Wim Hof is a Dutch extreme athlete recognized for setting over 20 world records in cold endurance, including climbing Mt. Everest while only wearing shorts and shoes. His famous breathing techniques have allowed him to endure extreme cold exposure.
In January I took one of my long-standing clients to a frozen lake in Minnesota for a private session with a certified Wim Hof breathing instructor.
After learning the breathing method, we spent 10 minutes up to our neck in a frozen lake.
Why?
Because every journey of transformation begins with one uncomfortable action.
My client has some massive goals for 2026 that will require him to transform his leadership.
This exercise was intentionally designed to give him an experience representative of what this year would require of him: willingly stepping into discomfort to grow into the leader who can accomplish his 2026 mission.
Here are 3 invaluable lessons we learned from this experience:
#1 – Your First Limit is Never Your REAL Limit
Prior to the cold exposure in the lake, we spent about 45 min working on breathing techniques. When doing breath holds, every fiber of my body was screaming at me, telling me I needed to breathe, and that if I didn’t, I would pass out or die.
But our instructor assured us “Your body can handle this.” So I pushed through and continued to hold my breath. There was a significant amount of initial discomfort and then, a breakthrough.
In the end, I held my breath for two straight minutes, something I never could have done had I given in to my perceived limit.
As entrepreneurs, when you face something that feels impossible, remember that you are capable of far more than you imagine.
#2 – The Story You Tell Yourself BEFORE You Act is Always Your Biggest Obstacle
Thinking about sitting in a frozen lake near Canada in January was not a pleasant thought, but in reality, the anticipation of it was way worse than actually doing it.
How often do we waste valuable time and energy worrying and anticipating a difficult conversation, letting an employee go, making a decision, or starting a challenging project – simply because of the story we tell ourselves about how difficult it’s going to be?
And after much procrastination, we discover that the anticipation of that action was FAR worse than simply doing it!
Whatever you’re hesitating and ruminating on, once you DECIDE to move from anticipation to action, you set yourself free.
#3 – The Stressors You Choose Prepare You for the Stressors You Can’t
There are stressors in life we can control and those we can’t. Most of the stresses in your business are out of your control. Increasing your capacity to handle them is what will elevate your leadership.
Most of us, including myself, do everything we can to avoid stress. However, by doing so, we unintentionally reduce our ability to handle the stresses life and business throw us that are out of our control.
The solution?
Intentionally place yourself in situations that lean into small chosen stressors. This will strengthen your ability to handle the stressors in your life/business you can’t anticipate or control.
What might this look like?
- Allowing a leader to do it “their way” even if it’s not your way
- Giving direct feedback to a high performer who is slightly toxic
- Letting your team make mistakes you would have prevented
- Saying no to a “great opportunity”
- Making decisions with 70% of the information
Before the end of this week, identify ONE uncomfortable action you’ve been avoiding in your business and do it.
Not next quarter.
Not when the timing is “right.”
This week.
You don’t need a frozen lake in Minnesota to start transforming your leadership. You just need to stop negotiating with your discomfort and take the first step.
