An observation inspired by Ben Horowitz and The Killers
The startup world has a bible for tough leadership moments: The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz. It’s packed with brutal honesty about the chaos, the gut-wrenching decisions, and the loneliness founders face. But I’m not a founder. I don’t run a startup. What draws me to Horowitz’s lessons is their raw truth about navigating uncertainty — a reality that goes far beyond Silicon Valley.
Because when you strip away the industry jargon and boardroom battles, the hard things are really about who we are in those moments of pressure. And that’s where I find a surprising echo in an unlikely place: the song “Be Still” by The Killers. It’s a quiet anthem about holding steady when everything feels like it’s falling apart.
There’s a subtle leadership paradox here: hard times demand action — bold, fast, and sometimes ruthless. But they also demand presence — calm, steady, open. It’s this balance that defines real leadership, whether you’re a startup founder, a corporate exec, a finance professional, or just someone steering your own life through chaos.
The Hard Things Are Hard Because They’re Unscripted
Horowitz’s core message is simple but profound: the hardest challenges don’t come with a manual. There’s no checklist for firing your best friend or navigating near bankruptcy. The book doesn’t glamorize these moments — it lays bare the brutal emotional and strategic weight they carry.
This ambiguity, this pressure cooker of uncertainty, is what makes the hard things so hard. It’s not just about making the “right” move but about holding yourself together long enough to see the path clearly.
The advice from Horowitz is often about action: take control, face the brutal facts, make tough decisions. And rightly so. Without action, no one moves forward. But action without presence — without a grounded sense of calm — can lead to impulsive decisions and exhaustion.
This is where “Be Still” resonates deeply. The song’s quiet insistence to pause and find stillness reminds us that leadership (in whatever form) is not just doing — it’s being. The ability to be steady under pressure isn’t weakness; it’s a kind of strength that fuels clearer thinking and better decisions.
Beyond Startups: Why This Matters Everywhere
It’s easy to think of Horowitz’s lessons as startup-specific, but the truth is these moments of crisis and tough calls happen in every sector. Corporate leaders facing restructuring, finance professionals managing market volatility, or anyone confronting personal crossroads — all grapple with the same balancing act.
In all these contexts, resilience isn’t just about action plans or KPIs. It’s about emotional steadiness, self-awareness, and the humility to admit when you don’t have all the answers.
This may be the most important takeaway: leadership in tough times is inseparable from who you are in the moment. Are you calm or reactive? Steady or scattered? Open or closed off?
Your internal state shapes how you interpret challenges and what choices feel possible. When you cultivate calm and openness, you create space for insight and creative problem-solving. Without that presence, even the best strategy can fall flat.
The Takeaway
The Hard Thing About Hard Things is a brutally honest guide to surviving the worst moments. But what it leaves unsaid — what I find most relevant — is that surviving isn’t just about heroic action. It’s about steady presence.
The brave leader is not just the one who acts fastest, but the one who can be still when it counts.
So next time you face a hard thing, remember The Killers’ gentle reminder: sometimes the bravest thing you can do is simply be still.
