What Bigfoot taught me about Leadership

1. Keep Moving Forward

The worst thing you can do when fear sets in is freeze.

Whether it’s criticism, uncertainty, failure, or an oversized woodland creature, progress is almost always better than paralysis.

Leadership principle: Forward beats perfect.

2. Don’t Make Eye Contact

Not every distraction deserves your attention.

Leaders waste enormous amounts of energy arguing with critics, trolls, and every passing controversy.

Bigfoot might just be looking for attention.

Leadership principle: Focus is a competitive advantage.

3. Don’t Let ’Em See You Sweat

Panic spreads faster than confidence.

Your team watches your face before they listen to your words.

This doesn’t mean pretending everything is fine—it means responding instead of reacting.

Leadership principle: Calm is contagious.

4. It May Be Your Imagination

Sometimes there really is a monster.

Sometimes it’s a tree stump.

Leaders verify before they amplify.

Don’t build an entire strategy around assumptions.

Leadership principle: Facts beat feelings.

5. Close the Loop

Nothing creates anxiety like unfinished business.

Return the call.
Answer the email.
Finish the project.
Have the difficult conversation.

Loose ends have a way of growing larger in our minds.

Leadership principle: Reliability builds trust.

6. Stay on the Narrow Path

Everyone wants the shortcut.

The shortcut usually leads into the woods.

Character often looks slower than compromise, but it almost always arrives at a better destination.

Leadership principle: Integrity is usually the harder trail.

7. Run… If You Need To

There’s a difference between courage and stupidity.

Sometimes the wisest leader retreats.

Sometimes you resign.
Sometimes you change course.
Sometimes you evacuate.

Retreat isn’t failure if it preserves the mission.

Leadership principle: Protect the mission, not your ego.

8. Break Glass Only in Emergencies

Some people live with the emergency alarm permanently activated.

Every disagreement becomes a crisis.

Every inconvenience becomes a catastrophe.

Leaders learn to ask,

“Is this actually urgent… or am I just uncomfortable?”

Leadership principle: Don’t spend tomorrow’s emotional energy on today’s inconvenience.

9. Travel with Good People

You don’t have to outrun Bigfoot.

You just need friends who remind you which direction camp is.

Leadership was never designed to be a solo sport.

Wise counselors shorten difficult journeys.

Leadership principle: Community multiplies courage.

10. Know What’s Behind You

The best leaders don’t become paranoid.

But they do remain aware.

They scan the horizon.

They anticipate problems.

They prepare instead of merely reacting.

Leadership principle: Awareness prevents surprises.

11. Laugh Along the Way

If you lose your sense of humor…

Bigfoot has already won.

Leadership can be serious without taking yourself too seriously.

People follow hopeful leaders.

Leadership principle: Joy is strength.

Closing Thoughts

“Most of us won’t encounter Bigfoot this week.

We will encounter uncertainty, criticism, unexpected challenges, and fear.

Those are the real monsters leaders face.

Keep moving forward.

Stay on the narrow path.

Don’t panic.

And if all else fails…

run as needed.”