Not Meant to Stay the Same

The Call to Re-Fit, Re-Align, and Re-Awaken in Your Business and Your Life

When Charles Darwin introduced the idea of "survival of the fittest," he wasn't talking about brute strength or incredible endurance. He wasn't saying the most aggressive or dominant species would win. He meant something far more nuanced- and far more relevant to business and leadership today.

Fitness, in Darwin's terms, is about adaptability. It's about how well an organism fits its environment. The cactus thrives in the desert not because it's strong, but because it's adapted- its physiology and structure are in sync with the demands of its environment. Same with the polar bear in the Arctic. Or the dolphin in the sea.

The fittest survive because they fit best. Not because they fight hardest.

That's where this gets personal.

What Does It Mean to "Fit" in Business?

Most of us are taught to grind. Push through. Make it work.

But what if the reason you're stuck isn't because you're lazy or undisciplined? What if you're just trying to be a dolphin in the desert?

"Fitness" in business isn't about hustle. It's about alignment.

Are you in a role that matches your strengths, instincts, and energy?

Are you building a business that reflects your values and vision?

Are your team members set up to thrive—or are they grinding in the wrong lanes?

When you fit, it flows. When you don't, everything feels harder than it should.

I see this all the time in my work with founders and leadership teams. A business owner who once loved building now feels trapped running operations. A high-performer on a leadership team starts missing targets—not because they lack talent, but because they're in the wrong seat. A team full of brilliant individuals keeps missing the mark because they're not playing together—they're just playing near each other.

That's not failure. That's misalignment. And recognizing it is the first step on a new adventure.

What It Feels Like to Not Fit

If you've ever felt like something was off, but you couldn't quite put your finger on it- this might be it.

Not fitting can feel like:

• Exhaustion that doesn't go away with rest

• Low-grade resentment toward your work or your team

• Anxiety before meetings or key decisions

• Loss of creativity and joy

• A sense that you're working against something, not with it

It's not always dramatic. Often, it's subtle. Quiet. You keep showing up. But you're shrinking on the inside.

That's the danger. Because the longer you stay misaligned, the more it starts to feel normal.

But it's not. And you don't have to stay there. This is where your journey toward true alignment begins.

Charting Your Course Forward

When you recognize that you or someone on your team feels out of place, it's not time to abandon ship- it's time to adjust your sails. You have three powerful levers to pull:

1. Adapt the Role to the Person

Sometimes, the role is rigid- but it doesn't have to be. Every position on your team should be a living thing, not a static job description.

Ask:

• What energizes this person?

• What drains them?

• What are they naturally good at, even if they don't realize it?

Real-life example: I worked with a COO who was drowning in the financial side of the business but lit up when he was working with people and culture. We shifted ownership of the financial metrics to another leader and redefined his seat around organizational development. The change was instant. He was back in his zone, and the company accelerated because of it.

2. Grow the Person Into the Role

Sometimes the role is a great fit- but the person just isn't ready yet.

That doesn't mean you swap them out. It means you develop them.

Ask:

• What skills or capacities does this role require?

• What support, mentorship, or coaching would help this person grow?

• Is this a stretch that leads to growth- or a setup for failure?

Growth always involves tension. The key is to create challenge with support. Like a mountain climber scaling new heights, the right equipment and guidance make all the difference. The climb will still be difficult, but it will strengthen rather than deplete.

3. Transform the Environment Entirely

And sometimes, neither the role nor the person is the issue.

The business model is outdated. The market has shifted. The founder has evolved- but the business hasn't. You've become someone new, but you're still running the playbook from five years ago.

This is where real leadership comes in. You might need to make bold moves:

• Redesign your org chart.

• Shift your company culture.

• Build a new offer or sunset an old one.

• Leave behind what's "working" if it no longer feels alive.

This kind of transformation isn't easy. It's like deciding to forge an entirely new path through uncharted territory. But explorers who dare to venture beyond familiar landscapes often discover the most valuable treasures.

You Can Fit Without Conforming

Here's something I wish more people said out loud: You can belong without being the same.

Fitting doesn't mean you have to contort yourself to match the crowd. It means finding a place—or creating one—where your uniqueness is an asset, not a liability.

As a founder, you get to shape that environment. You get to decide what your business values, how your team operates, and what kind of people thrive there.

And as a human being, you get to decide what you need to thrive. What environments bring out your best. What kind of work makes you feel most alive.

Don't confuse survival with success. Don't confuse fitting in with being small.

Real fitness is finding (or forging) the space where you can be fully you—and still win.

The Adventure Awaits

If you feel out of place in your work or your leadership—don't panic. You're not broken. You're just being called to adventure. To evolve. To remember what Darwin actually meant.

Survival isn't about being the strongest. It's about becoming the most fit.

And fitness is always available to those willing to adapt.

Think of it this way: The salmon that swims upstream doesn't do so because it's easy- it does so because that journey is encoded in its very being. Your discomfort might be pointing you toward the exact path you need to take.

Reach out to start the conversation.