In today’s episode, I reflect on a simple story about a Chinese farmer and the word “maybe”—a word that can sound like hesitation, but can also represent something much more powerful: a disciplined openness to what we do not yet know.
As leaders, we are constantly surrounded by pressure to interpret events quickly. A missed target becomes a crisis. A new opportunity becomes a breakthrough. A competitor’s move becomes a threat. We name what is happening, make a judgment, and move on.
But the meaning of a moment is rarely fully visible while we are still living through it.
I explore the connection between this story and Jung’s idea of the tension of the opposites, and why staying with uncertainty can sometimes create more wisdom than resolving it too quickly. The goal isn’t indecision. It’s the ability to remain curious long enough for the larger story to reveal itself.
Join me as I explore:
☑️ Why our desire for certainty can lead us to premature conclusions
☑️ The difference between tolerating ambiguity and becoming fluent in uncertainty
☑️ How leaders can hold competing possibilities without forcing an immediate answer
☑️ Why curiosity can be more useful than certainty when the outcome is still unfolding
☑️ What becomes possible when we leave room for the “third thing” to emerge
Key Takeaways
☑️ Not every moment needs an immediate verdict.
☑️ The meaning of an event often changes as its consequences unfold.
☑️ Strong leadership requires the ability to act without pretending to know more than we do.
☑️ Staying curious in uncertainty can open possibilities that premature conclusions close down.
☑️ Sometimes “I don’t know yet” is not a weakness. It is a form of wisdom.
If this episode resonates with you, subscribe to the podcast and share it with a leader or colleague who might appreciate the reminder to stay open to what comes next.
#Leadership #LeadershipDevelopment #Wisdom #Curiosity #DecisionMaking
Steven Morris, CEO of Matter Consulting is an ever-curious life-seeker, brand and culture building expert, advisor, author, and speaker.
With over 27 years of entrepreneurial experience, he has served as a trusted advisor to over 3,000 business leaders and evolved more than 250 brands and cultures, including Google, Habitat for Humanity, Samsung, and Disney.
His best-selling book, "The Beautiful Business," and his widely read Insights blog are a testament to his consulting expertise in creating unignorable, magnetic, and sustainable companies.
His diverse interests, including meditation, fine art painting, surfing, and beekeeping, infuse his work with creativity, soul, and a deep understanding of the human experience.
You can find more podcasts and join 30,000+ other brilliant and soulful readers of his weekly INSIGHTS blog at MatterCo.