Here’s something I’ve learned (sometimes the hard way):
The world isn’t black and white.
Not even close.
Sure, it’s tempting to think in absolutes. It feels safer to box things into “right” or “wrong,” “win” or “lose,” “this way” or “that way.” But the truth? Almost everything that matters lives in the gray.
People are complicated.
Decisions have trade-offs.
Good ideas come with flaws.
Bad ideas might have a sliver of truth.
And if you’re waiting for perfect clarity, or the perfect answer, or the perfect timing — you’re waiting for something that doesn’t exist.
Perfection is a trap. Perfection is the enemy of good.
And good — good is what actually moves you forward.
The real progress happens when you get comfortable in the in-between.
When you say: Okay, this isn’t perfect — but I can work with it.
When you stop holding out for ideal conditions and start making smart choices in messy realities.
Navigating the gray doesn’t mean lowering your standards. It means raising your tolerance for complexity. It means you’re listening closer, seeing more angles, and keeping yourself open to unexpected solutions.
It means you’re not paralyzed by uncertainty — you’re moving through it.
And people notice. They trust the person who can hold tension without falling apart. They respect the leader who can say, “It’s complicated,” and still make progress.
So if you want to get ahead — in work, in life, in leadership — get comfortable in the gray.
That’s where the real momentum lives.