Stop Treading Water: Are You Swimming or Building a Boat?

The Lifeguard Problem

My dissertation chair once told me I was "lost swimming in the ocean". He wasn’t wrong, but he wasn’t helpful, either. He was a lifeguard watching me drown from the safety of the beach.

Most "experts" are like that—they can diagnose the mechanical failure of your struggle, but they can’t give you a compass. At the Apex of Truth, we don’t just watch you swim. We partner with you to engineer the vessel.

The Myth of "Doing it All."

Let’s be honest: most of us have good intentions. We set out to do something momentous—start a business, earn a degree, or build a relationship that lasts—but time takes its toll.

Motivation is fleeting. There is only so much fuel in the tank for the discipline required to do "everything". As Client Zero, I have been there, lost in the ocean. For a long time, I didn't want to admit I was lost because I felt I would be letting myself and others down.

Survival is a System, Not a Feeling

There comes a time when you can no longer tread water. Surviving in the ocean is not about how hard you swim; it’s about the structural integrity of the vessel getting you to your goals.

If survival instincts tell us anything, it’s that we must go with the flow, but we must also seek help. When I progressed through my dissertation, there were times when it felt as if all was lost. What got me through was looking past the immediate waves and asking a simple question: How can I move forward?

The answer was seeking assistance from people beyond my professional circle. I needed a North Star.

How to Get to Stable Ground

To stop drowning and start making progress, you need three things:

• Honesty: You must be honest about your current situation.

• Inventory: You must ask what tools you actually have to get yourself to stable ground.

• Guidance: You must find something that grounds you and seek out specific guidance.

Ready to Find Your North Star?

If you feel like you’re drowning, I encourage you to take the first step toward building your vessel. Coaching is a partnership; I don't do the work for you, but I ensure you aren't doing it alone. Consulting provides the strategy, but you provide the drive.

Complete the Apex of Truth Truth Audit.

Let’s find your North Star together.