So I watched a new show this week. Two guys were hiking in the woods, and they came to a fork in the trail. They weren’t sure which way to go, as the brush had grown up along both sides, and neither side was the clear winner. Upon examining the two paths and seeing footprints on the right side, Adam decides,
“Right seems to be the popular direction.”
The two followed the footsteps that marked the way and then they came upon a fork in the trail…again. Upon examining the two paths and seeing footprints on the right side, Adam decides again, “Right seems to be the popular direction.”
The camera zooms out to an aerial view.
We, as the audience, discover that they have been going in a large loop. They were paving the path themselves and were destined to continue forever. The footprints were their own!
Yes, they did make it out of the forest…eventually.
Adam finally realized that to get different results, they needed a different path.
As basic as the scene was (and humorous!), it did highlight some elemental truths that we as entrepreneurs can appreciate and relate to.
You see, being an entrepreneur is a lot like taking the left path.
Today, the culture of being an entrepreneur involves a spirit of risk-taking. It’s not about following the same path that others have taken. It means putting innovation and creativity at the forefront. It means empowering those you work with and serve.
Let’s be real, though.
Sometimes the right path can seem so enticing. What does the right path look like for you?
- Health benefits?
- A generous 401k?
- The “safety net” of an 8-5?
- Fear of the unknown?
It’s okay to feel that way!
I’ll let you in on a secret… I felt that way, too, before I stepped out onto the left path myself.
(Trust me…it wasn’t a powerful runway walk down the path with a z-snap at the end! It looked more like a child sticking her toe into the pool to check if it’s cold or not. NOPE. Too cold! Not going in!)
It can be scary! It’s a risk. Sometimes we feel like we have to justify our choice with an endless explanation as to why we chose to leave behind what others consider the “normal” or “right” path (see what I did there!).
But you know what we find when we leave the forest?
We find joy and excitement. We find flexibility and freedom. We find the best version of ourselves.
So, sister, take this as your permission: Be YOU!
So, sister, take this as your permission: Be YOU!
Be OKAY taking a different path, even when it feels like everyone else is going a different direction.
Be completely and unashamedly YOU!!
