Embrace the Messy Middle
Growth rarely follows a perfect, skyward-pointing line.
It lives between point A and point B—where the bumps appear, the peaks and dips are present, and where we tend to make a little bit of a mess.
That’s what author Scott Belsky calls the messy middle—the space that teaches, tests, and ultimately transforms us.
In a world wired for immediate gratification and tidy outcomes, we tend to crinkle our noses at the middle—the stage that feels slow, uncomfy, and sometimes frustrating. But it’s also where the real work happens: where habits form, systems get tested, and leaders learn to stay steady when results don’t come right away.
Why the Middle Matters
Every leader hits that point when the excitement wears off and the reality of the work settles in. It’s the stretch where:
Discipline replaces adrenaline.
Structure matters more than speed.
Feedback becomes a tool instead of a threat.
The middle builds endurance, focus, and resilience—not through perfection, but through persistence.
In business, it might look like a team finding rhythm in a new process. In recruiting, it’s the stretch between promising conversations and signed offers. In leadership, it’s realizing that growth comes from consistency more than charisma.
The middle has a way of forcing clarity. It strips away what’s shiny and leaves what’s real—what’s sustainable.
The Growth Suite Perspective
This stage shows up constantly in our work with leaders—when they’re redefining systems, coaching through transition, or trying to steady their teams mid-change. At Growth Suite, we don’t see the middle as something to rush through. It’s something to work within.
It’s the space that clarifies priorities, strengthens habits, and refines leadership through repetition and reflection. It’s where focus deepens and leadership gets refined.
Author Scott Belsky calls this time “deep uncertainty.” In The Messy Middle, he writes:
“Most of your experience enduring the middle miles will be couched with uncertainty. You’ll feel like you’re wading through an ocean of unknown depths and inhabitants—in the dark.”
That darkness isn’t a sign to stop; it’s proof you’re building something that matters—the natural tension of progress, where potential gets shaped into reality.
Brené Brown calls this same space “Day Two”—the messy middle, the point of no return. In her Unlocking Us episode “Brené on Day 2”, she compares it to the second act of every story—the hero’s journey, when the main character wrestles with uncertainty before finding their way forward.
“Day Two is when you’re in the dark — you can’t see the light at the end yet. But this is where all the magic happens, all the tension that creates goodness and learning.”
That truth applies everywhere—in leadership, in business, in life. The middle asks for courage, patience, and vulnerability—the willingness to stay in the tension long enough to learn what it’s teaching.
For leaders, this is where influence becomes impact. Communication sharpens, accountability deepens, and small course corrections compound into lasting change. It’s not glamorous work, but it’s the kind that endures.
A Thought to Leave You With
The messy middle isn’t a pause between chapters. It’s the act of digging your heels in and staying with the work until you reach the finish line. It’s where clarity forms, growth takes root, and good leaders become steady ones.
If you’re in that stretch right now—somewhere between where you started and where you want to be—you’re not behind. You’re just in the Second Act. On Day 2. The thick of the Messy Middle.
Stay patient with the process. Stay curious about what it’s revealing. And trust that the discomfort means something’s shifting, because it is.
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At Growth Suite Consulting, we help leaders navigate their own “messy middles”—building teams that thrive through change, not just after it. If you’re ready to strengthen your team’s alignment and growth strategy, connect with us to learn more!