In a world that often feels like it’s governed by bureaucracy, scripts, and “the way things have always been done,” there is a specific type of person who seems to operate on a different frequency. This is the high agency person.
While others see a wall and stop, the high agency person assumes the wall is a temporary suggestion. They don’t just navigate the world; they bend it to fit their objectives.
What is High Agency? At its core, high agency is a refusal to accept that your circumstances are fixed. It is the conviction that you can affect the outcome of any situation through resourcefulness, persistence, and creative problem-solving.
Low agency individuals wait for permission. They wait for a job posting to apply, a boss to assign a project, or a mentor to choose them. High agency people bypass gatekeepers. They don’t wait for a job posting; they send a cold loom video to the CEO showing how they can solve a specific company problem.
A common excuse for inaction is a lack of resources (money, time, or connections). High agency flips this. If they don’t have money, they find a partner who does. If they don’t have time, they automate or delegate. They treat “not having enough” as the first puzzle to solve, not the reason to quit.
When a high agency person hits a roadblock, they don’t get frustrated—they get curious. They possess a high degree of cognitive flexibility, allowing them to pivot their strategy instantly when the data changes.
High agency isn’t an innate personality trait like being an extrovert; it is a mindset that can be cultivated.
Eliminate phrases like “I wasn’t allowed to,” “They wouldn’t let me,” or “It’s impossible.” Replace them with “I haven’t found a workaround yet.” This subtle shift moves you from a victim of your environment to the protagonist of your story.
Start by challenging small, arbitrary constraints. If a restaurant says they don’t do substitutions, politely ask for one anyway. If a software doesn’t have a feature you need, find a third-party plugin or write a script. These small “wins” train your brain to stop defaulting to “no.”
Commit to trying at least three different paths to a goal before you even consider giving up. If the email doesn’t work, try a phone call. If the phone call fails, show up in person. If that fails, find a mutual friend. Most people stop after half an attempt.
High agency is infectious. When a team has one high agency member, the “ceiling” for what that team thinks is possible rises. These individuals become magnets for talent and capital because they provide the one thing most people are desperate for: certainty in the face of chaos.
The Bottom Line: You are either a passenger in your life or the pilot. Being high agency means grabbing the controls, even—and especially—when you don’t have a map.
