Are You Sure You’re on the Right Path?

To successfully reach an objective, we need to clearly know our exact destination and our exact starting point. Most do well enough choosing a destination. But when it comes to the starting point, have you ever started walking down the wrong path because you really weren’t sure where you were?

CompassCan we get to where we want to be when we aren’t sure where we are? Sure, we do it all the time. But that’s the struggling, costly, “wait until we hit the bottom” route. There is an easier way. A really good business startup compass would be able to point us in the right direction and start us out on the right path.

(Image by mellowhummer on Flickr, via Creative Commons license)

I use a focusing technique that’s a great right business compass if you pause long enough to check it. When we’re lost in the woods or in life, it’s wise to check our bearings before we move. Do this at the beginning of your journey and you won’t be so tuckered out at the end. Whether it’s in designing a life, finding delightful work or building a business, this method will get you started out right so you’ll have more time to enjoy a drink and watch the sunset.

Let’s say that the key to everything you needed to be aware of, work through, realize or take action on, could be found at the source of one of three paths. If that were true, wouldn’t you want to be sure of your path before starting out? Here they are.
Path in Woods

Personal Awareness Path
Personal awareness could also be described as personal enlighten-
ment, evolution, mindfulness, growth or conscious-
ness. Use the term that resonates for you. On this path we courageously work through our personal points of discomfort. Andrea Hess, Empowered Soul has written an excellent post on engaging consciousness.

(Image by Vortech on Flickr, via Creative Commons license)

Personal Productivity Path
Personal Productivity is a willingness to create and honor an accountability structure that increases the probability that you’ll frequently complete key results-producing activities.

Business Mastery Path
Business mastery is our learning path where we demonstrate a willingness to observe, evaluate, learn and adjust whatever methods, language and skills are essential for success in our chosen field.

Here’s how to read the compass.

Select a current objective where your progress might have slowed. While considering where you want to be, ask. Which path, right now, would move me closer to my destination?

Although it might seem like we need to simultaneously walk more than one path, don’t do it! That’s a sucker’s route that will weaken your focus and get you lost.

Tips & Shortcuts
If it’s a really big question or resolution, you probably need to walk the path of personal awareness. Same thing goes if you are uninspired. Get on this path and question yourself intently until you have a clear focus on what you want.

“Even though you are on the right track – you will get run over if you just sit there.” – Will Rogers

Lack of action is an excellent sign that you are on the wrong path. A path can be perfect one day and a total dead end the next. As with using a compass, we need to pause frequently to check our bearings.

If you keep telling yourself you don’t know how, then jump on the path of business mastery. It begins at your search engine. Get online and find what you need to know to make a sound business decision.

If you procrastinate or are lacking energy, validate your destination by asking questions while walking the path of personal awareness.

If you can’t seem to complete, then build a better personal productivity structure by working with an accountability buddy or a coach.

Especially in the discovery stage of seeking delightful work, business discovery hikers sometimes think they need to go back to school or somehow learn how to function in a new career – before they decide on it. These folks jump on the path of mastery before they’re sure what their destination is. That’s definitely the wrong path. It’s like studying how to ride a bike for four years before you jump on and ride.

Beware of the advice of others because they always see things from their own perspective. If they got where they are through hard work, then they may suggest that you stay on the path of personal productivity. But if you’re on the wrong path, working harder at what doesn’t work won’t get you were you are going.

Which path are you on right now? Is it the right one to get you were you want to be?


Comments

  1. Very practical technique for identify different courses of action to take.

    It seems that many people I work with not only can’t identify multiple paths, they spend a lot of time and energy trying to use two or more routes at the same time (often logically impossible) or they simply jump back and forth from one to the other and their progress amounts to getting on and off different paths — essentially creating shortcuts between the various paths themselves instead of shortcuts between destinations.

    As you said, this amounts to being lost in between…

  2. Welcome Slade, yep that’s what I’ve seen as well. Well said, shortcuts between paths don’t really go anywhere and ultimately result in lots of wasted energy and very little progress.

  3. Andrea Hess|Empowered Soul says

    This was a very insightful article, Tom! And thank you for the link love 🙂

    I think sometimes we get lost trying to go back to “what worked before” when, in the present situation, a whole new path is needed!

    I really liked these three different approaches to forward movement in our lives.

    Blessings,
    Andrea

  4. Andrea that’s an interesting observation for determining our present location. Sometimes we fall back on what has worked in the past and sometime we just stay with what has seemed to work in the very near past. Always we would be better served to keep asking where we are and make a conscious decision to move forward on that path or to select another. It’s the eyes wide-open approach that keeps us moving swiftly.

  5. Brilliant once agan.

    Fawn

  6. I think sometimes we get lost trying to go back to “what worked before” when, in the present situation, a whole new path is needed!

    I really liked these three different approaches to forward movement in our lives.

  7. Water – Thanks, come back and let us know how they work out for you.

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  1. […] For a different look at deciding where you are read: Are You Sure You’re on the Right Path? […]

  2. […] we are crystal clear about where we are and where we want to be, we create less stress and more often hit targeted objectives. It’s darn hard to find our true […]

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