Yesterday, my son learned to shave—a truly momentous occasion, right up there with his first bike ride and discovering that video games are far more captivating than chores.
We stood side by side in front of the mirror, father and son, me desperately trying to recall the precise steps (it’s been a long time since I’ve seen my own bare face).
At 15, the mustache he was tackling looked more like a faint chocolate milk stain than a beard. It was a surreal mix of nostalgia and mild panic. Was I even qualified to teach him this? Why was he bleeding? Apparently, skin has a “grain.” Who knew?
It was a rite of passage. Life is full of them—the first day of school, that nerve-racking first date, graduation day, or the uncomfortable moment when you’re officially called “sir” by a teenager.
And yes, shaving.
But here’s something important to consider: leaders have rites of passage too.
As your business grows, you must evolve. You need to transition from doing all the work yourself to leading a team that does it for you. You have to cultivate a strategic enterprise mindset, foster a dynamic culture, craft a compelling vision beyond just “producing more widgets,” create authentic team engagement (not forced fun), inspire genuine motivation, and step into your full potential as the leader you envisioned—rather than remaining stressed and overwhelmed.
The challenge is that many leaders remain stuck in producer or supervisor mode. They find themselves caught in the weeds, micromanaging every detail, and then wondering why their company’s performance feels like an unstable rollercoaster.
Does this sound familiar? On-time delivery feels mythical, quality control is more suggestion than reality, waste and attrition rates climb steadily, and consistent miscommunication seems like an unofficial company policy. Stress levels are high, your leadership team is at odds, and everyone’s pulling in different directions.
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Leaders who embrace our Leadership Ascent Process have metaphorically “picked up the razor”—they’ve moved confidently into the next stage of leadership. They’ve cultivated executive presence and strategic thinking that unifies their team, clarifies their vision, and boosts their bottom line. Their success indicators are green—not because they’re working themselves to exhaustion, but because they’re effectively leading.
If you’re ready to grow your business beyond your current plateau—perhaps finally hitting that elusive $25 million milestone or any other significant benchmark—you must evolve from merely “doing” to actively “leading.” The Leadership Ascent Process can guide you there, smoothing your transition much like shaving cream does for a clean shave (minus the nicks, hopefully!).
So, what’s your next leadership rite of passage? Are you ready to step into your full potential as an impactful, visionary leader?
