The Quiet Hesitation That Costs You More Than You Realize

We leave for Chile tomorrow to spend time with my family and friends. Getting ready for the trip reminded me of a night in the Elqui Valley in northern Chile that shaped the trajectory of my life. ( Stalk me on Instagram for regular updates)

I was 23 years old, lying under the stars on a massive flat rock, wrestling with a choice that would define my future.

One path was safe and predictable—following in the footsteps of my classmates with Master’s degrees in Economics, heading into academia, finance, or the corporate world.

The other was uncertain and risky—forging my own path in music and media with nothing but instinct and a vision.

I had no guarantees. Statistically speaking, the move would likely fail. That night marked a deep knowing that if I waited for the “perfect time,” I might wake up years later, still waiting for the right moment to pursue a dream.

Looking back, I see the real challenge wasn’t lack of opportunity—it was fear. But fear isn’t always loud. It’s not always panic.

The worst kind of fear is quiet hesitation because it wears the mask of “common sense”:

✅ “Being responsible”—so you keep waiting for more savings, experience, or clarity.

✅ “Being logical”—so you hesitate, overanalyze, and let time slip away.

✅ “Being patient”—so you wait for the perfect moment, which never comes.

That’s how perfectly competent people stall their own momentum.

I see it over and over again—brilliant, driven people operating at 80% of their capacity, convincing themselves that the moment to go all-in will eventually arrive.

It won’t.

Another pattern I’ve seen over the years is that the next level of your success, impact, and fulfillment is on the other side of a fear you’ve rationalized.

We all reach these critical crossroads—and how we respond determines whether we keep circling the same plateau or finally break through.

Most people wait. They tell themselves they’ll act someday when things are clearer, safer, or easier. And they never are.

Others decide today is the day. On that mountain in Chile - that’s what I chose, and it redirected my life. That night didn’t give me better circumstances or even capabilities - it gave me the conviction to take the first step and to not stop. It was hard, I made tons of mistakes but that venture was extraordinarily successful.

The magnificent gift of that decision was that once I understood the power of overcoming this fear disguised as rational behavior, I could deploy the same technique with other ventures and train others to do the same.

I recently sat down with Jen Drummond—mother of seven, resilience expert, and record-breaking mountaineer—a woman who survived a near-fatal accident and decided that if she weren’t guaranteed tomorrow, she would stop playing it safe today.

That choice led her to summit the seven Second Summits—the second-highest peak on every continent—and to stand on top of Mount Everest.

Now, let’s be real—scaling Everest is probably not on your to-do list this year. (If it is, let me know so I can live vicariously through you.)

But before you get away with a quick laugh, let’s be honest—you have you must climb. It just looks different.

Maybe it’s a bold career move you keep postponing.

Maybe it’s launching the business you’ve been “researching” for years.

Maybe it’s finally committing to a vision that excites you and scares you at the same time.

And here’s the truth: Your mountain isn’t going anywhere—but the window to climb it is.

🎥 Watch the full conversation here:

Before you do and hear Jen’s remarkable story, let’s bring this closer to home.

Are you at one of those crossroads right now?

Before you make another excuse to wait, take a systems check on your life.

💡 Start by taking the Xponential Scorecard - Claim your Scorecard

It’s a quick, no-BS assessment of where you truly stand in the key areas of performance, purpose, and growth.

If you’re ready to stop waiting for the “right time” and start moving forward, let’s talk.

📩 Reply to this email with the words “No more waiting,” and let’s get you in motion.

Your next chapter won’t come from more time—it’ll come from one decisive move.

In the comments section, please send me your thoughts on this tension, forward this to a friend who needs to read it, and make sure you watch the entire Jen Drummond interview—it’s fascinating.