Burn the map, keep the compass.
At some point in every leader’s journey, the plan stops working.
The map you’ve been following (quarterly goals, hiring strategy, product roadmap) suddenly feels off. It’s not just that things are changing around you. It’s that something deeper has shifted within you.
And, if you’re honest, the old map isn’t just outdated, it’s heavy. It was built for a version of you that no longer exists.
You feel it in the meetings where you’re going through the motions.
In the strategy sessions where nothing really clicks.
In the ideas that look good on paper but no longer feel true in your gut.
Here’s what I want to tell you: You don’t need a better map. You need to trust your compass.
Maps are useful, until they’re not.
A map gives you structure.
It helps you get started.
It’s helpful when the territory is predictable.
But, when the terrain changes, the map becomes a liability. It keeps you anchored to what worked then, not what’s needed now.
In a season of change, leaders often cling tighter to the map.
They tweak. Adjust. Reforecast.
All in hopes of forcing an old plan to fit a new reality.
But, change doesn’t ask for a revision.
It asks for a reset.
True story.
That doesn’t mean throwing everything away. It means getting radically honest about what’s still serving you. And, what’s not.
Because if the map no longer reflects the landscape, then following it isn’t strategy. It’s self-sabotage.
Your compass, though? That’s different.
Your compass is your internal clarity.
Your values. Your beliefs. Your non-negotiables.
It doesn’t give you a turn-by-turn route. It gives you direction.
The best leaders I know don’t lead from perfect plans.
They lead from alignment.
They know what matters most, and they move from there.
They’re willing to change tactics, org charts, even markets, so long as their “why” stays intact.
That’s the difference between being rigid and being right.
Rigid leaders cling to the plan.
The best leaders stay true to the mission, even when the plan changes.
So ask yourself:
What are you holding onto that no longer fits?
Is it an outdated vision of success?
A team structure that doesn’t scale?
A role you’ve outgrown?
A product you keep investing in because of sunk cost?
This is the work: Letting go of the map, without losing your sense of direction.
You’re not abandoning the mission.
You’re refusing to worship the methods.
Burn the map.
Keep the compass.
Try this:
Set aside time this week, just 20 quiet minutes, with no distractions.
Ask yourself:
What no longer fits the season we’re in?
What am I pretending still works, just because I don’t want to face the cost of change?
What values are still rock solid, and how can I lead from those more?
You don’t need to know the whole path.
You just need to know your next true step.
And, you already do, if you’re willing to listen.
This week’s reflection:
What’s no longer working, and what values will guide what’s next?
Stop tweaking a map that leads you back to the past.
Start following your compass toward what matters now.
It’s quieter.
It’s harder.
It’s truer.
And, it’s how the best leaders move forward.
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Steve Knox | Kansas City
\\\ Thanks for reading. If you don’t know your values, reach out. It’s a coaching session I’ve fine-tuned for my clients. A conversation we should have. Reply to this post or text me +18329159877. Until next week. Be honest. Be you. Much love.