When I was struggling with this question—how do you keep going when you can't see if it's working—I found wisdom in one of the most consequential moments in American history. Abraham Lincoln. October 3rd, 1863. A man whose consistent leadership literally held our nation together during its darkest hour. The Civil War is tearing the country apart. Brothers fighting brothers. The outcome? Completely uncertain. The future of the Union itself hangs in the balance. And in the middle of this crisis, this president—carrying the weight of a fragmenting nation on his shoulders—issues the first national Thanksgiving Proclamation. But here's what's remarkable about what he wrote: "The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come..."

As an ambitious person, you may feel that you're carrying impossible weight. Your team depends on you to stay grounded when everything is falling apart. But the very traits that make you an exceptional leader—your drive, your standards, your refusal to quit—are the same traits that will destroy you if you don't learn to lead under pressure differently. This isn't theory. Webb's insights come from standing in spaces most of us will never face: midnight door knocks to tell mothers their child won't be coming home, crisis interventions with loaded weapons involved, leading teams through trauma that would break most people. What he's learned about why leaders fail under pressure and the proven strategy that prevents it isn't just applicable to extreme situations—it's essential for anyone leading teams through high-stakes uncertainty.