How to Escape a Rut in Uncertain Times

The Curiosity Brief // Issue #3

How to Escape a Rut in Uncertain Times

You’re not broken; the system is.

Let’s be honest

You don’t need another pep talk.

You need a blueprint.

Because right now, millions of smart, capable people feel stuck, like the engine’s running

But the wheels won’t turn.

That’s not laziness.

It’s a misalignment.

And if the world feels uncertain---

That’s not your fault either.

But how do you respond?

That part’s yours.

Let’s talk about how to rebuild your fire, one action at a time.

Step by step.

This Isn’t Burnout either.

It’s called System Failure.

We’re taught to equate output with worth.

We’re taught that slowing down means falling behind.

But pushing harder when you’re misaligned.

That’s how you shatter instead of scale.

Instead of powering through, you need to pattern-break.

Here’s the 3-step system I teach leaders to use when their momentum disappears:

The M.L.A.R. Reset Framework (Move → Learn → Adjust → Repeat)

→ Step 1: Stop Digging

• Most ruts start with self-shame.

• Silence it.

• Rest isn’t a waste of time.

• It’s strategic refueling.

Like Warren Buffett said, “If you find yourself in a hole… stop digging.”

→ Step 2: Change Direction

• Audit your input: routines, environment, energy drains.

• Ask: Where am I complicit in the patterns I want to change?

Small shifts upstream change everything downstream.

→ Step 3: Create Movement

• Movement births momentum. Not the other way around.

• Start tiny. Win small. Build upward.

Remember: even one brick a day builds a fortress.

This framework works.

How do you know?

I have used it before as well as.

But here are some real leaders who have live this framework

You’ve heard Bezos and Musk.

Let’s go deeper—into leaders most people overlook, but are making a difference:

1.  Melanie Perkins (Canva CEO)

→ Rejected by over 100 VCs.

 → Iterated pitch, product, and positioning until it clicked.

→ Built a $40B platform used in over 190 countries.

2.  Ben Francis (Gymshark Founder)

→ Started printing shirts in his mom’s garage.

→ Every launch brought new lessons—scaled on feedback.

→ Now runs a $1B brand without traditional investors.

3.  Whitney Wolfe Herd (Bumble)

→ Left Tinder. Faced a lawsuit. Publicly dragged.

→ Pivoted, repositioned, launched Bumble in 2014.

→ Took it public in 2021, the first woman to do so before age 35.

4.  James Dyson (Dyson)

 → Built 5,126 prototypes of his vacuum. Rejected by every manufacturer.

→ Patented it. Sold it himself.

→ Now worth over $9B.

5.  Anne Wojcicki (23andMe)

→ Took on Big Pharma with direct-to-consumer health data.

→ Faced FDA pushback.

→ Pivoted the model.

→ Still redefined genetic testing—now with over 12M users.

These leaders didn’t just survive chaos; they adapted and succeeded.

But, if you stay stuck, here’s the cost to you:

→ Your confidence fades.

→ Your energy drains.

→ Your clarity clouds.

You start to question your path… instead of rebuilding it.

This isn’t about motivation hacks.

It’s about momentum design.

These 5 Sharp Tools I will leave with you to help break the Rut Today:

1.  Minimum Viable Progress:

→Forget perfect.

→Do something or anything that moves you.

2.  Input Audit:

→ Write down everything you consume in a day.

 → What’s fueling you?

→ What’s draining you?

3.  Two-Word Check-in:

→ Every morning, ask yourself: “How am I?” then , write 2 honest words.

4.  Environmental Edit:

→ Move your desk.

→ Change your walk route.

→ Pattern break = perspective shift.

5.  Silent Wins:  

→ Write down 3 small wins daily.

→ Don’t share them.

→ Let them compound in silence.

Why Should This Matter to You?

Because the future doesn’t reward those who never slip.

It rewards those who reset better.

Your audience, your team, your business will not benefit from your burnout.

They benefit from your clarity.

And clarity starts here.

You don’t need to change your life today.

You need to change your next 10 minutes.

Then do it again tomorrow.

And again.

Momentum doesn’t start with certainty.

It starts with movement.

Keep going, no looking back.

 I’ll be answering questions on breaking mental ruts for the next 48 hours in the comments.

DM me and ask anything.

 ➤ Follow me, Curtis Luke, DBA, MPA for more.

 ➕I empower businesses through smooth operations and strong leadership.

 ♻ If this post has resonated with you, or know a founder stuck in the rut, please repost.

 🔗Get the guide for smoother operations and more like this here: https://lnkd.in/eZcXaGQq

 ➤ Signing off for now.

— Coach Curtis, The Curiosity Brief | Your unfair advantage in a noisy world.