Want to Lead? Step Into the Cold.

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People ask me why I cold plunge in arctic temperatures. It’s because every time I look at that freezing water, I feel fear. Fear of defeat. Fear of self-loathing if I fail to reach my mark. But I also know that every plunge is a 20-mile march — a disciplined, deliberate push forward, no matter how brutal the conditions.


Leadership is no different.


The 20-mile march is the mark of disciplined leadership — steadfast, measured progress regardless of the conditions. It’s not about sprinting when the path is easy or retreating when the storm hits. It’s about committing to forward motion, day in and day out, no matter the obstacles. The strongest leaders don’t wait for ideal circumstances; they push through resistance, taking each step with purpose, even when everything in them wants to quit.


Some leaders march through boardrooms; others march through the ice. 

Shackleton did both.


In Alfred Lansing’s book Endurance, he recounts Shackleton’s 1914 expedition to Antarctica, where his ship, Endurance, became trapped and ultimately crushed by the ice. Shackleton and his crew were left stranded in one of the most unforgiving environments on Earth.


At that moment, Shackleton had a choice: surrender to fear or lead his men through the impossible.


He chose to lead.


For nearly two years, he kept his crew alive. Every decision was calculated. Every hardship, endured. He navigated treacherous ice fields, braved an open-sea voyage in a lifeboat, and crossed uncharted mountains with nothing but grit and determination. Against all odds, every single one of his men survived — a testament to his relentless leadership.


Shackleton didn’t just endure hardship — he embraced it. He understood that leadership isn’t about waiting for an easy path; it’s about stepping into discomfort and doing what others won’t.


True leaders don’t avoid the hard things — they embrace them. The plunge into cold water, the uncomfortable conversations, the decisions that carry risk — these define leadership. Shackleton didn’t have the luxury of quitting. As leaders, neither do we — not if we want to reach our true potential.


The true test of leadership isn’t found in moments of comfort but in moments of crisis. Shackleton marched forward, and so must we. Not recklessly, but with endurance. Not just for ourselves, but for those who follow us.


So yes, I cold plunge in arctic temperatures. Because every time I do, I remind myself that leadership is about stepping into discomfort, conquering fear, and pressing forward — one 20-mile march at a time.


What’s your cold plunge? What hard thing are you avoiding?


If you want to lead, you must first step into the unknown. 


Take the step.




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