you'll achieve nothing if you can't embrace uncertainty

and the "5C framework" to help you make scary decisions

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Your potential is determined by the amount of uncertainty you’re willing to embrace — Dan Koe

So, why do you still cling to certainty?

“I’ll be paid at the end of the month” — a certain income.

“I need to leave home at 07:45” — a certain commute to a job you hate.

“I can take my lunch break at 13:00” — a certain time you’re allowed to eat.

“It’s finally Friday!” — a certain time you can finally rest.

Knowing what to expect helps us feel like we’re in control—it’s safe.

Have you ever stopped to think that maybe you have no control? That maybe someone else who doesn’t even care about you is controlling your life? If you were told you’re on your own from here on out, what would you do?

Living a life of certainty is the best way to never realise your potential.

And I lived this life for 27 years.

I knew what I’d wake up to every single day. I felt in control. I believed I was living life to the fullest potential. On reflection, I barely scratched the surface. I woke up when I realised nobody was coming to save me.

If I wanted more from my one life, I had to embrace uncertainty.

Certainty feels comfortable—but comfort is where your dreams wither and die.

If you never escape the comfort zone, you’ll live your entire life wondering:

“What if?”

Today, I’ll share:

• why uncertainty is the secret to unlocking your potential.

• what’s holding you back.

• and a simple framework to help you embrace the unknown.

a predictable life always produces predictable results

I use the 9-5 example all the time because I experienced it—and I hated it.

The 9-5 is a predictable, controlled, and comfortable routine.

When I was stuck in a life of certainty, here’s what my life looked like.

Everyone hates a Sunday night—it’s the end of the weekend…

…and the beginning of the work week.

Monday mornings are dreadful.

The alarm blares forcing you to get up.
You struggle out of bed.
Slowly get dressed.
Stumble into your car.
Turn on the ignition and drive.
Waste time in traffic.
Park up and walk into the office frustrated.

Inhale

Boot up your laptop.
Answer emails you don’t even care about.
Sit in pointless meetings.
Random tasks are thrown your way.
Escape to your lunch break.
Force yourself back to your desk.
Answer some more emails.
Meet with your boss.
Slam your laptop shut.
Sit in more traffic.
Park up at home.

Exhale

Head to the gym.
Workout to release stress and forget about your job.
Drive back home.
Take a hot shower.
Complain about your job to your partner.
Eat dinner.
Watch Netflix.
Fall into bed at midnight.

You don’t plan for the next day because you don’t have to.
Every day is a carbon copy of the previous day.

You live like a robot because you feel like you have no other option.

You do it because the pay-check at the end of the month feels safe.

You’re coasting through life.

Never taking the time to reflect. Never figuring out if this is the life you want for the next 40 years. When you cling to certainty, you trade in your potential for a life of mediocrity. You settle for forty per cent of what you could achieve—at best.

Certainty kills your creativity, confidence, and capability.

I’m not saying this to make anyone feel bad—I lived it myself.

I had a stable job and a stable income, with a certain commute and certain hours I was told to work. And I hated it. I only survived three years. I couldn’t accept that I allowed myself to contribute to someone else’s vision at the expense of my own.

All because I was too lazy to figure things out for myself.

All because I craved certainty.

All because I was scared to experience discomfort.

I didn’t want to live my life on someone else’s terms.

Ginni Rometty says:
"Growth and comfort do not coexist.”

There can be no growth in living a comfortable life.

It’s impossible.

the storm is where you learn to sail

Uncertainty is uncomfortable, but it’s where all meaningful growth happens.

I’ve just started working for myself—life is very uncertain as I type these words.

In seven days, I’m getting on a plane and flying halfway across the world. I’ve booked three nights of accommodation. I have no idea where I’m going to be sleeping in two weeks time.

Is it scary?

Of course.

Am I excited?

Definitely.

Do I expect to grow as an individual?

One-hundred and forty-three thousand six hundred and two percent.

I don’t know what the outcome will be. But I am confident the outcome will be good. I’ll learn. I’ll evolve. I’ll gain some invaluable experiences. I’ll figure things out along the way. Because I know life is meant to be explored—even without a plan.

John Shedd says:
“A ship in harbour is safe, but that’s not what it’s built for”.

A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.

You’ll never learn, grow, and adapt if you’re never willing to embrace uncertainty. A sailor gets good at sailing because they are out on the water, battling the waves. They don’t get good at their job by plopping their boat on a calm lake and floating like a duck on the surface of the water.

To grow, you must be willing to steer your boat right into the storm.

If you don’t, you’ll be stuck on the wrong side of the sea your entire life.

Constantly wondering what may have happened had you been willing to embrace uncertainty. Looking to your left and right and seeing other boats heading right into the storm and never coming back—because they’re on the other side where it’s bright, sunny, and full of hope.

There’s no certain outcome in uncertain paths—but there’s a certain outcome in certain paths.

Uncertainty gives you a shot at something extraordinary.

You must risk going too far because it’s the only way you’ll find out how far you can actually go. Embrace uncertainty and give yourself permission to explore, grow, and unlock the potential you never knew you had.

What’s scarier—risking failure or living a life of unexplored potential?

The 5C Framework

I know what it’s like to make difficult and scary decisions—so I want to help you.

Here’s a simple framework with questions you can use to get you started.

1. Clarify Your Why

Define the deeper purpose behind stepping into the unknown. You need to know why you’re doing something, or you’ll give up before you begin seeing results.

1. What is the bigger goal I want to achieve by stepping into uncertainty?

2. If I stay where I am, what will my life look like in one year? Five years?

2. Cultivate a Resilient Mindset

Shift how you view discomfort. We run away from discomfort because it’s new and we don’t know how to navigate it. But it’s good—you’re challenging yourself and pushing the boundaries of what you thought was possible for you.

1. What’s one challenge I’ve faced in the past that made me stronger?

2. When have I grown the most in my life—was it during comfortable or uncertain times?

3. Commit to Actionable Steps

You won’t achieve everything you want in six months, and probably not in two years. To help you stay motivated, you need to break down your big, scary goals into small, manageable tasks.

1. What’s one small step I can take today toward my goal, even if it feels uncertain?

2. How can I measure progress in small, meaningful ways to build momentum?

4. Connect With Supportive People

You’re not going to grow and embrace uncertainty if you surround yourself with people who don’t push themselves. You’ll have to audit your environment and surround yourself with risk-takers.

1. Who in my life inspires me to embrace challenges and take risks?

2. Who can I share my goals with to create accountability and support?

5. Celebrate Micro Wins

Every step forward is progress, no matter how small. I remember the first newsletter I published and the first 10 subscribers I gained—I was delighted about it, and most importantly, it motivated me to keep going.

1. What’s one win I can celebrate from today, no matter how small?

2. How can I reward myself for stepping out of my comfort zone this week?

Stop waiting for certainty—it will never come.

Take the leap today.

Embrace uncertainty, and see how far you can go.

Let me know in the comments below.

I hope this was Good To Know!

Talk soon,

Stefano

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