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When a map won’t help

A leader who lights the path doesn’t give you a map.
They hand you a torch.

A very common (and disastrous) view on leadership is that the leader is the one who has the path figured out and knows every turn at every step.

But that’s simply impossible.

If only because the actual terrain can look very different from what the map suggested.

A map suggests certainty that’s simply not there.

The reality in every single business I’ve ever worked with is that the path ahead is uncertain.

There’s a plan. There are forecasts. But more often than not, the world couldn’t care less and will reject the forecasts through an unexpected turn of events.

A map won’t help now. The false certainty it suggests can even make things worse.

In uncertainty, the more important kind of clarity is how you want to make choices.

Which means that the leader becomes a beacon, not because they know every twist and turn, but because they embody the principles that guide decisions along the way.

It’s not at all about providing answers but about inspiring the confidence that whatever lies ahead, you’ll navigate it together.

Here’s what most people miss: lighting the path doesn’t mean removing the uncertainty. It means making people feel like they can move forward despite it.

That’s what gives them the courage to take the next step, even when the whole road isn’t visible yet.

How will you light the path for your team?

Leading with clarity

The clearer the path, the less important the leader becomes.
Anyone can lead when the sun shines bright. But what about when it’s not?

In the fog, when you can barely see a step ahead, that’s when your leadership matters.

Not by pretending you know every turn or faking clarity that’s not really there. Your team doesn’t need false clarity. The fog is real. You can’t just make it disappear.

But you *can* show them how to move through it.
→ By staying clear on your values and vision.
→ By showing them how you make choices, even when the next step is uncertain.
→ And by giving them the confidence that, together, you’ll make it through.

This is the kind of clarity that guides them not only in clear weather, but also when it matters most: in the fog.

Keep lighting the path!

Less

Say less. Mean more.

(That’s it for today.)

Influence

True influence begins where force ends.

Force creates counter-force.
Push and people instinctively push back.

What’s worse, when the force stops, the actions stops.

What’s even worse, you’ll never know whether people actually support your ideas.

That’s not really influence, is it?
It’s control.

Well, of course that’s precisely what some managers will find attractive. But if you’re reading this, it’s likely that you’re not one of them.

True influence is when people choose to support you. It’s the result of a voluntary shift in belief, behavior, or perspective.

It can happen when
→ you earn their trust so they’re willing to hear you out.
→ you create clarity so they can see it for themselves.
→ you speak to what matters so it resonates deeply.

And then … you step back.
You let them decide.

When they make the choice to act, not because you pushed them,
but because they believed it was the right thing to do …

That’s true influence.

Keep lighting the path!

Kick off the New Year with Clarity and Purpose

I’m starting the year with a new format: “The Leaders Light the Path Session”.

It’s a free, hands-on gathering for leaders who want to sharpen how they communicate their vision and inspire others to act.

We’re skipping the lofty ideas and over-complicated frameworks (leaving that to the gurus).

I’m more interested in real, actionable ways to make your message resonate.

→ How to make your story crystal clear.
→ Why the right words matter more than you think.
→ Simple strategies to inspire action and alignment.

Jan 14th | 11am Eastern · 5pm CET | Zoom

Whether you’re rallying your team, presenting a big idea, or guiding others toward a goal, this session will help you do it with focus and impact.

It’s highly interactive, in a small group setting with like-minded peers – ideal to start the year with focus on what truly matters for your path ahead.

Would love to see you there.

Seats are limited — Reserve your spot by simply replying to this email (I wanted to keep the process as plain and simple as possible).

Keep lighting the path!

Fearless honesty

Honesty scares the hell out of most marketers.
It shouldn’t.

Because it can be your best friend.

It builds trust.
It inspires loyalty.
It signals confidence.
It establishes authority.
It cuts through the noise.
It uncovers the real issues.
It avoids misunderstanding.
It challenges you to improve.
It attracts the right audiences.
It sets you free from the façade.

→ Now, how honest are you …
with your customers?
with your partners?
with your team?
with yourself?

