Inspiration Series: What does the Future Hold?

Sometimes people ask me if 40 years ago, I envisioned creating and building the  business that it is today?  No, I didn’t have a clue.  40 years ago, I just set out to do the best I could with what I knew that day—which reminds me of a wonderful lesson that can apply to all of us personally and professionally.

Imagine taking a long journey on foot, such as a hike on a beautiful nature trail.   You’ve never been on this hike before.  You likely get a map or decide to follow the trail signs along the way.

When you begin, do you see your destination?  No, you look at the trail marker signs.  You look down that path and can only see a little way.  You walk to that spot and you can see a little more.  When there is a split in the path, you look at the signs and take the correct pathway toward your destination.  Do you see your destination then?  No.  You can only see a little way.  

You repeat what you did before.  You walk to that spot and then you can see a little more.  This has happened countless times.  Most of the time it is an ingrained habit.  You don't even give it thought, but you have to do two things:  You've got to keep walking, and you've got to follow the signs when they appear.  Eventually, you arrive at your destination.

This principle applies to building a business, and it applies to navigating your personal and professional life.  We don’t know exactly what the future will bring.  We don’t know exactly what the destination will look like.  All we can control is where we are on our pathway at this moment.  All we can do is follow the signs that ultimately point us toward the destination.  

Does this mean that all is just a matter of luck?  Definitely not.  You have to keep moving and you have to make logical and good decisions when you reach a decision point.

Here's the lesson in two short sentences:

Take the right path as far as you can see.  Then, you will see farther.

Friends, if you find yourself worrying about a big, important decision, or if you are frustrated by not knowing what the future holds, remember this lesson.  It will help you be at peace with what you can do right now.