The Cold Mountain River
The air was sharp, the river icy and fast-moving, and the wilderness stretched endlessly around us. It was just me, my dad, and our horses in Alberta’s Rocky Mountains—no houses, no cars, no people in sight for hours.
We’d spent the day horseback riding, and I’d grown comfortable letting my dad take the lead. When we came to the high river, as always, he guided his horse across first, and my horse, Tahoe, followed instinctively. That was our trusted procedure.
But that day was different. My dad looked back at me from the other side and said, “Your turn to do it on your own.”
I froze. My stomach tightened. The water was high and fast, and Tahoe had a habit of rolling in water. What if she did it here? I wanted to stay in the comfort of my routine, where my dad led, and Tahoe followed. “What if it doesn’t work?” I asked.
He smiled in that calm way he always did and said, “Then we’ll keep trying until it does. But you have to trust your house and trust yourself. Whether it works on the third attempt or the twelfth isn’t the point—you’ll do it.”
The Struggle and the Breakthrough
I took Tahoe’s reins with shaking hands and nudged her toward the river. She hesitated, her steps slowing as if she were debating her options. I felt a rush of panic. What if she turned back? What if she rolled?
On my first try, we barely started before she stopped. On my second, she hesitated mid-stream. On my third attempt, I remembered something my dad always said to his horse in a low, steady voice: “Come now.”
So I said it, too. “Come now.”
And in that moment, something shifted. Tahoe leaped forward, water splashing around us as we made it across. When we reached the other side, adrenaline surged through me. I felt like I had conquered the world.
But it wasn’t just the river I had crossed. I had crossed into a new understanding of myself that would guide me in life and business for years to “come now”.
Resilience in Leadership: What I Learned
Years later, I would hear a different kind of doubt, not from a river but from colleagues and peers. “You’ll never make it,” they’d say. Or worse, “Are you sure you’re ready for this?”
And every time, I felt that same tightening in my stomach. But I also heard my dad’s voice: “Decide you’ll do it and trust yourself. It isn't the point whether it works on the third attempt or the twelfth.”
That lesson became a cornerstone of my approach to leadership and communication.

Resilience isn’t about being fearless or succeeding on the first try. It’s about recognizing fear, doubt, and failure as part of the process—and choosing to move forward anyway.
3 Practical Steps to Build Resilience
1. Start with Belief (Even If You’re Unsure)
Resilience begins in the mind. If you don’t believe you can succeed, you’ve already lost. Just like I had to trust my horse and myself, you must trust your abilities—even when doubt creeps in. Start small if needed, but start with the decision to move forward.
2. Take Imperfect Action
Waiting for the perfect moment or perfect plan is a trap. Resilience is built in the trying, the failing, and the trying again. Each attempt makes you stronger, smarter, and better equipped for the next challenge. Action—even imperfect action—is almost always better than no action.
3. Reframe Failure as a Step Forward
Every setback is a lesson. Each time Tahoe hesitated or turned back, I learned how to guide her more effectively. Failure isn’t a reflection of your worth; it’s part of the process that leads to success. The key is to take what you’ve learned and keep moving.
Your “Come Now” Moment
Think back to a moment in your life when you faced something daunting. Maybe it was delivering an important presentation, negotiating a tough deal, or stepping into a leadership role for the first time.
What did you learn from that experience? Were there moments when you had to dig deep, push through fear, and say, “Come now”?
Resilience isn’t about never failing or never being afraid. It’s about repeatedly choosing to try again. Each time you face a challenge and move forward, you build a stronger, more knowledgeable and confident version of yourself.
The next time you find yourself staring down a deep, cold, fast-flowing river—whether in business, leadership, or life—remember this: It’s okay to be scared. It’s OK to falter. Take the reins, try it, and say, “Come now.”
Your resilience is what will carry you across any challenging passage.
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