“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” Charles Dickens wasn’t writing about business leadership, but he might as well have been.

In business — and in life — two seemingly conflicting things can be true at once. The faster you accept this both/and mentality, the better you can navigate uncertainty, make smarter decisions and grow your business.

As an executive coach, I see founders and entrepreneurs struggle with binary thinking. They believe if “this” is true, then “that” must be false. This all-or-nothing mindset is a massive roadblock, keeping you stuck and stalling growth.

Instead of clinging to either/or, what if you embraced both/and? What if you could hold space for two truths, allowing you to see possibilities where others see only problems?

Entrepreneurs are often decisive. You spot a gap in the market, make a bold move and go all in. But sometimes that decisiveness turns into a trap. When you see things only in absolutes, you miss the nuance and opportunity that lie in the gray areas.

For example: “If my team is disengaged, then our culture is broken.” “If our sales are slowing, then our product isn’t good enough.” “If I’m feeling uncertain, then I must be on the wrong path.”

The truth is more complex — and more hopeful. Your team can be disengaged and your culture can still be strong. Your sales can be slowing and your product can still be a market leader. You can feel uncertain and still be on exactly the right path.

Holding two truths at once isn’t about indecision — it’s about expanding your perspective. It helps you act with confidence even when the answers aren’t clear. Here are a few examples.

Growth and stagnation: When one part of your business is slowing, another might be ready to explode. Maybe your flagship product has hit a plateau. Instead of panicking, look around — where is there growth potential? Are there new markets, new features or new customer needs emerging? Often, growth hides in the shadow of stagnation.

Disengagement and connection: I’ve seen teams with employees who are checked out on their work but deeply connected with one another. They’ve formed what I call pockets of resistance — cliques of disengagement. As a leader, this is an opportunity. Instead of seeing it as a cultural failure, recognize that connection is still present. Your job is to redirect it toward a shared vision.

Opportunity and chaos: The business world often feels like a game of 52-card pickup — the cards are thrown in the air and they land wherever they may. But amid that chaos lies opportunity. Your competitors might be scrambling to pick up their pieces. If you’re steady, you can choose the cards you want and build something new.

Selling and serving: Many founders struggle with the idea that selling and serving can co-exist. They feel they must choose between profit and purpose. But the truth is that the best sales happen when you serve deeply. When you focus on creating real value, the sales follow naturally. You can be a savvy seller and a committed servant to your customers.

The real challenge isn’t just accepting that two things can be true, it’s learning to navigate this truth with intention.

Identify competing truths: When you feel stuck, ask yourself “What else might be true?” Embrace the tension: Holding two truths creates healthy tension. Don’t rush to resolve it — sit with it. Choose where to lean: Sometimes one truth serves you better than the other. Lean into the truth that moves you forward but keep the other in view. When you adopt the mindset that two things can be true at once, you become more agile and adaptable. You stop wasting energy trying to resolve contradictions and start seeing opportunities hidden in complexity.