Wake. Lead. Win.

In Boulder, climbing isn’t a metaphor. It’s a way of life. And it has everything to do with leadership.

I stood at the base of the Flatirons with chalked hands and a racing heart, staring up at a vertical expanse of rock that didn’t care who I was or how prepared I felt. There’s a moment in every climb when the ground disappears, and all that’s left is the next move. I can’t fake my way up a wall. Just like I can’t fake leadership.

What climbing teaches me, fast and hard, is that trust isn’t a concept. It’s a muscle. I trust the rope, the belayer, my gear. But more than anything, I trust my own body’s ability to feel the next hold, my new hip to make the move, and recover if it goes sideways.

Running a business from the seat of primal leadership feels exactly like that for any leader brave enough to climb. Every day brings a wall of decisions, personalities, pressures. The strong ones anchor into what they know: their values, their experience, their gut. Then they climb. One deliberate move at a time.

But here’s the truth most leaders don’t talk about: we all fall. And we all learn, at some point, not to trust. Not to trust others. Not to trust ourselves. We get burned by a bad hire, betrayed by a partner, humbled by our own blind spots. And slowly, we tighten the grip. We micromanage. We play it safe. We lead from control instead of clarity.

I remember when that changed for me. Not with a huge aha-moment, but in a quiet moment after a hire I wasn’t sure about. All my saboteurs flared up: the controller, the hyper-achiever, the stickler. But deep down, I knew I had done the work. I had chosen this person from a place of alignment. The only thing left to do was trust them.

And in that trust, something opened. He leaned in. He delivered. Not because I had a perfect system, but because I got out of the way and made space for excellence to emerge.

This is the foundation of The Choice Model. It asks: Are you reacting from fear, or responding from purpose? Are you stuck in drama, or moving with clarity? 

In climbing, fear shows up fast. My mind spirals: What if I fall? What if I mess this up? In business, it’s the same. But the shift happens when I root into the facts, name the emotion, separate the story, and choose again. Just like in climbing: find my footing, breathe, and move.

Leadership is not about never falling. It’s about learning to trust the fall. Trust myself to recover. Trust my people to rise. Trust that my values will hold me, even when the ground falls away.

So here’s your climb: Where are you gripping too tightly? Where have you stopped trusting?

And what would happen if you let go—just enough to rise?

This is the Primal Edge. Wake. Lead. Win.

Okay, not in Boulder – but still a lot of trust happening!

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Where Are You in Your Entrepreneurial Evolution? 

If you’re a founder, business owner, or leader, you know that growth isn’t just about strategy—it’s about evolution.

The Entrepreneurial Evolution Quiz reveals where you are now—and what’s next. It’s designed to help you break through barriers, align with your strengths, and lead with clarity.

Take the quiz here: Entrepreneurial Evolution Quiz

Also—big news! I’ve launched a new business LinkedIn page dedicated to Primal Leadership Business Coaching, where I’ll be sharing insights, tools, and coaching for for those ready to evolve.

Follow along here: Primal Leadership Business Coaching on LinkedIn

Tag a fellow entrepreneur who’s ready for their next evolution. Let’s grow together!

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If you like rock climbing, here’s another article about The History of Rock Climbing in Boulder

And here are some Boulder indoor climbing gym suggestion during this windy season.

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.