Have you ever had the experience of knowing what you really wanted, but having no idea how to get there from here? I know I have. It can be really frustrating!
I would know what the end result I wanted was, but I didn’t know all the steps required to make it happen. So I would get overwhelmed and stop and not do what was necessary to reach my goal.
Then I had an interesting thought. I just had to turn on my headlights! Let me tell you what I mean.
Suppose you were driving at night from Los Angeles to San Francisco. If you took US 101, it would be about a 430-mile trip. Now, you couldn’t see all 430 miles of that road. In fact, once you pulled out of your driveway and turned on your headlights, you could only see about 180 feet in front of you.
However, let’s not let that stop us! We are not paralyzed by fear. We don’t sit there and worry, “What’s going to happen when I get to the end of these 180 feet? I won’t be able to see anything?!” No, we just drive along the lighted section of road and trust that when we get to the end of the part that is lighted, the next section of road will light up as we go. And that’s how we do the full 430 miles, 180 feet at a time!
I realized that this was exactly what I needed to do for my business goals! I needed to set the goal, lay out the steps that I could see in front of me, and trust that as I got to the end of the part that was clear to me, the next steps would become apparent. And they always do!
I like to start by asking myself “What is the better case scenario?” And then I discover the first step that will take me in that direction. And I take that step.
It can work the same way for you. You do what you can on the part you can see, and trust that when you get to the end of the part of the path that is lit, you will see the next part of the path… the next step in the journey. Is that how it works. 180 feet at a time.
Not everything has to be perfect before you start! That’s a recipe for getting stuck, a recipe for never moving forward toward your big goals. You just have to “chunk” it.
Several years ago, I did the Avon 3-Day Walk Against Breast Cancer: 60 miles in three days. He was overweight, out of shape, and a big target.
I “turned on my headlights” and used this approach. On the first day, I looked at the event website and developed a training plan. He didn’t walk an inch. The next day, I went and bought walking shoes. He still hasn’t walked. On the third day, I walked around the block.
I remember the first time I walked a mile. She was doing the happy dance. I wasn’t worried about how I would walk the other 59 miles. He was just doing it “180 feet at a time”, as far as he could see. In late spring I was training Redstone Canyon 6 ½ miles up and 6 ½ miles down.
When August rolled around, despite record temperatures of over 100 degrees for all three days, I was able to hike every one of those 60 miles. I accomplished that goal because I just did the next thing I could do.
I apply the same principles to my business goals. So here are some tips:
1. Set big goals. Don’t worry if you don’t know every step you need to take to reach them. Just “turn on your headlights” and do what’s in front of you. Do you want to go out and talk? Make that a goal. Do you want to get on bigger stages? Make that a goal. Do you want to sell more from the stage? Make that a goal.
2. Be willing to change. It is impossible to achieve a great goal without learning and growing, and becoming even more. Get ready to grow! Hire a mentor or coach. To study. Grow your experience.
3. Celebrate your success along the way. It helps build momentum and enthusiasm and keeps you focused.
So turn on your headlights and take it one step at a time. Before you know it, you’ll be there.
