The sun was melting into the Pacific the evening I stood on the fantail of a U.S. Navy fast frigate, somewhere between Long Beach and Hawaii. The sky burst into shades of gold, red, and orange, and as I watched, I thought about my future. I was a Personnelman Seaman—an E-3—and I harbored a dream I had barely said out loud: I wanted to become a Naval Officer.
When I did share that dream, a handful of shipmates were quick to answer. “But that is not really for enlisted men like us.” “But do you really want to be one of them, an officer? But why would you do that to yourself?” Week after week, the echoes of their “but” excuses lingered in my mind, acting as barriers that tried to keep me back from my aspirations.
Maybe you’ve heard your own version of that voice: “I want to lead, but…” Over the years—in my own journey and in the journeys of countless leaders I’ve witnessed as a mediator with OSHA—I’ve seen how easily self-doubt, limiting beliefs, and fear can move in and squat rent-free in our minds. But those doubts don’t have to have the final word. So, let’s talk about how to evict them, send your excuses on an extended vacation, and step confidently into the leadership and life you were meant to live.
How Leaders Unlock Freedom by Shifting Their Vantage Point
Many leaders get stuck within a limited vantage point—what I call the uncomfortable comfort zone—made up of doubts, limiting beliefs, impostor syndrome, and negative self-talk. It’s like the baby elephant tethered to a small stake with a flimsy rope, who grows up believing it can’t break free. Even as a full-grown, mighty creature, capable of so much, it stays put, held back by a belief learned long ago that the rope is stronger than it really is. It is not the rope, but the elephant’s own mindset, which keeps it captive. Just like that elephant, we’re held captive in our comfort zones by a rope woven from our own doubts and limiting beliefs.
The Vantage Point Shift™ offers a clear, actionable roadmap to break that rope and unlock the freedom to lead with clarity and confidence. Let’s walk through each stage together.
1. Limited Vantage Point (Excuses)
At this stage, leaders are often unaware of how deeply their doubts and excuses limit their potential. Negative self-talk may feel automatic and unquestionable. The key challenge is recognizing these limiting voices without judgment.
There are two types of “but” excuses: those we tell ourselves—“I would pursue that opportunity, but I don’t think I’d succeed”—and those others speak into our lives, which we, too often, accept as truth. On that ship, my shipmates’ doubts weren’t really about me. They didn’t want to see me step beyond my comfort zone because they would never step away from theirs. Still, if I had allowed their words to take root in my mind, their “buts” would have become my own. That’s why I tell leaders, “You must set aside your ‘buts,’ the ‘buts’ of others, and believe in yourself.”
Many leaders struggle to see how their inner dialogue shapes their leadership. Recognition requires honest self-reflection and willingness to face uncomfortable truths.
Mindset tip: Practice noticing the “but” in your thoughts—“I want to lead, but…”—and gently question its truth. Approach self-recognition with grace, not judgment. A learning tool, not a set-back, it opens the door to new possibilities and empowers you to step outside of your comfort zone with confidence.
Action step: Journal daily to capture recurring doubts, making the invisible visible. Use daily mindfulness pauses to catch limiting thoughts in the moment.
2. Recognition Point (Awareness)
In the summer of 2007, I found myself at a low point. I had been off work for nearly two and a half years due to an injury sustained while on duty as a police officer, and I had made years of unsuccessful attempts to claim disability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Each rejection only increased my self-doubt, reinforcing the limiting beliefs about my worth and abilities. Feeling defeated and heavy with negative self-talk, I drove to a church on Prayer Mountain in Dallas to spend time alone with God—and for the first time in a long time, I began to see that flimsy rope for what it was.
Awareness is the breakthrough moment when leaders consciously identify specific limiting beliefs. This stage can bring discomfort as old stories surface, but it’s essential to growth. The challenge is resisting denial or rationalization.
You don’t have to trek to a prayer mountain like I did, but you do need to find a vantage point that reveals the best version of yourself. And you don’t have to get there alone. Throughout that season, my wife stood by me as a pillar of strength, and her encouragement affirmed that I could push through the obstacles in my way.
Mindset tip: Embrace curiosity over criticism—ask “What’s really true here?” instead of “Why do I always fail?”
Action step: Share your identified doubts with a trusted peer, mentor, or coach to build accountability.
3. Elevation Point (New Perspective)
Here, leaders begin to see beyond their limiting beliefs, opening to new possibilities and truths. This shift often requires reframing failures as lessons and fears as signals for growth. The challenge is sustaining this elevated perspective amid setbacks.
On that mountain, I spoke God’s truth into my life, claiming the promise of Psalm 139:14: “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” With that new perspective, I chose to push forward with my disability claim. To my surprise, I was approved at 10%. It was a small victory, but it was like a crack in the shackles I had imposed on myself, allowing me to see a sliver of hope for my future. That crack opened the door to the VA’s Chapter 31 program, which paid for me to pursue a master’s degree in organizational leadership at Gonzaga University.
