked by now”
- That you “missed your chance”
- That if it mattered, it would look clearer
What if the truth is simpler—and more generous?
What if this is just the part of the story where it doesn’t look like anything yet?
This Moment Matters
You don’t need the whole map.
You don’t need certainty.
You just need one honest step that says, I trust the process more than the panic.
That might be:
- Ending the pressure to have it all figured out
- Ending the habit of comparing your middle to someone else’s highlight reel
- Ending the story that says, “This should look different by now”
Because often, the most meaningful beginnings don’t announce themselves.
They whisper.
I’m grateful to be back in your inbox—and grateful to walk this stretch of the road with you.
Up we go—