I coach leaders for a living, and lately I’ve been struck by a simple truth: our biggest wins won’t come from more pressure or more noise. They’ll come from smarter influence, real co-creation, and bolder bets on the right kind of infrastructure—on Earth and in space. My view is clear: the leaders who stop pushing and start pulling will own the future.
Influence Is Pull, Not Push
Bob Burg reminded me why influence starts with how we show up for others. He defined it in a way that cuts through the fluff. Influence is the “pull” created when your goals align with someone else’s values and needs.
“Great influencers don’t push their ideas. They don’t push their will on others. She’s influential. She has a lot of pull with people.” — Bob Burg
That’s not soft; that’s smart. Pull works because it respects agency and builds trust. It’s how you earn commitment instead of chasing compliance. Ask the questions that matter: Does what I want help them solve a problem? Does it move them closer to happiness? If the answer is yes, you won’t need a hard sell.
Space Isn’t Hype—It’s Infrastructure
Phil Scully of Valerian Space Ventures made a point most leaders miss. Space isn’t a sci-fi playground. It’s the next infrastructure buildout. Power, communications, and propulsion off-Earth will shape markets on Earth.
“We’re investing in the plumbing of space… power, communications, propulsion. It no longer is science fiction.” — Phil Scully
This isn’t abstract. It’s strategic—and competitive. Phil flagged the stakes with a blunt update on the moon race.
“The Chinese… have two rovers on the dark side of the moon… They’re looking for water. If they find water, then the Chinese will dominate launch from the moon.” — Phil Scully
Here’s my take: leaders who still treat space as a sideshow will miss the biggest compounding returns of the next 30 years. SpaceX is the headline, but the real play is the ecosystem of hardware firms building the grid above our heads. Ignore it at your own risk.
Co-Creation Beats Lone Genius
Jason Wilde, coauthor of Genius at Scale, killed the myth that one star can carry a company. The best organizations don’t worship a hero. They design for co-creation and execution.
“Most of the great ideas fall apart at the integration stage… people don’t take risks with people they don’t trust.” — Jason Wilde
Jason’s ABCs of innovation leadership line up with what I see with clients:
- Architects build the environment and norms that let new ideas live.
- Bridgers connect seams so ideas don’t die in silos.
- Catalysts set a mission bigger than themselves, then get out of the way.
This isn’t theory. It’s a working model for firms under pressure from AI, shifting markets, and shorter cycles. You can’t mandate innovation. You have to invite it.
What Leaders Should Do Now
If the ground is moving under your feet, the answer isn’t more control. It’s better design and bolder learning.
- Adopt wayfinding: pick one or two big questions and explore them with your team for 6–12 months.
- Shine light on blockers: build a public scorecard of top risks and constraints, then attack them.
- Staff for the ABCs: name your Architects, Bridgers, and Catalysts; fill the gaps fast.
- Practice pull: tie asks to the other side’s goals; aim for commitment, not compliance.
- Track space as core infrastructure: power, comms, propulsion—treat it like the next grid.
Each step creates momentum and reduces fear. Put together, they form a simple operating system for today’s chaos.
The Counterpoint, Answered
Some will say this is soft, or that space is far off, or that co-creation slows things down. I don’t buy it. Pull beats push because it turns resistance into buy-in. Space is already commercial and strategic. And co-creation only slows you if you mistake meetings for work. Real co-creation is fast because it reduces rework, politics, and stall-outs at the seams.
The Choice In Front Of Us
I’m optimistic. Not naive—optimistic. We’re staring at a rare opening. Influence that respects others. Infrastructure that expands what’s possible. Teams that scale ideas because trust is built in. That’s the play.
Pick one move this week. Ask the pull questions in your next pitch. Post the blocker scorecard. Identify your Bridgers. And start tracking space like it’s your next supply chain—because it is.
Stop pushing. Lead with pull and purpose. The future will meet you halfway when you do.
