Remember those endless childhood car rides, when we always asked ‘Are We There Yet?’ In business and our personal lives, we often have the tendency to be impatient and restless regarding attaining goals, getting results or finishing a project. Whether it is our inner child, our drive for success, or merely the want of instant gratification, it always comes back to the same question–‘Are We There Yet?’ In my opinion, we NEVER are.
I once hitchhiked cross-country from New Mexico to Vermont. I recall thinking how much longer the trip would take and who I would see when I got there. Never once did I think about the value of the journey or the places that I could see along the way. Believe it or not I was in Nashville, Tennessee at precisely 9pm on a Saturday night and decided to stay on the highway instead of heading into town. Without any serious regret, I still wonder what more I could have seen if I had taken a slight detour. I didn’t have much money and I was in such a needless hurry to get back to Vermont, so I decided to keep my thumb out and see just how far east I could get along I40 before I had to turn in for the night.
We often hear athletes, managers and owners talk about winning their sport’s ultimate prize; the Stanley Cup, World Series, Super Bowl, etc. Of course, all of that is true, but what about tomorrow? If those same athletes, managers or owners remain shortsighted in their goals, and lose sight of their vision, they will never sustain success. Then, over time, the glory of their initial accomplishment will wane. In business, if you have a tremendously profitable year, but do not consistently repeat it or improve it, you’re likely to fail.
With success, we often find satisfaction within ourselves and say, ‘Now I’ve got it, now I am complete, now I can take on the world.’ When that happens, laziness sets in and we are instantly on the road to ruin. As Vince Lombardi said about his beloved Green Bay Packers football team ‘We must strive for perfection to attain excellence.’ You always have to press on for more.
Vision is reaching out just beyond where we currently are. Allowing ourselves to relax can be dangerous, and halt any progress we have already made. Regardless of what your vision is, without continued diligence and focus, it will become blurred and maybe even out of reach. Patience is not to be confused with relaxing or laziness. We can’t always take on a challenge all at once. Having patience makes us tremendously strong and able to withstand all assaults, both internal and external. Patience does not mean we’re relaxed or succumbing to what is, but that we’re focused on what we hope to achieve regardless of current circumstances.
The Apostle Paul wrote, “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on . . .” (Philippians 3:12). If we only have experiences, then all we have is in the past, but with the inspiration of vision, we can strive for more.
As a sales professional, I know full well that come January 1st of each New Year I am back at zero. I am at zero sales and 0% of my goal when that calendar flips. It doesn’t matter what I did the prior year, because I am never truly ‘There.’ So, I always remind myself that regardless of whether a hero or not at year’s end, I will begin the climb again come January 1st. That reality can be difficult for some, but if you’re always focused on your vision, the climb never really ends.
So how then, do we press on when we are continually asking the question ‘Are We There Yet?’ How do we keep climbing when we live in an age where instant gratification is expected? How do we stay focused on the vision, when seeking immediate reward today is more important than long-term success?
We can begin with an idea that we believe in and plan to achieve. Always seek to stay on that course by executing our plan – one day at a time. It will require patience and persistence in the face of all kinds of adversity. The road leading to our vision will be scarred with bumps, potholes, and ditches on either side, but is the ultimate path to our destination. Remember when asking yourself ‘Are We There Yet?’ that we never really are, we are just one step closer on the road to our vision – best to stay on it!