The Cost of Clarity: Why Most Leaders Avoid Their True Calling
Then one ordinary day, it all unraveled. A closed-door meeting. A short conversation. A title gone. Just like that, the life he had built was over.
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But what felt like failure was actually freedom. Losing that title forced Josh to confront the question he had been too busy to ask: What was I really made to do?
The answer changed everything. The answer gave Josh clarity. Today, Josh is the author of The Kairo Code and the founder of Bridge Builder Live. He purchased Five Bridges Farm, eighty acres outside Madison, and turned it into a place where leaders gather for workshops, masterminds, and renewal. Instead of chasing someone else’s definition of success, Josh is helping others do the deep, inner work that leads to real transformation.
What looked like the end of a career became the beginning of a calling.
We love the idea of clarity until it tells us something we do not want to hear. That is when we fill our calendars with meetings, commitments, and constant hustle, convincing ourselves we are too busy to slow down. The truth is, most leaders are not unclear about their calling; they’re just avoiding it. Clarity does not just give answers, it makes demands. It forces us to confront the uncomfortable question: Am I living the life I was meant for, or just the life I built by default?
Over the years, I have met leaders who appear to have it all together. They hold impressive titles, draw healthy paychecks, and are celebrated in their industries. Yet behind closed doors, they are restless and even miserable. Why? Because they are chasing someone else’s definition of success.
Sometimes that definition comes from a parent or family expectations. At other times it is shaped by Hollywood or the highlight reels of social media. Too often, it is simply about money. They are chasing the game instead of leaning into their gifts.
Others confuse passion with calling, mistaking a hobby for their life’s work. Passion may excite you, but calling sustains you. Without clarity, many drift from one distraction to another, chasing whatever feels urgent but never committing to what they were truly designed for. Sometimes this happens because they do not know their gifts. Other times it is because they cannot see a real path forward that allows them to use those gifts.
Clarity often comes when we pause long enough to renew our minds, strip away distractions, and get honest about what truly matters. It is less about seeing every step of the journey and more about having enough light for the next step. When we align our decisions with our deepest values and stop trying to control every outcome, the path forward becomes straighter and clearer.
Clarity is never cheap. It might cost you the approval of people who do not understand your choices. It might cost the safety of a predictable paycheck or the comfort of being “important.” And yes, it will strip away the illusion that busyness equals worth.
But here is the deeper truth: confusion charges interest. Every day you delay, you pay with frustration, exhaustion, and a little more of the life you were meant to live.
So ask yourself:
Whose definition of success am I chasing?
What distractions am I using to avoid facing what I already know?
What small step could I take this week to move closer to my true calling?
You may not be able to quit your job tomorrow. Most people cannot. But you can still begin. You can clear space, name your gifts, and take one step toward the work that will sustain you.
Because clarity is not about seeing the whole road. It is about finding enough light for the next step. And when you take that step, the path forward begins to straighten.
So the question is no longer whether clarity is expensive. The question is whether you are willing to keep paying the higher price of staying lost.
About the author
Henry Sanders is the CEO of Madison365, founder of the 365 Leadership Summit, and an executive coach who helps leaders navigate transitions, build trust, and lead with lasting impact — not just surface-level performance. Just stepped into a new leadership role — or preparing for one? Start with a free 15-minute Leadership Audit: a no-pressure session designed to help you clarify your next 100 days and lead with presence, not panic. To schedule your session or learn more about executive coaching, email Henry@365nation.com. Leadership Summit on November 3 — where real leaders come together to build what lasts.