Many successful leaders carry a quiet question in the back of their minds about what’s next, what they truly want, or whether something needs to change. Even as they continue doing good work and leading effectively, that question lingers beneath the surface. They may not even realize it’s there—or they may have become so accustomed to it that they’ve stopped paying attention. 

In this episode, you’ll learn why noticing that question may be the first step toward greater clarity, purpose, and possibility.

Gayle Lantz reflects on a formative experience training under Richard Bolles, author of What Color Is Your Parachute?, and the lesson he taught her about getting past the story to find the real question underneath. As Gayle explains, “Don’t start by trying to solve your whole life, start by finding the best question.”

She shares why the stories we tell ourselves, “I’ve always done it this way,” “it’s too late for me now,” can create a false truth, and how the courage to name what we’re really asking can bring more relief than we expect. 

Gayle also reminds listeners that reflecting on the future doesn’t mean abandoning the present, and that big change doesn’t have to happen all at once; it can unfold in layers, one small step at a time.

This episode is an invitation to pause, get curious, and give yourself permission to have the conversation with someone else or with yourself about what’s really next.

This episode covers:

• The question many leaders are afraid to ask themselves
• A lesson learned from Richard Bolles on finding the real question beneath the story
• How the stories we repeat can unknowingly become “the whole truth”
• Why thinking about the future doesn’t mean giving up on the present.
• Making change in layers instead of one big leap
• An invitation to reflect: What’s the real work that matters to you now?