Do you ever wonder what is on the other side of the bridge before you cross it? In many cases, we already know what’s there, but there comes a time when we will cross a bridge we have not crossed before. Do we think about it? Is this the bridge even on our map?
I love this whole idea about “where we are headed.” So many people I meet have only planned far enough ahead to back out of the driveway. After that – well, maybe we’ll get there and maybe we won’t. It really doesn’t matter, does it? There is no intentionality about it. A destination with no direction. My thoughts to these people … Have a nice trip!
I have spent a lot of time lately thinking and planning on where I am headed. A year and a half ago, my map had several routes leading to different places. Today my map shows the shortest (or close to it) path to the clear destination I have chosen. Sure, I will encounter detours and unplanned stops, but my map is clear enough that I can get right back on course even if I get delayed in an unplanned traffic jam.
If you are not sure where you are headed or what’s on the other side of the bridge, I offer up the following thoughts on why you should STOP now and take a look at your map:
1. CLARITY
There is no better way to know where you are headed than to be clear on where you want to be. Clarity will come from understanding what it is that you want to achieve. Is there a difference between “directions” and “clear directions” in the sense of our journey? I think the answer is clearly yes!
2. PURPOSE
Have you identified your purpose? Does your map lead to a destination that is in alignment with your purpose? I see so many people that are travelling along a road that either leads to nowhere or somewhere they really have no desire to go. In many of these cases, it is do to the fact that they are following someone else’s plan instead of their own.
3. PASSION
What fills your bucket? What is it that you would give up almost anything for? I know a lot of people whose jobs have nothing to do with what they are passionate about. They will unfortunately struggle to find joy in what they are doing or reach their potential.
4. TIME-MANAGEMENT
Have you ever been driving around and got lost? How much time did you waste? We only have so much time to do what we want to do. A poorly planned trip will result in numerous course adjustments wasting the time that you value.
5. COURAGE
Sometimes the map to where we want to go has us driving down roads we have never been on before. The only way to navigate this journey is to have a map that will keep us on course. Then we have to find the courage to follow the map even if the landscape looks totally different than anywhere we have been before.
It is really not too hard of a concept to follow. Be clear on where you want to go and put together a plan to get there in the most efficient way possible. The more clearly you can identify the destination, the shorter the journey will be. If you don’t know where you are headed, it doesn’t really matter where you end up.
If you want a successful trip, you better know what’s on the other side of your bridge?
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Barry Smith www.buildingwhatmatters.com 1/18/13 photo by author
