Happy Tuesday!

Uncertainty.

We all feel it and see it, but we don’t all deal with it the same way. That is the topic of the lead article today. Hopefully it helps you see your tendencies, and perhaps helps you consider a different approach to deal with the uncertainty that is all around us.

I experienced a different kind of uncertainty in the last week. Since I last wrote to you my mother-in-law, Carrie Lee West, passed away. (Just 93 days before her 100th birthday!) She experienced ups and downs over the last few months – days we thought would be her last, followed by days where she seemed 15 years younger! In the end, her final downturn was short and peaceful. All of this is another reminder of the uncertainty we all face every day.

The final piece today comes from the headlines of last week but isn’t about politics. Maybe it will be the only take on this story you read that isn’t.

If you haven’t yet signed up for our webinar, From Potential to Performance: Unlocking Leadership Flexibility, now’s the time. Sign up now and join us Friday at 1 pm ET.

Yes, we’ve scheduled a webinar on Friday the 13th. But attending will be far from unlucky. In fact, it will be incredibly valuable for you and all the leaders in your organization. Please register and join us.

Make it a great Tuesday and remember…

You are Remarkable!

Kevin 😊

Relationship Reminders from the Headlines

For about 11 months, the budding, growing, and deepening of the relationship between candidate (now President) Trump and Elon Musk was in the news most every day. Then last week, the quick fall of the same relationship was just as public.

I’m not writing about the politics of the start or breakup – I don’t really care about that angle, or what you think/feel about the players (anyway, there is plenty to read about that already – whatever your political leaning.)

Here’s what I have noticed – while public and strange, what we have seen about this relationship probably reminds you of relationships you have been in or seen much more closely. Here are five reminders for all of us.

Relationships are emotional in nature. Feelings fuel the rise and fall of any relationship. In fact, without emotional connection of some sort, there is no relationship at all.

Relationships are hard. Because of that emotion, as well as egos, different biases, experiences and mindsets, relationships are hard. Making them last requires effort and a mutual desire for them to succeed.

Drama can be reduced and/or avoided. The drama fueled largely by social media last week between President Trump and Elon Musk may have reminded you of an elementary school conversation (it did me), but it isn’t the first relationship the faltered due to drama. The drama in most of our experiences (as well as between those two) was fueled by emotional reactions. It is the reactions that heighten drama. Drama will be less, well, dramatic, when both parties respond thoughtfully, rather than simply react emotionally.

Relationships can be revived. Who knows what the future holds for the Trump/Musk relationship, but it does look more promising for some reconciliation than it did immediately after the failing out. Regardless of their outcome, when both parties care about the relationship and the other person, relationships can be revived and reconciled.

We don’t know everything about other people’s relationships. The biggest thing I thought about all last week was that as public as both the love and squabbling have been, there is no way we have the whole story. And you don’t have the whole story for the other relationships that you see either – even those closer and less public and newsworthy as this one. Our judgments about other people’s relationships are misplaced and might not be helpful to the parties involved. Hopefully one or more of these reminders will be helpful to you in your relationships in the coming days.

Navigating Uncertainty with Confidence

They say that the only things that are certain are death and taxes. How about we add uncertainty to that list? While life is full of uncertainties, large and small, in the world of work, there seem to be more now than ever. And even if that isn’t true - there are plenty. That means if we want to lead successfully and confidently, we must learn how to navigate uncertainty more skillfully.

Thanks for reading. Please reply at any time with questions or feedback for our team.

When you’re ready, here are a few ways we can help:

1. Work with me 1:1: Book a coaching or strategy session to help you achieve your goals for 2025 and beyond!

2. Book me for your next keynote or event: Not just “another keynote”, this is a message that inspires, engages and accelerates you, your team and organization to success!

3. Courses & workshops: check out our wide-array of learning opportunities - live & interactive workshops, micro and on-demand solutions and so much more.