The Ice Splinter: A Lesson in Temporary Pain

Working at Minus 5 Ice Bar in Las Vegas taught me an unexpected lesson about leadership and pain. Picture this: I'm handling crystal-clear blocks of ice, crafting experiences for guests in a venue where everything – from the walls to the glasses – is made of ice. Then it happens. A tiny shard of ice, no bigger than an eyelash, finds its way under my skin.

The initial shock is sharp and intense. My hand reflexively recoils, and for a moment, all I can focus on is this minuscule intruder causing an outsized amount of discomfort. But here's the thing about ice splinters – they're temporary by nature. Within minutes, the ice melts away, leaving no trace of its brief but memorable invasion.

As leaders, we often face our own versions of ice splinters. They come in many forms: a critical email that lands in your inbox first thing Monday morning, a project setback that feels like a personal failure, or feedback that stings your pride. These moments pierce our professional armor and demand our immediate attention, much like that sliver of ice demanded mine.

But just like my ice splinter, most of these painful leadership moments are temporary. They feel intense and all-consuming when they first occur, but given time, they dissolve. The key is recognizing their transient nature while they're happening.

Too often, we catastrophize these moments. We let a temporary setback color our entire leadership perspective. We forget that pain – whether physical or emotional – is often our greatest teacher. Each "splinter" we encounter builds our resilience, shapes our response to future challenges, and adds another layer to our leadership story.

Leading with authenticity means acknowledging these moments of pain rather than pretending they don't affect us. It means being transparent with our teams about our challenges while demonstrating how to move through them with grace. It's about showing that vulnerability and strength aren't mutually exclusive – they're complementary aspects of effective leadership.

The next time you encounter your own leadership "ice splinter," remember this: The sharp sting of the moment will pass. What matters isn't the temporary pain, but how you choose to learn and grow from it. After all, in the warmth of time and perspective, even the coldest challenges eventually melt away.

Remember, it's not about being an undamaged leader – it's about being a resilient one.

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Natalie's Notes-

There’s something about that first sting — physical or emotional — that makes you believe it’s going to last forever. But like Chris wrote, most of those moments are temporary.

The pain feels sharp because it’s new. The lesson feels heavy because it’s honest.

What I love most about this story isn’t the ice — it’s the melt. That quiet transition from shock to understanding. From “why did this happen?” to “what did this teach me?”

Every leader I’ve ever known has their own version of an ice splinter.

A conversation that stung, a decision that hurt, a truth that was hard to face.

And each one — every single one — left them a little more aware, a little more human, and a little more equipped for the next time.

Pain has purpose when we allow it to. That’s what growth really is — learning to hold the sting long enough to find the lesson underneath.

So this week, when something pierces your calm — stop before you brush it away. Ask yourself, “What is this trying to teach me?” Because not every wound is meant to weaken you. Some are meant to wake you up.