I have a soft spot for chestnuts.

There’s something grounding about the ritual:
you cut, you bake, you peel, you eat.
It feels earthy, rewarding, almost meditative.

But today, as my fingertips were burning from peeling the steaming-hot shells, something clicked.

Chestnuts are more than a snack —
they are a brilliant metaphor for how we grow, lead, and transform.

Let me show you.

1. The Cut — The Pain Before the Growth

Before chestnuts go into the oven, you cut them.

It’s uncomfortable.
It’s precise.
And it stings if you slip.

But without the cut, nothing opens.

This is the moment of preparation — the equivalent of telling the truth to yourself, deciding on a change, or taking a bold first step before anything feels “ready.”

Every transformation begins with a small wound:
a decision, a moment of honesty, a shift.

Growth hurts before it becomes rewarding.

2. The Oven — The Invisible Power of Your Environment

Once the chestnuts are cut, the oven takes over.

The heat cracks them open.
Softens them.
Makes the flavour reachable.

Just like your environment.

The top 5 people you surround yourself with — especially in business — shape your temperature:
your drive, your courage, your emotional resilience.

Some people heat you up in the best way.
Some drain you.
Some keep you lukewarm for years.

Your environment is never neutral.

3. The Peeling — The Part Where Most People Quit

This is the real work.
And the hardest part.

You know it will burn your fingers.
And you still don’t know what you’ll find inside:
a perfect chestnut, or one that’s broken, dry, or impossible to peel.

This is what it feels like to confront our inner world:
our limiting beliefs, invisible ceilings, and attachment to outcomes.

The peeling is where you want to quit.
Where excuses appear.
Where impatience shows up.
Where uncertainty is loudest.

And yet…

This is where transformation actually happens.

Growth is always “hot work.”
Not comfortable — but deeply rewarding once you taste the result.

My Reflection

Today, chestnuts reminded me how I approach leadership and life:

Prepare with honesty.
Surround yourself with the right people.
And don’t run from the heat — it reveals who you really are.

Your Reflection Questions

(Feel free to use these privately or with your team.)

• Where am I currently in the process — cutting, heating, or peeling?
• Who or what shapes my environment, and is it cracking me open or keeping me closed?
• What discomfort have I been avoiding that might actually be the doorway to my next level?

Love,
Laszlo