Standing on Sharp Ground

There’s a photo I keep returning to, a lone heron perched on top of a tall cactus, mountains fading into the background. It’s not where you’d expect to find a bird built for wetlands and mangroves. The cactus is rigid, uneven, uncomfortable. And yet, there it stands: calm, balanced, unbothered.

The more I look at it, the more I realize how deeply it mirrors the seasons so many founders and creatives find themselves in.

We don’t always get to build on soft ground.
Business isn’t always smooth terrain.
Sometimes the conditions are sharp, unpredictable, or nothing like what we imagined.

And yet, we’re still called to stand.

Finding clarity in uncomfortable places

Most people assume clarity comes after things get easier.
But clarity often arrives in the discomfort, when the ground feels unfamiliar, when the next step isn’t obvious, when the weight of responsibility is real.

The heron remains steady not because the cactus is soft, but because it knows how to hold itself.

That’s the real work of entrepreneurship:
learning to think clearly even when the ground beneath you isn’t designed to make it easy.

Grace doesn’t require perfect conditions

The cactus represents the circumstances we don’t choose:
the market shifts, client pauses, staffing issues, personal transitions, the phase where everything feels more like survival than strategy.

But the heron reminds us:
you can still rise above the discomfort.
You can still hold your center.
You can still lead with calm precision in chaotic environments.

Grace is not a luxury.
It’s a discipline.

Perspective comes from elevation, not ease

The higher vantage point matters.
From where it stands, the heron can see what’s coming, what’s passing, and what’s possible.

In business, that’s strategy.

Not frantic decision-making.
Not reactive hustle.
Not rushing to fix what feels urgent.

Strategy is the quiet elevation that lets you see beyond the moment.

Strength without force

There’s a beautiful contrast here:

The cactus is built for survival.
The heron is built for adaptability.

Together, they show us that strong businesses are not just structured—they’re responsive.
Not rigid, not chaotic—steadily aware.

That’s the sweet spot where real growth happens.

A reminder for your season

If you’re in a sharp season—balancing more than feels comfortable, navigating transitions, expanding your capacity, or rethinking your next chapter—this image is an anchor:

You can stand tall even here.
You can see clearly even now.
You can build something real, even on difficult ground.

As always, clarity doesn’t ask for perfect conditions.
It asks for presence, perspective, and a willingness to rise above the noise.

And you don’t have to stand on the cactus alone.

If you’re navigating one of these seasons and want support that actually fits where you are, you can learn more about our advisory work here