Leading Through Struggle and Uncertainty

There was a time when uncertainty wrapped itself around me so tightly I could hardly breathe. After my indictment, everything I thought defined me slipped away. My law license was gone. My savings disappeared. My reputation crumbled. I did not know how to measure time anymore, especially in those sixty days before I reported to prison. Every day felt like an ache, stretching out longer than I could bear, as I faced the reality of what I was about to lose.

But struggle did not end my story. It became the place where I discovered what leadership really means.

It is easy to lead when life feels secure and the path ahead is clear. But when I walked through the gates of federal prison stripped of every title and accomplishment, I had to face the hardest question of my life: 

How do you lead yourself when everything you thought made you valuable has been taken away.

That season forced me to stand in the truth of who I was without anything to hide behind. And in that truth, I found three anchors that continue to guide me.

1. Clarity in Chaos

In prison and in the months leading up to it, I had to keep asking: what truly matters. Who do I want to be in this moment. That clarity meant putting my children above everything else, even when I knew I would soon be separated from them.

It meant holding on to Kyler and Maya’s presence in every detail so I could carry them with me. It meant realizing that my parents’ steady love and my sister’s voice on the phone were anchors I could return to no matter the storm.

Finding clarity in chaos is one of the deepest forms of authentic leadership. It calls us to see what endures when everything else falls away.

2. Courage in Vulnerability

I had to tell my children the truth in words that broke my heart. I had to look at my parents and let them see my pain instead of pretending I was strong. I had to allow friends to step in when I wanted to disappear.

That experience taught me that real courage lives inside our willingness to be seen exactly as we are. Vulnerability is not weakness. It is the doorway to connection, trust, and authentic leadership.

When we lead with vulnerability, we give others permission to do the same.

3. Resilience in Reframing

Prison could have been nothing but shame and despair. Instead, I chose to treat it as a classroom. Every day became practice in humility, patience, and presence.

Making my bed was not just a rule. It was a ritual that gave me dignity. It reminded me that even in a place designed to strip me of choice, I could still create meaning through small intentional acts.

This is the essence of resilience. It is not about bouncing back to who we were, but about rising forward into who we are becoming.

Leading Through Uncertainty

Leading through struggle is not about being unshakable. It is about being human in the middle of the storm. It means showing up with honesty when your heart is breaking. It means holding clarity when others feel lost, extending courage when fear is everywhere, and practicing resilience even when hope feels far away.

Whether you are leading a team, a family, or your own life through a season of change and uncertainty, remember this: uncertainty does not define you. How you rise through it does.

We do not choose the struggles that arrive in our lives. But we do choose how we respond. And in that choice, we light the way for others—including our children, parents, colleagues, and communities—who are watching how we rise.

Challenge to Rise

This week, take one brave step into vulnerability. Share something that feels uncertain with someone you trust. Instead of hiding behind the need to have answers, invite them into the conversation. Watch how this simple act deepens connection and strengthens your leadership.

Leading with Courage

Practice leadership not by standing above others, but by standing with them. When you admit the struggle, you open space for collaboration, creativity, and growth. Real leadership is not about control—it is about connection.

Breakthrough Moment

Pause before you act. The pause is not hesitation—it is wisdom. It gives you space to breathe, to feel, and to choose your response with intention. Begin practicing it in the smallest moments, and you will find yourself stronger in the hardest ones.

When we choose to rise through struggle with clarity, courage, and resilience, we don’t just survive uncertainty—we transform through it. And in that transformation, we rediscover our purpose, our humanity, and our power to lead with authenticity and grace.