At some point in our evolutionary history, our forebears crawled up out of the sea onto the beach into the sunlight and the air.

On June 6, 1944, the Allied Forces stormed the beaches at Normandy to effect a turning point in the Second World War.

The beachhead: a critical component of success. In evolution, in battle, in business and in life.

As a coach, I collaborate often with folks who want – and need – to storm the beach.

Making change, effecting transformation, is difficult, exhausting work. It’s not for the feint of heart.

It takes courage and audacity.

But even more than that, it takes tenacity.

It takes stick-to-it-ness.

A willingness to do whatever it takes. Unfailing effort… and resolve.

And faith too.

Because, so often, especially in the early going, you can’t see your progress. You feel as if you’re stuck in the surf, drowning; it feels like the bullets are flying everywhere. It feels chaotic and discouraging; stressful and depressing.

Our biggest breakthroughs, of course – our most worthy objectives – the deepest expressions of who we are – lay just outside our comfort zones… and it’s comfortable inside our comfort zones… who really wants to venture out… when there’s so much danger … and uncertainty. Who really wants to climb out of that boat into that icy water and swim for the shore when the risk of failure is so high.

And it’s easy at the outset to give up, to turn back, to play it safe.

It’s critical, then, to your success to brave the battle, to stay the course, even when the challenges are daunting and the outlook bleak, even when your energy… and your faith begin to flag. It’s essential to fight the waves and dodge the bullets and defy the odds… to finally stand upon that beach.

Because, what’s interesting is, that once you’ve gotten up on the beach, once you’ve established a beachhead, it all changes up.

On the beach, for the first time, you dig in, get some footing, set a foundation, build some momentum. Suddenly, it feels like you’ve established a presence and made some progress.

You see – at last – the first fruits of all your hard work.

From the beach, you can finally see the light, finally see the possibilities. 

From the beach, you’ve seen the evidence of the effort; you can feel the anticipation; your confidence builds; you know there’s hope.

You know in that moment that you can – and will – succeed.

Time and again I’ve seen the joy in our client’s eyes when they’ve gotten to this place.

Whatever it takes, whatever it takes: Get to the beach.