Today I want to talk to you about the path you are on.
A good buddy of mine, Michael McCann once told me while I was in a moment of panic about discovering the right path, “Fuck the path, stick to the direction.” (pardon his French and “yes,” he is Canadian, so I do mean pardon his French). His message provided me with a sigh of relief.
So what is the difference between the path and the direction?
As I see it, the path is something that is already laid out. It’s something that you follow regardless of how you feel about it, regardless of the changes in the environment or the changes in you.
The direction my friends provides a little bit more wiggle room. It allows you to account for the environment, new things that you have learned and adjust accordingly.
The path was most likely created by someone or some thing that doesn’t want things to change. They don’t want you to think for yourself. They want you to believe that there is only one way to define success and only one way to get there. Their tried and true way.
But, what happens when things do start to change and people have a vision for something a little bit different than the “Path?” It’s time to look at the direction instead. What are you moving towards. Do the moves you make bring you closer to where you want to be or does it side track you? Yep, sometimes you have to move laterally to get where you want to be.
Here’s what you can do when the Path just doesn’t seem to fit with who you be:
1. Write out or use a vision board to draw a picture of where you want to be.
2. Research and look for folks who have gone their own direction in your field (you might want to ask people about, “the crazy ones,” because most likely, that’s what they WERE labeled).
3. Find those who can help support you in your quest to find and travel your own direction. I’m not talking about Yes men or women, but people who are going to start conversations with you by saying things like, “ok, what’s the next step or what may get in the way?” Instead of, “ugh, you sure you want to do this?” You are looking for dream stokers, not dream soakers.
Til next time, this is Mike Ambassador Bruny for Brand Inside a Brand. Remember, you don’t HAVE to leave your job to leave a mark, but you may have to leave the “right” path for the right direction instead.
If you like what you heard, I invite you to get tailor made insights and ideas to your questions by joining my Brand Inside a Brand Newsletter. I have a place setting for you any everything; I’ll even pull out your chair.
