Meaningful Challenges

Dear Uncommon Leaders, 

Hope you all had a nice Mother's Day weekend 💐 with your families and loved ones with meaningful moments and treasured memories.

Press on, Leaders, and make the most of the week ahead!

This Week's Question:

How do you respond when things don’t play out the way you planned, trained for, or expected?

This Week's Challenge: 

At the time I'm writing this, I’m sitting in the Madrid airport waiting for my flight back to the States after another group trip hiking the Camino.

I walked the entire 500 miles in 2025 and have hiked different sections on and off since 2017. But this trip? This was the most challenging one yet.

I got sick twice from something I ate.

My feet blistered badly.

And the daily logistics of leading a group stretched my capacity.

It was harder than I expected.

And yet… it was still beautiful.

Still meaningful.

Still impactful for the people on the journey.

It just didn’t go according to plan.

If you lead long enough, you’ll experience something similar.

Something you’ve done before suddenly becomes difficult.

Something you prepared for doesn’t unfold the way you expected.

Something that once felt routine becomes heavy.

This week, I found myself praying often and repeating a few simple reminders:

“I get to do this.”

“It will be worth it.”

And you know what? It was worth it.

Even with the limp.

Even with the fatigue.

Even with the unexpected setbacks.

Your challenge this week:

The next time leadership throws you a curveball, choose a positive and determined mindset.

Don’t let the unexpected steal the meaning from the experience. Some of the most worthwhile journeys are also the hardest ones.

Have a great week—and Buen Camino on your leadership journey.

‍

This Week's Quote to Ponder:

"Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome." - Booker T. Washington

‍

Until next week,

LET'S GO BE UNCOMMON!

W. Kevin Harrison

Founder and Executive Coach

Uncommon Influence

‍