Karl Bimshas Consulting

MANAGE BETTER LEAD WELL

  • Welcome
    • About Us
    • Karl Bimshas
      • Leadership Point of View
      • Bio
    • FAQs
    • Testimonials
      • Interviews
    • Why Value-Based Fixed Fees
    • Statement of Privacy
  • Leadership Development
    • Strategic Leadership
    • Leadership Scorecard
    • Optimize Your Leadership
    • Leadership Assessments
      • Core Competencies Index
      • DISC
      • DISC Lite
    • Accountability
      • Kick-Ass Boss
  • Leadership Drift Assessment
    • Leadership Vibe Check
  • Books
    • Bimshas Books
      • How to Stay When You Want to Quit
      • Welcome to Leadership
      • GIVE A DAMN!
      • Disposable Journal
      • Disposable Journal: Weekend Edition
      • Pushing Back the Ocean
      • 132 Leadership Tips
    • Leadership Workbooks
      • Perspectives
      • Lead on Purpose
      • Sales Management Monthly Briefing
      • Mind Map Workbook
    • The Manage Better Lead Well Series
    • ESSAYS ON
  • Contact
    • Friends Don’t Let Friends Become Lousy Leaders
    • Payment Page
  • Newsletter
    • Sign up!
      • Update Your Information
      • Links
        • More Links
          • Your 90-Day Review
          • Monthly Offer
      • Surveys
        • Do My Employees Need Coaching?
      • Invitation
        • INFO AND INVITATION
    • Your Opinion
      • Leadership Innovation Council
      • Market Research
      • WORKSHOPS SURVEY
  • Resources
    • Blog
    • Podcast
      • Past Episodes
        • Leadership In Unusual Times
          • Podcast Questions
    • AHA Deck of Cards
      • Shipping
    • The Pro-Democracy Leadership Guide: 
    • CONNECT. ENGAGE. ACT.
    • Lyderis
      • Leadership Library
        • Invitation to The Leadership Library
    • Mini-Courses
      • Explain That Behavior
      • Lead On Purpose Course
    • Your Path to Effective Leadership: WORKSHEET
    • Ways to Praise
    • Leadership Development Box
    • Leadership Goal-Setting
    • Be The Kind of Leader Who Gives a CRAP
    • The Solution Exchange
    • Compass
  • EVENTS

Less Until, More Unless

October 2, 2014 Karl Bimshas

Until UnlessHave you ever noticed how many times the word ‘until’ gets used? Although not reserved for the office, it tends to crop up in staff meetings and with status updates. It also, usually, has ‘wait’ or ‘can’t’ as a prefix. Pay attention to how often you hear phrases similar to, “I can’t until …”

  • I have more money.
  • they get back from vacation.
  • the kids finish school.
  • the weekend.
  • the end of the month.
  • next year.

Granted, sometimes ‘until’ is a legitimate measure. You are not going to hang pictures on the wall until the paint dries. You’re not paying bonuses until the final results are in. You’re not going to Paris until you get your passport renewed. These are all valid reasons for inaction. However, leaders do not thrive with inaction.

  • “I can’t talk to new clients yet, I have to wait until the new marketing brochures are printed.”
  • “I can’t mentor him until the succession plan is finalized.”
  • “I can’t launch until I get more feedback on the design.”

Phrase like that make a leader’s stomach turn. They clench, because it sounds like a stalling technique. Isn’t there a better, proactive way of communicating? Yes. First, replace the abdicating ‘can’t’, with an accountable ‘won’t’.

‘Won’t,’ tells the world you chose not to.

[Tweet “‘Won’t,’ tells the world you chose not to.”]

‘Won’t’ subtly forces you to own your decision, instead of hiding. Be action-minded in your daily speech and self-talk, and replace ‘until’ with ‘unless’.

I won’t unless;

  • I make more money.
  • they get back from vacation sooner.
  • the kids finish school someplace else.
  • something happens before the weekend, (the end of the month, next year).

Do things change when you no longer ‘can’t until’ and instead, ‘won’t unless’? The basic facts do not change. The condition surrounding them does. Your sense of ownership, accountability and power, increase. ‘Unless’ creates options; ’Until’ limits choice. Most people, whether they are aware of it or not, prefer to conceal themselves behind ‘can’t until’, thinking it absolves them of responsibility. Don’t allow that. Not in yourself, and not in the people you lead.

Maybe you want to try this method, but you can’t until your plate is less full, and you can focus clearly.

Maybe you can be a little more intellectually honest, and decide you won’t, unless your plate becomes clear first.

I’m okay with the latter, because with ‘won’t’ you’ve taken a stand, and with ‘unless’, you’ve created the condition. That’s good, because effective leaders know, current conditions can always change.

—

Karl Bimshas is an Executive Accountability Partner who helps new leaders and leaders in transition to meet their great goals. He’s the author of “How to Stay When You Want to Quit; Strategies to get over yourself“.

Aha Tools

Search Here

Key Links

  • Do I Need an Accountability Partner?
  • Do My Employees Need Coaching?
  • Leadership Point of View
  • Kick-Ass Boss
  • Bimshas Books
  • Blog
  • DISC
  • Resources
  • Why Value-Based Fixed Fees
  • User’s Guide

EVENTS

SparkLab Summit September 13, 2025

PODCAST

RSS The Podcast

  • 392. Do You Recognize Them?
  • 391. The Kind Modern Leader
  • 390. Sometimes, Leaders Forget to Prepare for Their Success
  • 389. Building Accountability into Leadership
  • 388. Practice Leadership on the S.I.D.E.
  • 387. How Do I Start to Lead?
  • 386. Weak Leaders Fear Empathy; Strong Leaders Use It

Latest Books on Amazon

Popular Products

  • DISC
  • Disposable Journal: Weekend Edition
  • How to Stay When You Want to Quit
  • Leadership Scorecard

Recent Posts

  • Evaluating Leadership Using the Karl Bimshas Consulting Leadership Scorecard
  • No More Drifting
  • Are You Experiencing Leadership Drift?
  • 16 Years of Aha
  • The Values Grid: Unlocking Purposeful Leadership Through Reflection

© 2025 Karl Bimshas Consulting

Contact

Karl Bimshas Consulting
2150 Comstock Street #710192
San Diego, CA 92111

info@KarlBimshasConsulting.com

Where to Start

  • 1. Browse the Resources Page
  • 2. Assess Your Leadership Attributes
  • 3. Do You Need an Accountability Partner?
  • 4. Act on Purpose – Leadership Goal-Setting

Copyright © 2025 · Equilibre on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in