Why Following Through Matters More Than You Think
You’ve probably seen it happen. Maybe even done it yourself.
You feel inspired. Something stirs. A post catches your eye, or maybe a video lands at just the right time. You fill in a form. Book a call. Make a decision, in that moment, to take a bold step forward.
And then… silence.
No answer when the call comes.
No reply to the email follow-up.
Or worse still – an empty Zoom room with someone (in this case, me) sitting there wondering if you’re actually going to show up.
This isn’t a rant. It’s a reflection.
Because this happens more often than it should, and I think we both know it’s about more than poor scheduling or a bad day.
The First Step is Not Enough
If you’ve landed here, you might already know that I train people to walk across hot coals, snap arrows with their throat, and break through the invisible barriers that stop them from living fully.
I don’t teach gimmicks. I guide people to realise, viscerally, that their potential is far greater than they’ve been told.
But the thing I see holding people back more than anything else?
They make the decision.
They take the first step.
Then they vanish.
They ghost me.
But more importantly… they ghost themselves.
The Agreement You Made (Even If You Forgot)
Here’s what’s actually happening in those moments: you made an agreement. Not with me, but with yourself.
You said:
“I want to know more.”
“I want to host a firewalk.”
“I’m curious about becoming an instructor.”
“I think I’m ready to change something.”
And then… you didn’t answer the phone.
You didn’t click the Zoom link.
You didn’t follow through.
Now don’t worry. I’m not here to make you feel bad.
I’ve broken my fair share of commitments too.
But let me remind you of something that legendary firewalking pioneer Tolly Burkan teaches in his book Let It Be Easy:
“Once you make a commitment to yourself to keep your agreements, you will instantly notice whenever an agreement has been broken… you have created a small bump in what could have been a smooth road.”
Every time you don’t follow through, you create friction – not just with me or your calendar, but inside yourself.
You train yourself to question your own integrity.
You make your dreams negotiable.
You teach your nervous system that safety means staying small.
What’s Really Going On?
Let’s call it what it is: fear.
When you press “book a call” or “send message,” there’s usually a flash of inspiration driving the action. You picture the best version of yourself, the one who’s bolder, more fulfilled, doing things that scare most people. That vision is exciting. But then… reality creeps in.
You start to wonder what I’ll say on the call.
Whether you’re “ready.”
Whether this is too much, too soon.
Whether you’re just being dramatic.
Your nervous system freaks out. So it does what it was trained to do: retreat.
Now look, I work with people because of this fear, not in spite of it. So you ghosting the call doesn’t make me judge you. It just makes me wish you’d stayed long enough to face it.
Because if we can’t show up for a 30-minute Zoom call…
how on earth are we meant to show up for life’s real moments?
You Don’t Need to Be Ready. You Just Need to Be Honest.
One of the greatest lessons Tolly teaches is simple but powerful: Keep your agreements. Not just with others, but with yourself.
“When you anticipate that an agreement cannot be kept – renegotiate. Circumstances frequently change… But do it with integrity.”
Here’s the deal: if you book a call and then realise you’re not ready, that’s OK.
But say so. Don’t vanish. Don’t hide behind the busy badge.
Because what matters isn’t whether you show up to a phone call, it’s whether you’re showing up to your life. And if you keep making promises you don’t keep, you start to lose trust in your own word. That’s not just bad business, it’s personal sabotage. You don’t have to know all the answers. You don’t need a plan. But you do need presence. Even just enough to say:
“Hey, I’m not ready yet.”
“Hey, I’m scared.”
“Hey, can we reschedule?”
That kind of honesty is the first firewalk.
Let It Be Easy… But Not Optional
This isn’t about guilt-tripping you. It’s about offering you your power back.
Every time you follow through on a commitment, you strengthen your personal power. Every time you ghost, cancel late, or simply ignore your own impulses to grow… you chip away at it.
And here’s the thing: I’m not asking you to be perfect. I’m asking you to be engaged.
When you choose to walk the fire – or to train others to do it – you’re saying yes to becoming the kind of person whose word matters.
You’re saying yes to the version of yourself who follows through. Who keeps their promises. Who lives with intention and shows up with fire in their gut. And yes, it can be easy, but easy doesn’t mean passive.
Easy doesn’t mean “only if I feel like it.”
Easy means aligned. On time. Truthful. Clear.
Easy means saying what you mean and meaning what you say.
How to Build Follow-Through into Your Life
Here are a few practical takeaways to help you, and your clients, walk the talk:
1. Only book what you intend to show up for
If you’re in the moment and tempted to “just book a call” but you know you won’t follow through, don’t do it. Wait. Be real with yourself. It’s not brave to book. It’s brave to show up.
2. Set reminders, but add meaning, not just alerts
Don’t rely on calendar pings alone. Remind yourself why you booked the call. Write it down. Say it out loud. Put it on a sticky note. You didn’t just want information, you wanted transformation.
3. Renegotiate instead of disappearing
Life happens. But silence is not a substitute for integrity. If you need to cancel or change plans, do it with honesty. It keeps your personal power intact.
4. Keep your agreements small but sacred
Even if it’s just, “I’ll answer that call,” or “I’ll show up to that Zoom”, treat it like a sacred contract. The more you do this, the more trust you’ll rebuild in yourself.
5. Surround yourself with people who model follow-through
As Tolly says, associate with like-minded people. If you’re trying to grow and everyone around you ghosts their commitments, you’re in the wrong circle.
This Is About More Than a Missed Call
When someone books a call and doesn’t answer, that’s not a personal insult to me. I’ve got plenty to do, but when someone asks for transformation and then runs from it, that is personal. To them.
Because deep down, they know they’re capable of more. They’ve seen a glimpse. And that glimpse haunts them.
So here’s my challenge to you:
If you’ve filled in a form, or booked a call, or even thought about doing so… follow through.
Even if your voice shakes.
Even if you don’t feel ready.
Even if something inside you is screaming “this is a bad idea.”
Because maybe, just maybe, that’s not your fear talking.
Maybe it’s your future calling.
And it’s wondering why you keep hanging up.
Want to take the next step with integrity?
Schedule a call – and keep the appointment
Or revisit what drew you here in the first place.
The fire doesn’t move. But you can.