What If Consistency Is Not The Problem? PT 2.
My People.
Ready for Part 2? Let’s go.
In Part 1, we explored your zone of impact—that space where your rhythm and consistency meet. It’s where you play your own game and do it well. But what happens when the moment calls for more? When your current level isn’t enough to carry you through the next challenge?
Let’s head back to Roland Garros.
Arthur Fils had just battled through a brutal five-set match. He won. The crowd roared. But the next opponent was only 48 hours away. I imagine Arthur and his team were back on the court the next morning, preparing, reviewing, practicing.
Then came the commentary that stuck with me.
“If Arthur Fils wants to hang with the top 10, it won’t be enough to just play his game. He has to raise his level of play.” And they were right.
He has to expand his zone of impact.
Arthur had flashes of brilliance, moments when you could tell—he had it. But those flashes weren’t yet consistent. And here’s the thing: in leadership, just like in tennis, every now and then you’ll be called to stretch beyond what you’ve trained for. You’ll have to push. Dig deep. Arthur did that in the fifth set of that match, and it earned him the win.
But it cost him.
By the time the match was over, Arthur—just 20 years old—was hunched over in pain during the post-game interview. Less than a day later, he withdrew from the tournament. That small, unsustainable stretch that helped him win the battle... ended up costing him the whole war.
Sound familiar?
As leaders, we often do the same. We rise to a challenge with a burst of superhuman effort. We go beyond our training. We survive the sprint. But we collapse in the marathon. And that’s what burnout looks like.
So the question becomes: what now?
For Arthur—and for all of us—it’s not over. It’s time to train.
The best athletes don’t just show up on game day. They put in the work off the court. They develop strength, endurance, skill—and they practice until the extraordinary becomes routine. Until their zone of impact grows and they can sustain the level that once wore them out.
Leaders have to do the same.
If you want to increase your zone of impact—really increase it—you need to train. You need to study your craft. Sharpen your voice. Strengthen your presence. Refine your pace.
That might mean reading new books. Attending webinars. Earning certifications. Practicing the leadership moves you want to make until they come as naturally as breathing.
Because when the next big moment arrives—and it will—you don’t want to stretch to meet it. You want to rise with strength already in your bones.
At Messy Roots, we’ve created two ways to help you do just that.
First, our Coaching Clinic—a free space to practice, learn, and reflect with other leaders who are committed to their growth.
Second, our Coaching Academy—a deeper investment in expanding your zone of impact. It’s for leaders who want to build a coaching practice, support others, and lead from a place of rhythm, not reaction.
So the invitation is clear:
Come train with us. Grow with us. Build your rhythm. Expand your impact.
I'll see you at practice.
Grow Through It: Coaching Approaches for Everyday Leadership
A free 1-hour interactive coaching clinic for social impact leaders
📅 Tuesday, June 24th | 🕛 12:00 PM EST | 📍 Via Zoom
What if leadership was about growing your team members—rather than managing them?
Join us for Grow Through It, a 1-hour coaching clinic for social impact leaders who want to lead with more intention, curiosity, and care. This session introduces the Messy Roots Coaching Framework, with an emphasis on our Narrative Coaching Approach—a method grounded in storytelling, deep listening, and cultural humility.
Influenced by the wisdom of leaders like Audre Lorde, this approach centers identity, power, and presence as core leadership capacities. Instead of giving all the answers, you’ll learn to guide powerful questions that help your team grow, build trust, and lead themselves.
You’ll walk away with:
A clear understanding of the difference between managing and coaching
Practical tools to integrate coaching into your daily leadership
Narrative-based strategies to unlock team growth and accountability
A space to reflect and reconnect with your purpose as a leader
This session is free and open to leaders across sectors.
Come ready to explore what it means to grow through the work—not just push through it.
Are you a social impact leader ready to launch your coaching business?
The Messy Roots Coaching Academy is designed to equip you with the tools to become a powerful and effective coach.
Cohort 6 begins July 2nd and offers a virtual, values-driven certification experience focused on healing, equity, and real-world impact.
Program highlights:
Registered Coaching Training Provider
100% Virtual and Accessible
Flexible Payment Options
Centered on Equity and Healing
Small, Supportive Cohort Sizes
Led by Founder and Coaching Facilitator Mario Jovan
Sessions are held Wednesdays, 5:30–7:45 PM EST.
Learn more and apply at: messyroots.org/coachingschool