How Do You Want to Show Up?

When facing big goals, whether it’s raising capital, navigating an M&A process, or preparing for a pivotal sales pitch, founders and leaders naturally dive into strategy and tactics. We believe if we control every detail, we control the outcome. However, the truth is that success isn’t solely about what we do. It’s deeply tied to how we show up.

When you clarify who you want to be during demanding times, your “doing” may evolve and new priorities might emerge. You might talk with your spouse or partner about how the coming months will affect family dynamics and how to support each other. It could mean scheduling additional sessions with a trainer or making self-care routines a priority. Maybe you start your days with mindfulness, prayer, or simply a quiet walk to coffee. Or perhaps it’s having transparent conversations with your executive team about the support you’ll need. These shifts in focus help ensure we’re showing up in a way that’s both sustainable and intentional. And when we lead this way, we create the conditions for meaningful results.

So I ask you this simple but powerful question:

“How do you want to show up?”

Pause for a second. As you imagine your next major milestone, notice how you’re feeling.

Here are two practical exercises I regularly recommend:

Visioning. Project yourself 6 months or a year into the future, past that next major event and ask yourself:

• Looking back from the future, what are you most proud of about how you showed up during this time?
• What strengths did you lean on to move through the challenge?
• If your future self could give you one piece of wisdom right now, what would it be and how can you put that into practice today?

Your Best Self. Recall a moment when you truly felt you were at your best. Reflect:

• When you were at your best, what mindset or energy did you bring to the situation?
• How did you impact the people around you when you showed up as your best self?
• What did you learn about yourself by showing up this way?
• What is one small action you could take today to tap into that best-self energy?

Why does this matter? When you focus only on tactics, you risk burnout, misalignment, or simply “making it through” a milestone without real satisfaction. If you lose sight of “being,” it’s easy to act out of stress, miss crucial moments with family or teams, and ultimately feel disconnected from the impact you’ve set out to make. Taking time to reflect on how you want to show up can transform the journey, not just the outcome.

I’d love to hear from you. If this resonates, reply to this email or share your thoughts with me. And if you know someone facing a big milestone, feel free to forward this post.