Simply knowing the problem isn’t enough; leaders must actively replace doubts with empowering alternatives. The challenge is persistence, especially when old beliefs feel so familiar. As Jon Gordon says, “The thoughts we think and the words we say become our reality.” So, let’s be mindful of our thoughts, choosing to speak life into ourselves. This stage is where you intentionally choose thoughts that set you free.
Mindset tip: Use affirmations rooted in your core values to reinforce new beliefs, and affirm your ability to learn and adapt.
Action step: Create a list of empowering beliefs to revisit each morning, and visualize successful leadership moments daily to strengthen confidence.
4. Action Point (Freedom)
Freedom emerges when leaders take empowered action from their new vantage point, breaking old patterns and creating momentum. The challenge is maintaining momentum and resisting relapse into old doubts.
Years after my claim approval, while serving as a federal supervisory investigator, I overheard discussions about starting a new alternative dispute resolution program. I set a goal to become a mediator, and I knew I had to prove myself. I requested and received permission to attend mediator training and advanced mediator training. Then I went the extra mile, paying out of my own pocket and attending training on my own time to become certified to mediate in any civil court across the nation. I was awarded the position, and over the past decade I’ve helped resolve approximately 700 cases. As Max DePree put it, “We cannot become what we want to be by remaining what we are.”
Lasting transformation happens through consistent action like this. Leaders may find it hard to form new habits or break old patterns. But remember, challenges are not the end; they are merely opportunities cloaked in difficulty.
Mindset tip: Celebrate small wins—each one is another strand of the rope giving way—and view setbacks as part of the growth process, not failures.
Action step: Commit publicly to one leadership action step each week to cultivate accountability. Set micro-goals that align with your leadership vision and track your progress.
5. The Ripple Effect: Leading with Authenticity and Confidence
Back on that Navy ship, when I told my chief and the ship’s executive officer that I wanted to become an officer, they didn’t echo the “buts.” Instead, they piled extra responsibilities on me. At first, I was skeptical, but I soon realized they were stretching me as a leader. Before I could lead others, I had to first learn to lead myself. The Navy frocked me to Petty Officer Third Class ahead of my promotion date, and years later, I watched the sun set over the Atlantic as an Ensign serving aboard a guided missile nuclear cruiser.
Unlocking freedom isn’t just for us. It changes how we show up for the people we serve. When servant leaders embrace their authentic selves, free from the shackles of self-doubt and “buts,” they first lead themselves better. Because they lead themselves better, they naturally inspire trust, foster engagement, and build resilient teams.
Mindset is the foundation on which all leadership effectiveness is built. Shifting your vantage point and adopting empowering beliefs doesn’t just feel better on the inside—it shows up in the results:
- Improved decision-making: Leaders free from limiting doubts make clearer, faster decisions grounded in confidence and vision rather than fear and hesitation.
- Stronger team culture: Authentic, confident leaders foster trust and psychological safety, creating environments where people feel safe to grow, contribute, and innovate.
- Organizational growth: Mindset shifts enable leaders to embrace change, lead strategically, and inspire their teams to pull together toward shared goals.
This authentic leadership creates ripple effects that elevate organizations and communities alike, turning personal transformation into the collective impact of 360-degree leadership—positively influencing employees, peers, and leaders above them.
The Choice Is Yours
Remember the elephant. It always had the strength to break free; it just needed a new vantage point to see the rope for what it truly was—an illusion. The same is true for you. You have unique gifts and talents to share with the world, and the world needs them. Mastering your mindset is not optional—it’s essential for leaders who want to move beyond survival and create lasting influence. Your mind, much like the elephant, can either imprison you or set you free. The choice is yours.
So, what “but” is holding you back right now? Write it down. Challenge it with one truth about your abilities. This week, take a step your doubts said you couldn’t.
Ready to pack up those excuses and send them off on an overdue extended vacation?
My book, Evict the Doubts Squatting Rent-Free in Your Mind, shares more of the stories and lessons that shaped my leadership journey, along with practical action steps at the end of every chapter to help you shake free from self-doubt and lead with clarity, confidence, and a servant’s heart. Get your copy today and start leading from a new vantage point.
About the author
Stan Lewis is a Maxwell Leadership certified coach, Amazon bestselling author, former U.S. Navy officer, and decorated law enforcement professional. Drawing on more than 30 years of leadership experience, Stan equips executives, managers, and teams to overcome the mental captivity of self-limiting beliefs, doubt, and imposter syndrome. His approach combines proven leadership principles with a servant leadership-driven mindset anchored in integrity, service, and faith. Stan holds a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership and a Graduate Certificate in Servant Leadership from Gonzaga University. He lives in Waxahachie, Texas, with his wife, Barb.
