The Power of Getting Messy

We talk a lot about courage, but rarely do we define what it looks like in everyday life. I’ve come to believe it looks a lot like being messy. It’s falling off the wakeboard, three second into the pull and watching the boat circle around so you can try again. It’s missing the mark at the range, skills sloppy and rushed. Then getting rep after rep until you feel calm and controlled. It’s asking someone to try coaching and hearing “not right now” and recognizing that's not a "No." Messy is not glamorous. It’s full of awkward starts and small humiliations. But it’s also where growth lives. It’s where the joy of learning kicks in, right after ego steps out.

Loving the mess.

Lately, I’ve noticed that I’ve armored up. I’ve been working hard to look good instead of actually getting better. I’ve spent time building strategy and perfecting plans when what I really needed was reps, especially in the area I resist most: sales.

The truth? I believe deeply in what coaching can do. I’ve seen people change their lives, families, and legacies in that space. But getting them to the room is messy. It means sending an imperfect invite, risking rejection, and trusting that the work is worth it.

So I’m choosing a different approach. I’m committing to messy. Not just tolerating it, but getting excited about it. Living in it. Even seeking it out. No because I want to enjoy the mistakes and losses, but because I want to fail a faster and faster rate to enjoy that feeling of calm and control that a well developed skill provides. That is the power of getting messy.

What if you stopped waiting to be polished and started collecting reps? What if the awkward attempt was the point?

I’m asking myself and maybe I’m asking you too.

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