Honesty might scare you.
But fearless honesty is the bold way forward.

Keep lighting the path!

Enough is enough

Most leaders value brevity.
They want concise updates and clear answers, without the fluff.

What’s often overlooked is that brevity is not about minimizing the information. It’s about clarifying it.

Short, but unclear is meaningless.

Clarity feels like brevity because clear means there’s nothing to add, and nothing to take away.

When your message is unclear, it costs time and effort:
→ Say too little, and others are left guessing.
→ Say too much, and they might be confused.

Both are the opposite of brevity.

The magic lies in saying enough.
→ Enough to give you a pause.
→ Enough to make the point.
→ Enough to shift perspectives.
→ Enough to align us on what matters most.

How do you know it’s enough?
You know you’re saying just enough when it feels complete.
When you can’t take anything away without weakening the message.
And you can’t add anything without distracting from the message.

That’s the kind of brevity the best leaders crave.
It’s not about using fewer words, but making every word count.

The Problem with Business Books Today

Most business books are way too long.

The problem isn’t the number of pages.
It’s the amount of repetition.

The first chapter grabs you, maybe the second adds something new… but soon after, you’re thinking, ‘Thanks, but I’m reading this now for the fifth time!’

Take a look at your book shelf. How many of the books did you finish?

But why does this happen? Why, of all genres, are books that are made for business people (who are short on time and value brevity) often so repetitive?

Simple answer? Publishers.

They insist a book has to be thick enough to look important. They’ll tell you ‘a short book doesn’t look serious,’ or ‘it won’t justify the price tag.’ In fact, most publishers won’t even read book proposals for books below 35k words.

But longer isn’t better. Longer is exhausting.

When you force an idea to stretch beyond its natural length, it loses impact. Instead of sharpening the message, you blunt it.

The value of a book isn’t in how many pages it has. It’s in how much it leaves behind – in your mind, in your work, in your life.

That’s why my new book is short. It’s concise and clear. No fluff. No filler.

Because you’re not paying for the weight of the paper. You’re paying for the impact of the idea.

Glitter and glam

A powerful message doesn’t need backup dancers or flashy props. It stands alone, clear and strong.

Here’s a simple test:
When you strip away the extras, what’s left?

If your message is strong, it will still resonate.
If it’s weak, it will now crumble.

That’s precisely why some believe that a little glitter will make up for a weak message.

But adding glitter won’t make your message strong,
it only distracts from the weaknesses.

Superficial wow elements will never make up for a missing aha.

On the other hand, once your message is strong enough to stand on its own, then adding the wow can amplify its impact manifold.

In other words, when you have a strong message, skillfully composed, the extras aren’t there to distract from the message, they are there to serve the message.

PS: Reach out if you need help finding that strong message.

A very special pizza

Imagine you’re making a simple, classic pizza. Just sauce, cheese, and a few basil leaves. But then someone leans over and says, “Oh, I love mushrooms on pizza!” So you add mushrooms. Then someone else chimes in, “Pepperoni is a must!” And now, anchovies for the adventurous types. Pineapple, because there’s always someone who wants it. Pretty soon, your pizza’s so loaded it’s about to collapse.

What was once a delightfully simple creation is now a confusing mix of flavors. Every new topping was meant to please someone, but together, they please no-one. Instead of a satisfying bite, it’s just an awful mess of a taste.

Clarity works the same way. When you try to add everything, to appeal to every taste, you end up with something that pleases no one. A message that started off strong and clear gets buried under competing ideas, details, and angles.

Maybe the question isn’t, “What else can I add to make it as complete as possible?” but, “What’s essential to keep to make it as delightful as possible?”

So, how can you make your message so pure that it stands out with irresistible clarity.

Because, just like pizza, the most powerful messages don’t need everything. They just need the right ingredients, passionately selected, and arranged with dedication.

That’s what can turn it into an unforgettable delight — simple and satisfying (sometimes in a very unexpected way).

Spread the Word

Picture of Dr. Michael Gerharz

Dr. Michael Gerharz