The High Cost of Comfort Culture
We all love a good hero story.
David and Goliath, Lord of the Rings, The Miracle on Ice, The Little Engine that Could, [insert your favorite here].
An underwhelming, unusual hero faces an insurmountable challenge and succeeds.
We smile, we cry, we feel inspired. Sometimes, perhaps, we love the ending so much, we forget the labor required to get there.
In none of these hero stories does the hero/ine decide midway to shift course and find a path of less resistance. Nor do they buy a 5-step course to achieve success in 30 days. Nor do they take a supplement or start a program that guarantees them a win. Nor do they avoid the confrontational moment with their critics or rivals.
Courage Over Comfort
Our culture has an obsession with comfort culture.
We are constantly being bombarded with ways to do things more swiftly, more easily, more efficiently. We have been hardwired to be motivated by results, and quick ones at that. There is a system, a course, a solution for everything. “Work smarter, not harder,” they say.
We want the heroic ending without the hero’s journey. We want the finish line without the training sessions. We want the peak of the mountain without the climb.
Of course we do– there’s nothing wrong with wanting things to be easier. Conveniences like modern medicine and technology certainly have made our lives less laborious in many ways and we should appreciate those tools, as well as the moments when life does look like a fruit basket. Delightful, hooray. Let’s have a picnic.
But if we know anything about leading teams and companies– really anything about the human condition at all– we know that it’s rarely a picnic. If that sounds like you too, congratulations and welcome! You are normal.
The most influential, innovative, industry-rocking teams, much like our favorite storybook heroes, set out on a journey and don’t take short cuts. It’s not that they have innate super powers, or were divinely destined for success.
How does this apply to us:
But if we know anything about leading teams and companies– really anything about the human condition at all– we know that it’s rarely a picnic. If that sounds like you too, congratulations and welcome! You are normal.
The most influential, innovative, industry-rocking teams, much like our favorite storybook heroes, set out on a journey and don’t take short cuts. It’s not that they have innate super powers, or were divinely destined for success.
They have hard conversations.
They take ownership when things are uncomfortable.
They lean into challenges and innovate solutions, rather than avoiding them.
They may pivot, pause, or plan, but they keep going.
Why This Matters
When we honor the discomfort in the journey, we begin to build something deeper than just results, we build courage. And that courage compounds. It equips us to do hard things, to solve tough problems, and to show up differently in the moments that matter most. And ultimately courage is what will set any organization apart, though rarely captured in your KPIs.
It begs the questions: where are you being challenged right now as a leader? What necessary conversation(s) are you avoiding? How can you encourage your team to lean into the pain points, the hard days, the difficult clients or patients, the delicate circumstances?
Most of our jobs require some mundane functioning: answering the calls, sending the emails, opening the claim, archiving the clutter, though let’s not forget that we are in the business of shaping people and achieving good through the care we offer. It sounds nice, but it comes with a cost in how we execute our days and make decisions. We don’t get to take the easy street. The practices and companies that stand out, who really impact people’s lives, are the ones who prioritize courage over comfort.
The Wayfinder Way: Why We Climb
Every story you’ve ever loved, every hero you’ve ever looked up to, and every adventure you’ve ever been on lives rent-free in your head because at some point along the way, someone decided to not give up. They elected to double-down when things got difficult. You found partners to keep you company and offer solidarity. The moment was met.
This is the Wayfinder Way. True to our name, we love exploring, innovating, and taking the roads less traveled. And we try to practice every opportunity we can get, because we know that courageous teams encourage others. Nothing brings us more joy than hearing you, seeing you, and encouraging you. We might be on different trails, but the journey is steep for everyone.
That’s why we’re here. We love the mountain tops, the valleys, and the plateaus. We love the first steps and the finish line glory. We exist to see you champion the best version of your organization you can.
