Whenever someone asks me for a book recommendation, I usually point them to The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter. It nails something we’re all sensing, whether we’ve named it or not.
What is that “something”? Just look around.
Pressure is up. Trust is down. And too many people are tapping out when things get hard.
In a world where comfort is constantly within reach, we’re losing something critical: the ability to lead under pressure. You can see it everywhere — from corporate boardrooms to political stages to local communities. There’s a vacuum of resilient, virtuous leadership. And that vacuum won’t fill itself.
To be a resilient leader means standing firm when — not if — adversity hits. And that kind of strength doesn’t just show up one day. It takes training. Resilience is like a muscle: if we don’t push it, it atrophies. If we always choose ease over effort, it’s no different than wasting away on the couch with a box of Twinkies.
I’ve felt it myself — in moments when I didn’t want to keep going, but did anyway. Whether under the crushing weight of a 300-pound log with four other men, or walking through a family crisis where quitting would’ve been easier, I’ve learned that resilience is built, not bestowed.
And now more than ever, we need resilient leaders.
It’s not optional. Families and communities rise or fall based on whether strong leadership shows up when it’s needed most.
So how do we get there?
Through training.
Through adversity.
Through reps and sets.
We don’t grow when everything goes as planned. We grow when it doesn’t. And we improve only when we consistently do the hard things — the things we know we should do, but often avoid.
Resilience is developed through shared hardship.
One of the most powerful things about resilient leadership is that it spreads. It’s contagious. When people see strength under pressure, it inspires them to dig deeper themselves. Strong leaders build strong teams. Strong teams build strong communities.
That’s what Freedom Ops is all about.
Freedom Ops builds leaders at the personal, team, and community level by equipping participants with the tools, habits, and experiences needed to grow through adversity, lead with clarity, and strengthen those around them.
It’s not glamorous work. But it’s necessary.
I started leading GrowRucks — and now Freedom Ops events — because I witnessed transformation. Real change. Men who came in uncertain and left different. Not just stronger as individuals, but more committed to their families, their teams, and their communities.
The world doesn’t need more noise.
It needs leaders who can carry weight.
And that starts with choosing the harder path for a greater purpose.
By: Jim (Major Payne) Gregory, GTE Cadre & Trainer
Written: 17 JUN 2025