November 6, 2025 marks three years since I began cold dipping in Lake Ontario, an experiment that has become both a grounding ritual and a surprising teacher in creativity, resilience, and adaptability.

When I first stepped into icy water, I didn’t expect to fall in love with it, let alone see it become a daily practice. What began as a spontaneous “yes” to an invitation from a friend has turned into something that now shapes how I think about creative work, leadership, and navigating change.

Whether you are launching a new initiative, leading transformation, or finding fresh ways to engage your team, creativity is not only about generating ideas. It is about building consistency, curiosity, and connection that allow ideas to take root and grow.

Here are five stages that apply to any creative or leadership endeavor, whether it’s leading a bold new project or finding a new rhythm in how you lead.

Stage 1: Catalyst — Connect to Your Why

My journey began with an invitation from my friend Beth. She had been doing cold plunges for several months and asked if I would join her. I said a somewhat reluctant yes, mostly to support her. I had no personal goal at the time, but that simple act of connection became the spark that started everything.

In leadership, the same principle applies. At work, a clear catalyst matters. Busy leaders can do many things, but without connecting to why something matters, the work can feel mechanical and draining. It can also be a tough sell to get other people excited to join you in this new quest.

When you are clear about your purpose, your actions align more naturally with what matters most. Knowing your “why” is what sustains you when the novelty wears off and challenges arise. This clarity also helps you discern what to decline, so your energy is directed toward what truly creates impact.

Tip: Start with your why. Energy follows intention, not obligation.

Stage 2: Curiosity — Start Small and Stay Open

When Beth first invited me, I figured I’d try it once for fun. I didn’t overthink it, but just stayed curious. That small, simple “yes” opened a door I didn’t know existed and ignited an inner passion to something that’s now part of my daily rhythm.

Leaders often face the same decision: try something new or stick with the familiar. With the accelerating growth and impact of AI in all areas of work, familiar choices are the fast route to obsolescence.

In organizations, curiosity is also often replaced by pressure to have the right answer immediately. When facing complex challenges, leaders can fall into over-analysis, trying to design perfect strategies before acting. But curiosity invites movement. It’s a muscle that strengthens the more you use it and gives you the willingness to test, learn, and adapt. Whether you are piloting a new program, rethinking team structure, or introducing new technology, small experiments build momentum faster than waiting for certainty.

Tip: Replace overthinking with experimenting. Progress begins with one simple step.

Stage 3: Creative Container — Build an Intentional Structure

As my love for dipping grew, I realized I needed an intentional structure to sustain it. I experimented with different routines, learned how to warm up safely after winter dips, and adjust to be able to dip throughout the changing seasons. I connected my daily practice to my mental wellbeing, not the weather conditions. That consistency created a container which gave me the reliable framework that supported my freedom to explore.

In the workplace, structure is what allows creativity to thrive. Without clear expectations, boundaries, and timelines, creativity can drift into confusion or burnout. It can erode psychological safety and people’s willingness to step up. Designing a creative container with intention provides stability and safety. It allows people to take smart risks, share ideas openly, and innovate with confidence. In uncertain times, the most creative teams are those that know what success looks like and have the clarity to pursue it together.

Tip: Create clarity before creativity. Intentional structure provides the confidence to explore.

Stage 4: Community — Lean on Collective Strength

My consistency and confidence soared when I started connecting with various dipping groups. It’s one thing to face a frozen shoreline alone; it’s quite another to have others braving it with you shoulder to shoulder. Community brings laughter, encouragement, and accountability, which makes even the toughest mornings easier.

In organizations, the same truth applies. Creative breakthroughs and innovation rarely happen in isolation. Creativity and resilience grow in the community. When people feel connected and supported, their willingness to stretch and take risks grows. Whether it is a cross-functional team tackling a transformation or colleagues finding new ways to work together, collective strength creates collaboration, trust, and shared purpose. .

Tip: Build connection into the process. Tough challenges are easier when you don’t face them alone.

Stage 5: Celebrate — Honour the Journey

Three years and 720 dips and counting later, I have learned not just to measure progress, but to celebrate it. Each season brings a reason to pause, reflect, and appreciate the effort it took to stay committed.

In today’s fast-paced and stressful workplaces, leaders often jump from one project to the next without taking time to acknowledge milestones, thank their teams, or even pat themselves on the back when they deserve it. That’s a recipe for burnout and disconnection. Celebration is fuel. Acknowledgement of the good, bad and the ugly helps build connection and normalize that it’s not always going to be easy to get great work done in challenging circumstances. It reinforces positive habits, strengthens morale, and reminds people that their contributions matter.

Tip: Celebrate showing up, not just outcomes. Recognition keeps teams motivated for the long run.

If you’d like support with leadership within your organization or team, let’s connect to explore whether the Adaptive Advantage (™) program or Level Up Leadership executive coaching program can help!”