Why Controlling the Controllables Isn’t Enough
MARCH 17, 2025
Purely focusing on controlling the controllables creates a comfort zone of predictability. Instead of trying to control everything, the real power comes from building trust in uncertainty. Trusting that you can move forward despite any unknowns that arise.
Control the controllables. And trust the rest.
We hear it all the time: “Control the controllables.” It’s solid advice—focus on what you can influence. But in a world where 100% certainty is impossible, this mindset alone can leave you unprepared for what’s ahead.
Right now, I’m on a ~17-hour flight to New Zealand. And if you’ve ever traveled—especially internationally—you know how unpredictable it can be. Sure, you can control the basics: book the tickets, pack the bag, download the playlist, charge your devices. But once you take off, there’s so much that’s out of your hands. Weather patterns. Flight delays. Sleep cycles. Crying babies. Customs lines. You can’t control any of it.
Option one: Stress about all the things outside your control, resent them, wish they were different.
Option two: Accept them. Be okay with them. Trust that it will all work out.
Because real growth doesn’t come from just managing what’s within reach. It comes from stepping into the unknown and learning to trust what you can’t control.
When we hyper-focus on only the controllables, we create a comfort zone of predictability. That might get us through some challenges—but the future isn’t predictable. Markets shift overnight. Industries get disrupted. Life throws curveballs no one sees coming. And if all you do is stay heads-down inside your control zone, you miss the opportunity to adapt, innovate, and grow when it matters most.
The real strength comes from building trust in uncertainty—trusting that you can keep going, even when the outcome isn’t clear.
That means:
Getting comfortable with the unknown and the uncomfortable.
Accepting the process and adjusting as things evolve.
Acting before certainty shows up—and trusting you’ll figure it out along the way.
The people and organizations that thrive in uncertain times aren’t the ones who cling tightly to control. They’re the ones who lean into the unknown, make decisions with imperfect information, and trust their ability to navigate whatever comes next.
So yes—control what you can. But don’t stop there.
Build the muscle to accept the current situation and move forward, even when you don’t know exactly what’s next.
That’s where real growth—and transformative results—happens.
Meanwhile, Kia ora (Māori for hello), New Zealand; I can’t wait to share our adventures here, Down Under, with all of you.
Key Idea
Trust is the necessary bridge between the things we can control and the things we simply cannot control. Purely focusing on controlling the controllables creates a comfort zone of predictability. Instead of trying to control everything, the real power comes from building real trust in uncertainty. Trusting that you can move forward despite any unknowns that arise.
Takeaway
Control the controllables. And trust the rest.
Build your Movement
What are things you cannot control? Can you let go of trying to control them?
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