A Manifesto: Why Future-Focused Leaders Must Stay in the Game

As we move further into the new year, many of us are finding it hard to shake the exhaustion from the year that just passed. 2024 tested us in ways we could never have anticipated. The economy seemed like it was on a seesaw, teetering between hope and despair. Early predictions of a looming recession dominated headlines, only for the downturn to never arrive. Instead, we faced a series of localized crises and unexpected recoveries that left even the most seasoned economists scratching their heads.

Then there was the election—a fractious, high-stakes contest that laid bare our divisions yet again. It’s safe to say the political climate only added to the unease of an already turbulent time.

Perhaps the most unsettling moment of the year came with the tragic murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, an event that sent shockwaves through the business community. It wasn’t just the act itself that shocked us—though that was horrific and senseless. What left so many of us shaken was the public reaction: the cheers that erupted from many corners of society. It revealed an undercurrent of anger and disillusionment that can no longer be ignored.

One of our clients recently met with his board. They told him he’d need to cut back on travel and stop visiting local markets. They told him that he’d have to enhance his personal security detail. They also informed him that he’d probably have to cover the extra costs himself because the IRS counts off-duty security as taxable compensation… 

And the chaos didn’t stop when the calendar flipped over. Many of our clients and friends just lost their homes in the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. The sheer scale of the destruction is staggering, and the personal toll—both physical and emotional—continues to weigh heavily on people I care deeply about. It’s a stark reminder of how fragile our lives and communities can be, and how much we’ll rely on one another to rebuild and recover.

Understandably, many leaders I’ve spoken with are feeling dismayed, even fearful. Some have quietly admitted that they’re not sure how much longer they can keep going—or why they even should. The pressure of guiding organizations, teams, and communities through such uncertainty is exhausting. And it’s tempting to retreat from the fray and let someone else shoulder the burden.

But let me tell you this: we need you now more than ever. We need leaders who are willing to stay in the game, even when the game feels unwinnable. If every one of you decided to retire, cash out, or go lead a small nonprofit, where would that leave the rest of us? There’s a great quote often misattributed to Edmund Burke: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” It’s a stark reminder that complacency is not neutral. It’s a choice. Choose wisely.

And things will change. They always do. As leaders, we can’t afford to let ourselves get stuck in the now. The challenges we face today, as daunting as they seem, are not the final chapter. Leadership is about perspective—about lifting your gaze above the immediate storm to envision the horizon beyond it. It’s about refusing to be defined by what is and choosing instead to focus on what could be. The best leaders don’t just react to the present; they create the future. They find the courage to dream, even when it feels impossible, and the conviction to act when others are frozen by doubt.

I understand the temptation to give up, but you cannot abandon the field. Not now. The world is crying out for leadership—not just management, not just stewardship, but true, visionary leadership that charts a path forward through the uncertainty.

This is your moment. This is your test. Great leaders don’t just rise to meet the challenges of their time—they define them. They show us what’s possible when others can only see what’s broken. They remind us of our shared humanity when we’re most at risk of forgetting it.

So, my challenge to you—to us—as we step into 2025 is simple: Stay in the game. Show up. Be present. Lead with courage and conviction. The world is watching, yes, but more importantly, the world is waiting. Waiting for leaders who believe that even in our darkest moments, there is light to be found. Waiting for leaders who refuse to accept that this is as good as it gets. As I often say, leadership isn’t measured when everything’s going well. The test of a roof is when it’s raining.

Monday is Martin Luther King Day, and Jump doesn’t have the day off. Years ago, we decided to turn MLK day into a service day, because we didn’t think that the best way to remember the good doctor was with a ski weekend. And we might do well to learn from his frustrations and failures. Dr. King said that the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice. He could equally have said that the arc of the moral universe bends toward justice…but it is long. : )