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My Take
During my keynote presentation, Amputate to Elevate: Transform Uncertainty into Your Greatest Advantage, I ask the audience two simple questions.
“How many of you are living in uncertain times and just want certainty?”
Almost every hand goes up.
Then I ask,
“How many times in your life have you actually been able to predict what’s going to happen next?”
That’s when it gets quiet.
Because the truth is, we never had certainty.
We only had the illusion of it.
That’s why I loved this conversation with Julian Pistone. We didn’t dance around uncertainty. We walked straight into it. Because leaders who elevate don’t avoid uncertainty, they learn how to move inside it.
3-2-1: Strategies For Decisive Leaders
Stop Waiting
Waiting feels responsible. It sounds strategic. But most of the time., it is hesitation dressed up as preparation.
Certainty Is a Lie
More data will not remove fear. It will often increase it. The need for certainty is the very thing slowing your leadership down.
Decide Now
Momentum belongs to those who move. Not those who wait to feel ready.
Smart starts here.
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2 Action Steps ( Proven To Work)
Use the 40-70 Rule for Decision Making
If you have less than 40% of the information, wait.
If you have more than 70%, you waited too long.
The sweet spot is in between. This is where decisive leaders operate. This reduces overthinking and increases execution speed.
Build Courage Through Micro- Decisions
Courage is not built in big moments. It is built in small reps.
Make one decision today that you have been avoiding.
Send the message.
Have the conversation.
Take the step.
Neuroscience shows that repeated actin rewires your brain to reduce hesitation and increase confidence.
1 Move For This Week
For yourself:
What is one decision you already know you need to make, but have been delaying?
For your team:
Where is your organization stuck in “analysis mode” instead of action?
Call it out.
Name it.
Decide.
Then give yourself and your team space and grace to grow into that decision.
Work With Me
If you are navigating change and need clarity in the moments that matter most, let’s connect.
Book time with me at: www.johnregister.com
A Personal Note
I remember when Alice decided to become a flight attendant.
I wasn’t uncertain about her ability. I knew she could do it. What I wrestled with was what that decision would mean for our family.
Schedules would shift. Time would look different. Life would change.
But I supported her.
And here we are, 16 years later. She is celebrating 10 years with Southwest Airlines, after 6 years with ExpressJet.
And now, we make home wherever Southwest lands.
That decision didn’t come with certainty.
It came with commitment.
Thanks for being with us. I am grateful for you.
What topics do you want to hear more about?
Go forth - inspire your world.
See you next Tuesday!
John Register is an Irreversible Leadership keynote speaker and Paralympic silver medalist who helps executives navigate high-stakes transitions by strategically subtracting what no longer serves them to elevate performance, culture, and decision authority.
