Soldier on, or change valleys?
"What's the turn for Federal Gulch doing here?"
I drove a bit farther.
"Why am I on the left side of the creek? I'm supposed to be on the other side."
I drove a bit farther.
It was getting rocky.
As in, I should really have a pick-up for this road, kinda rocky.
Then,
"Stop the bus. Why am I in a ravine? I'm supposed to be in a wide open valley floor."
...
At the end of the dirt road, I asked the hunter. "Is this the trailhead for Hinman Peak?"
"No, that turn off was five miles back."
...
In something of a "hurry" to get started hiking, I blew past a road that was at least 40 feet wide.
The one and only turn off on a 10-mile dirt road.
I never saw it.
...
There was a turn-off when your business got to 80% capacity.
But you were driving fast because... you had to drive fast to get to 80% capacity, because you needed to keep the lights on while you were building your practice.
When super-focused on building, it’s easy to miss the turn-off.
…
When I blew past my turn, I ended up on a steep, rocky dirt road with few options for turning around without getting scary-close to edges.
…
The main problem was my "I'll just keep going and see what's ahead" thinking.
Instead of acknowledging multiple signals telling me something wasn't right.
As if I ...
just kept going,
somehow the trail
that was in the other valley
would appear in front of me.
...
Hiking the 60-hour-a-week trail in the valley you're in,
isn't the trail that leads to a 40-hour work-week.
That's a different trail, in a different valley.
...
If you want to be on the 40-hour work-week trail,
you have to turn around.
You have to go back.
Go back just a little.
Not all the way to the beginning.
Back just far enough to pick up the trail –
The trail that actually leads to where you want to go.
It's not that far.
It won't take that long.
...
Once you make the turn you missed the first time around,
you'll think, "This makes so much more sense."
It'll feel right, and so much easier.
You'll get out of the rugged overworked zone,
and onto the smooth road on the valley floor with fabulous views.
Fabulous views of comfortable margins,
of a calendar with white space and time,
and a view of your business from afar,
because you're no longer always consumed by it.
...
I had a great hike.
I went to a mountain lake instead of a mountain peak, a fine destination.
But it wasn't the destination I set out for.
Want to say goodbye to grinding and hello to manageable?
Watch this space for a big announcement coming in the next few weeks…