This weekend, I had the profound honor of swimming alongside some of our country's finest—Navy SEALs, Olympic and professional athletes, and other patriots—at the NYC Navy SEAL Swim. This remarkable event, a 3.5-mile swim in the Hudson River followed by a flag run and three grueling honor workouts, is more than just a test of physical endurance. It's a tribute to the Navy SEAL Foundation and their critical work, raising both funds and awareness.

As I prepared for this event, I did what many of us instinctively do when facing a challenge: I sought to control every variable. I trained rigorously, devised a systematic plan for my strokes, and rehearsed the exact moments to switch to a recovery stroke. I organized my approach meticulously, convinced that a rigid adherence to these protocols would ensure my success. But as I plunged into the waters of the Hudson, the reality was starkly different.

The techniques and cues I had trained with were valuable—essential, even—but in the heat of the moment, rigidly following them would have been my undoing. The water was unpredictable, the currents strong, and the situation far more dynamic than any controlled environment could replicate. It was in that moment I realized the true essence of success in such a challenge: the ability to adapt.

This experience served as a powerful reminder that in both life and business, rigid protocols can only take us so far. Our training and preparation provide the foundation, but it is our adaptability—our willingness to respond to the unforeseen, to adjust our approach in real-time—that ultimately determines our success.

As leaders, executives, and business owners, we often find ourselves in situations where the plan we meticulously crafted starts to unravel in the face of reality. The market shifts, client demands change, or unforeseen challenges arise. In these moments, clinging to a rigid process can lead us to sink. But when we lightly regard our protocols, using them as guides rather than unyielding rules, we open ourselves to the possibilities that adaptability brings.

This principle is not just about survival; it's about thriving in the face of uncertainty. Our ability to remain flexible, to pivot when necessary, and to trust in our training and instincts, empowers us to navigate the complexities of business and life with grace. It allows us to turn challenges into opportunities, setbacks into lessons, and uncertainty into a playground for innovation.

In your professional journey, remember that while processes and protocols are important, they are not the end-all-be-all. The real key to success lies in your ability to adapt, to flow with the currents of change, and to trust in the preparation you've done. Just as I learned in the Hudson River, success comes not from rigid control, but from the art of adaptability—embracing the unexpected, and finding your rhythm in the midst of it.

Here's to navigating the waters of life and business with flexibility and confidence, knowing that our greatest strength lies not in our ability to control, but in our ability to adapt.