Picture this: You’re on the ancient battlefield, surrounded by chaos. Arrows flying, horses panicking, warriors shouting. And right when you’re supposed to charge forward, you…freeze. 

That’s where the prince warrior Arjuna finds himself in the Bhagavad Gita—a 2,000+ year old epic tale that is still wildly relevant for today’s leaders.

From Battlefield to Boardroom

Arjuna didn’t want to fight. He felt torn between duty and heart, mission and compassion. 

Sound familiar? Just swap out the battlefield for the boardroom, and the dilemma is the same: How do you act decisively when your conscience, your values, and your responsibilities collide?

The Timeless Call for Clarity

The core message is simple yet profound: Lead with clarity of purpose, align with love (Amare), and do your work without clinging to the outcome. In the Gita, Arjuna’s trusted advisor, Krishna, gets right to the core: “Focus on your duty, not on the fruits of your actions.” Translation for modern-day leaders: stop obsessing over quarterly earnings, LinkedIn likes, or whether your brilliant strategy gets applause. 

Do the right thing because it’s the right thing.

The Gita Meets the Amare Way

The Gita says: act with integrity, clarity, and devotion, not ego. 

The Amare Way says: put love at the center of business, unite rather than divide, and let values guide your choices. 

Both point to the same truth: when you show up aligned with purpose and love, results follow—not because you force them, but because you’re in flow.

What Holds You in Paralysis? Self-Reflective “Mirror” Questions

• Where are you hesitating when purpose is calling you forward?
• What’s one “fruit” or goal you need to release my grip on?
• How might you show up with love rather than fear in your next high-stakes moment?

Quick Favor!

I’m kicking off a new Amare Leadership book series based on these newsletters and want your input. Which of these topics should I write first? Contact me here and send me the number(s) you like best.

1. Real Love at Work — Why being “too nice” fails your team and what to do instead.
2. Inner Strength — Stay centered and take inspired action when work gets stressful.
3. Authentically YOU — Really showing up for your people as the best version of yourself.
4. Clarity — Cutting through the noise and busy-ness to get focused and build trust.
5. Fun Factor — Making joy a serious and sustainable leadership strategy.
6. Hard Conversations — Turning tough talks into moments of truth and trust.
7. Sparking Change — Inspire your team to be their best by leading with love.

Your vote will help shape the very first book in the series!

5 Amare Action Steps for Leaders at Moments of Truth

1. Name your fear. Write down exactly what you’re afraid of—judgment? Failure? Looking small? Name it. Now write: “That’s just fear. I choose love.” Keep this on a sticky note where your eyes land when panic strikes.

2. Anchor in your values. Before any big moment, write down your why. Re-read it before every speech, meeting, or decision to stay aligned with your purpose—not your performance.

3. Practice trusting the process. Schedule two low-stakes experiences this week—like improvising a joke in front of your mirror or piloting a “lightning” version of your presentation to a colleague. As you do them, tell yourself, “I trust the process.”

4. Build team rituals of trust. With your leadership team, set aside a few minutes in meetings for “low-stakes” practice—sharing half-baked ideas without judgment, trying quick role reversals, or a mini dry-run of a big message together.

5. Debrief with love, not judgment. Right after a high-stakes event, journal for five minutes: What felt good? Where did fear sneak in? What’s one caring reminder you need to give yourself?

Facing Big Challenges Head-On

Leadership is never free of conflict. You will face big challenges—some messy, some moral, some both. The question is whether you meet them like Arjuna at first—paralyzed with doubt—or like Arjuna after Krishna’s counsel—purposeful, steady, and aligned with something bigger than yourself.

Freezing on stage, in the boardroom, or even in front of your own reflection isn’t failure. It’s a reminder. A reminder that you’re human, that you care, and that you’ve arrived at a moment that matters.

The true leader’s victory isn’t in defeating others. It’s in transcending ego, choosing love over fear, and serving a higher purpose. That’s not just ancient wisdom.

That’s the timeless call of leadership.

Moshe

Today’s Amare Wave Wednesday Quote

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” 

— Mahatma Gandhi

   

Click here and read more Amare Wave Wednesday newsletters on related topics:

Three Powerful Steps to Being Committed to Success –  Without Being Attached to the Outcomes You Want

Be the Same in Success and Defeat: Timeless Advice for Great Leaders

The Cost of Winning at All Costs: Business as War vs. Business as Love

Intuition, Instinct, and Fear: A Leader’s Guide to Knowing the Difference and Choosing Wisely

Vital Farms’ Playbook for How to Lead Through a Crisis Without Compromise – and Win

   

Original article published on Inc.com.