It was 6 AM in Los Angeles.
I was driving to train a client in Pacific Palisades when the news broke: 9/11.
My mom was in New York.
The phone lines were down.
Half my life had been spent there.
I’ll never forget the fear, the shock, the helplessness.
But I’ll also never forget this truth: sometimes you don’t get to choose the moment. You only get to decide to keep going.
When Life Doesn’t Give You Options
➡️ 2020: I had to pivot my business overnight when the world shut down.
➡️ 2022: I packed up and moved somewhere I didn’t know a soul.
➡️ Today: CEOs call me when their world is spinning, their board is demanding, and burnout is eating them alive.
Each time, the only option was forward.
That’s resilience.
And that’s the line between compliance and commitment.
Compliance vs Commitment
🔹 Compliance checks boxes. People do what they’re told, but ownership is missing.
🔹 Commitment inspires people to step up, innovate, and care enough to go beyond the job description.
President Obama once called 9/11 survivor Lauren Manning “the most resilient person in the world.” Burned on 80% of her body, she fought back, showed up, and rebuilt her life.
That’s not compliance.
That’s not even commitment.
That’s resilience.
And resilience is contagious.
The GRIT Factor
Then I read Austin Hatch’s story — a man who survived two plane crashes and still found a way to lead. His mantra?
Source: https://austin-hatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Layer-1021.jpg
G.R.I.T. = Growth Mindset, Resilience, Integrity, Team-First Mentality
💡 Growth Mindset – Instead of “why me,” it’s “what now?”
💡 Resilience – Taking the punch, then stepping back into the ring.
💡 Integrity – Doing the right thing, even when no one’s watching.
💡 Team First – Building trust so no one fights alone.
This isn’t theory. It’s the human edge that makes or breaks leaders.
Why It Matters for Leaders
The CEOs I work with don’t just want teams who “get it done.” They want teams that:
✔️ Own the mission like it’s their own
✔️ Anticipate problems before they hit the boardroom
✔️ Stay loyal through disruption because they’re committed, not just compliant
Because compliance survives.
Commitment sustains.
And GRIT transforms.
Final Thought
As a leader, your job isn’t to extract more output.
It’s to inspire deeper ownership.
The question isn’t, “How do I make my people comply?”
It’s, “How do I earn their commitment — and model GRIT when it matters most?”
Because stress is not a strategy.
And resilience isn’t optional anymore — it’s the currency of leadership.
🎧 Hear Lauren Manning’s story [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aspRsnQ_weA ].
👉 Ready to rebuild your leadership edge? Book a BOSS Legacy Diagnostic™ Call.