Change Doesn't Need a Date on the Calendar | Between The Builds

In this energizing episode of "Between the Builds," Chris Fay kicks off the fall season after a summer hiatus with a conversation about vision, planning, and why the most effective leaders don't wait for the calendar to give them permission to change. Chris opens with a highlight from a recent YPO chapter event he and his wife hosted, where he led a fireside chat with Jason Garrett — former head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, backup quarterback to Troy Aikman across three Super Bowl championships, and now an NFL analyst for NBC. What stood out most wasn't just Garrett's message but how he delivered it: sharp, prepared, and deeply convicted, always with a smile, even at his most intense. Garrett's core idea on leadership stuck with Chris: the first word in leadership is "lead," and leading starts with painting a vision. Every organization, family, and team needs something bigger than itself to strive for, and without that vision, there's nothing to rally around or hold anyone accountable to. That idea landed right as Chris's company heads into Q4 and its annual planning season, a time he genuinely looks forward to for stepping back, reflecting on where the business has been, and setting a clear vision for the year ahead. But it also raised a bigger question: why do we always wait until January 1st? Chris unpacks how New Year's resolutions, product sales, and event invitations all work the same way — they're calls to action, and most of us sit back and wait for one before we move. The reality is that nothing requires us to wait. Chris shares how he's put that into practice. With a season of intense restructuring, divestitures, and acquisitions now behind him, he found himself facing a calendar in disarray and a new chapter for the business. Rather than wait for the new year, he created his own call to action: he set October 1st as the date for major change, backed it up to the very next Monday, and walked into his leadership team meeting to announce that the company would begin operating differently starting that day. The goal is to get those changes working well now, so the business is off and running when the new year arrives. Chris closes with a challenge to every listener: whether it's a strained relationship, your health, your calendar, or a hard conversation at work you keep putting off, stop waiting for January. Pick one change, put a date on it, and make next Monday your call to action. Chris discusses: What he learned hosting a fireside chat with former Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett Why Garrett leads with a smile, even when he's at his most intense "The first word in leadership is lead" and why vision comes before accountability Why Q4 planning season is one of his favorite times of the year The question of why so many people wait until January 1st to make a change How New Year's resolutions, sales, and invitations all function as calls to action Why putting a date on a change gives it more gravity The Monday he walked into his leadership meeting and declared a new day The one-change challenge: creating your own call to action for next Monday Key Takeaways Leadership starts with vision — without it, there's nothing for your team to rally around You don't need a new year, a new quarter, or a major milestone to make meaningful change Most people wait for a call to action; the best leaders create their own Attaching a specific date to a change makes it feel real and gives it weight The habits you built yesterday don't have to define how you lead today Getting a head start on change now means you hit the new year already in motion Pick one change, put a date on it, and commit to it Connect with Chris Chris Fay — LinkedIn: /cjfay