Name: How to get past the "messy middle" of a big change
Uploaded: 2026-07-24T14:34:31Z
Duration: 12 min 1 s
Description: Did progress on your next big project stall out? Transformation expert Mary Martin refers to this moment as the "messy middle" — the frustrating gap between starting and finishing a goal, when you might lose confidence or give up altogether. Offering three ways to find glimmers of progress when the going gets tough, she explores what to do when you feel stuck.

Did progress on your next big project stall out? Transformation expert Mary Martin refers to this moment as the "messy middle" — the frustrating gap between starting and finishing a goal, when you might lose confidence or give up altogether. Offering three ways to find glimmers of progress when the going gets tough, she explores what to do when you feel stuck.

How to get past the "messy middle" of a big change

Bold projects rarely go smoothly from start to finish; setbacks often appear when the summit feels impossible. Whether hiking a mountain with a child, launching a new technology, or redesigning a company’s culture, the hardest stretch—the messy middle—is proof of courage, not cause for despair. Small signs of progress, like shaving minutes off a chicken order or a leader learning to collaborate, can sustain teams and individuals through long, uncertain journeys. Celebrating these glimmers builds the energy needed to reach the final goal.

Messiness Signals Ambition, Not Failure, In Big Change

Every ambitious change, from mountain hikes to multi-year business transformations, hits a point where optimism fades and progress stalls. That "messy middle" is not a sign to give up, but proof of bold ambition, as seen when a seven-year-old nearly abandoned a climb before basking in victory at the summit. Small signals of progress—whether a first successful test shaving minutes off chicken orders or a leader learning to build bridges—help fuel the journey forward. Embracing setbacks and celebrating small wins renews energy to persist until the finish line comes into view.

Messy Middles Signal Bold Progress, Not Failure Or Defeat

Real progress rarely comes in a straight line; the toughest moments happen between a bold start and an uncertain finish. A seven-year-old, tired and teary, summits a mountain only after nearly giving up, just as ambitious teams and leaders struggle before breakthroughs. These messy middle phases reveal ambition at work and hold the seeds of transformation. By spotting small wins in business results, team dynamics, or personal growth, momentum can return even when the end is nowhere in sight.