Momentum Over Certainty (or How I Learned Salsa)
April 24, 2025 | By David M. Wagner
If you’re dealing with an issue and not sure where to start, try taking salsa lessons.
Hear me out.
I wrestled this winter with how to meet new friends locally. I’m a transplant and I work from home, so I don’t have a big network where I live.
But by “wrestled,” I mean fretted and worried – while not actually doing much about it.
Ever feel like you spend more time stuck in your head than actively resolving the issue, so concerned with avoiding the wrong decision that you have trouble making any decision?
I’ve been there. I was there this winter.
Until I had an “aha” moment. Which led me to taking salsa lessons twice a week during February.
Here’s what I realized that helped me.
1. Inaction won’t solve your problem
A big part of my challenge was wanting some degree of certainty about the outcome: would [hypothetical approach] really work?
So for months, I made little effort to resolve the situation. My hope of finding the “perfect” social activity meant I wasn’t meeting anyone.
Sure, a few issues will resolve themselves.
Most of the time, however, doing nothing just drags out the problem. Waiting can even make things worse!
Honestly ask yourself: are you stuck waiting to craft the perfect solution?
2. (Most) anything you do is more likely to help than hurt
Quoth Wayne Gretzy: “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”
You’ve probably had at least one decent idea for resolving your issue. What’s the worst thing that could happen?
Unless you answered “existential catastrophe,” be decisive and take the plunge.
My biggest concern about salsa? That I would make a fool of myself dancing in front of strangers.
The potential upside was far bigger than the risk to my fragile ego.
3. You’ll learn more by doing something
“But will it work?” It’s okay not to know! And chances are good that you’ll learn something either way.
It worked? Great! You’ve got a solution.
It didn’t work? Great! You’ve got more information to help you shape a better solution.
I learned that I’m not really a dancer. I’m not terrible at it…but I’m not motivated enough to practice it a lot. And I was inspired to pursue activities aligned with my existing talents (in music).
4. The process means as much as the results
Solving your problem is important. And so is just trying to solve your problem.
Proactively building momentum, despite uncertainty, is important to avoid falling into despair and to keep your team motivated.
I did not meet my besties through salsa.
But I had fun. I met nice people. And I learned a lot – not just about salsa, but about myself.
Don’t wait so long for the perfect answer to come that you don’t turn in your test on time. And if you’re not sure where to start, talk with me about my approach to getting leaders unstuck in one day.