#12: Keep Climbing (A Leadership Message I Needed Years Ago)

Leadership isn’t a straight ascent, it’s a long, uneven climb.

Some days lift you. Others test you. And most leaders, at some point, wonder whether the weight, the pace, and the responsibility are worth it.

This final episode of the season is the message I needed 20 years ago: a reminder that the climb is worth it, especially when you stop trying to climb alone.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to:
- Stay in the climb when leadership feels heavy or unclear.
- Recognize the moments where most leaders quit (and how to push through them).
- Build your community of “fellow climbers” who make the journey worth it.
- Reframe the leadership journey as something you don’t have to carry solo.

Trust the process, the preparation, and the person you’re becoming along the way.

This is an honest look at the real journey of leadership: the grind, the gratitude, the doubt, and the deep sense of purpose that makes the mountain worth climbing.

Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Intro
05:15 Normalizing the Climb
14:14 What’s in Your Control vs. What Isn’t
19:43 The Myth of Doing It Alone: Why Isolation Is Dangerous
25:11 How Great Leaders Build Community, Accountability & Support
37:34 Where Leaders Should Turn When They Went to Give Up
41:33 Staying in the Climb: Rhythm, Reflection & Resilience
52:21 The Gift of Perspective: Humility, Resilience & Gratitude
56:30 What Kirk Wishes He Knew 20 Years Ago
01:06:00 Thank You to the Team & Community
01:10:06 A Surprise Message for Kirk
01:12:27 Final Reflections & Closing the Season
01:13:52 Outro — Keep Climbing