This morning, I was ready. The Flatirons were catching the first pink streaks of light, and I could already feel the cool air in my lungs before I even stepped outside. I wanted the shot. I wanted to run, to climb, to capture that perfect, golden moment.

But my 13-year-old and my 8-year-old? They did not want to go.

It was not the grand adventure I had envisioned. No epic sunrise chase, no breathless climb, no primal, wild yes to the day. Instead, I stood there, staring at two very real, very unmoved children who did not share my urgency.

And this—this is leadership.

Not the kind that shouts, commands, and demands. But the kind that listens. The kind that adapts. The kind that understands that just because I feel the pull of the mountains doesn’t mean everyone else does.

Two Leaders in the Making

My 13-year-old daughter leads with passion, fire, and humor. She acts first, thinks second—throwing herself into life with full force, unafraid of taking risks, but also quick to pivot when things don’t go as expected. She leads with energy, charisma, and an undeniable presence. If she had wanted to go, she would have been the first out the door, running ahead, laughing at the wind, pulling the rest of us along in her wake. But today? She wasn’t feeling it. And when she’s out, she’s out.

My 8-year-old son is different. Complex. Analytical. He doesn’t just jump—he studies, he weighs, he questions. He’s deeply thoughtful, a quiet observer, making sense of the world before deciding how to engage. His leadership is subtle, strategic, careful. He leads by seeing what others don’t, asking the right questions, and making sure every move has a purpose. Today, his mind was elsewhere—maybe on a book he was reading, maybe piecing together some intricate thought he hadn’t quite put words to yet.

Get it? The ‘fork in the road’ metaphor? We always have a choice in how we show up.

I had a choice.

• I could push them. Tell them to toughen up, to rally, to get moving.
• I could go alone. Leave them behind and chase the moment myself.
• Or I could meet them where they were. Find the adventure in a different way.

So we stayed. We didn’t run up the mountain. Instead, we walked. We watched the light shift from pink to gold from where we stood. And I listened—to their laughter, their small morning voices, their own rhythms.

Here’s the thing: leadership isn’t always about getting people to where you want them to go. Sometimes, it’s about seeing where they are and adjusting course. Sometimes, the most powerful move is not running ahead, but walking beside.

The Flatirons still stood. The sunrise still happened. And maybe, just maybe, the best shot wasn’t the one I didn’t get—but the moment I chose to embrace instead.

(the shot I did not get)

Your Challenge This Week:

• Where are you pushing too hard instead of meeting people where they are?
• What expectations need adjusting so you can actually be in the moment?
• How can you lead from beside, rather than always from the front?

Sometimes, leadership looks like standing still. Sometimes, it looks like letting go.

“You do not lead by hitting people over the head—that’s assault, not leadership.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower

The Primal Edge: Wake. Lead. Win.

My wish for you: May you find the balance between vision and presence. May you lead boldly but listen deeply. And may you trust that sometimes, the best step forward is simply being with those who matter most.

Let’s move.

Parenting Tips for Protecting Child Mental Health

Kate Galt Primal Leadership Business Coaching

Kate Galt coaches and challenges leaders at all levels— from entrepreneurs to seasoned executives— to sharpen their vision, articulate key messages so they connect and inspire, and make decisive, strategic moves that drive real business growth. Based in Boulder, Colorado, she works with individuals and teams to strengthen leadership, improve team dynamics, and achieve measurable results.

Her coaching is rooted in Primal Leadership—because the strongest leaders move with instinct, command presence without force, and create unshakable trust through raw, real connection.

Like any driven person, Kate is always figuring out how to do it all—running a business, raising two kids with her equally involved husband, and still making time for the adventure that brought her to Colorado in 1998. Whether it’s snowboarding, mountain biking, or chasing an ultimate frisbee, she knows the best leadership isn’t just learned—it’s lived.

The bottom line? Kate makes good leaders great.

Curious about what makes her coaching style so impactful? Book a call and experience it for yourself at CoachTheLeaders.com.