A chance without the guarantee - for the breakthrough you need
This story is shared with permission. The name has changed to protect my client's identity.
Two months ago, I started coaching Alex, a high-performing sales director of a tech company. On paper, he had it all—the experience, the respect of his peers, a track record of delivering results. But Alex was stuck. Every time an opportunity came for new responsibility, he’d find a way to talk himself out of it. “Not yet. Maybe later when the conditions are better,” he’d say. Each excuse built a barrier around him, keeping him safely within his comfort zone, too afraid to risk the fall that might come with pushing higher.
It wasn’t failure that scared Alex—it was the idea of stepping up without a guarantee that success would follow. He wanted certainty, a roadmap to tell him exactly how things would play out.
Then, six weeks in, Alex came to me with a moment of pure panic. He’d been offered the chance to lead a high-stakes, cross-departmental initiative—an opportunity that could propel him to the executive level. The fear was almost palpable.
His drama? He was terrified of failure. Not in the way you might think—he didn’t fear messing up in front of his team. He feared that if he stepped up, his vulnerabilities would be exposed. The imposter syndrome was a constant companion, whispering that he wasn’t ready, that he didn’t belong at the next level. What if they see that I’m not actually cut out for this? What if I fail and can’t go back?
His pain? The weight of indecision. Every moment he stayed in his comfort zone, he felt like he was suffocating a part of himself. That future leader, the one with vision, influence, and impact, was dying for the chance to emerge. But each time he thought about stepping up—embracing a higher level of visibility—he hesitated. And the hesitation ate at him.
You can probably guess what happens next.
The moments before his breakthrough became the heartbeat of this poem.
And now this poem is for you - for hope within you that refuses to die.
No map, no promise, no net below—
Just a door wide open. Will you go?
Greatness isn’t given; it’s seized, it’s earned,
Not by waiting—but by being the first to turn.
You don’t need a guarantee.
You need a spine, a spark, a step.
Will you take it?
A chance without a guarantee?
My best, always,
Shar
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P.S.
Most sales leaders are running so fast, they don’t have time to get better.
You’re putting out fires. Coaching on the fly. Pushing for numbers. But when do you get the space to sharpen your own skills, pressure-test your decisions, and level up your team for real?
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Top 7 sales books, dissected with plug-and-play strategies for you + your team
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