How Far Away Is Your Goal?

It may feel very distant, and that’s frustrating. So let’s figure out how close you really are.

- JASON FEIFER

You're trying to get somewhere. But you're not there yet.

That is frustrating. And worse, it's embarrassing. You've worked hard. You've traveled far. And you think: I should be there by now-so why am I not?

I feel this too, and I've concluded that it isn't just about anxiety or impatience. It's about something more fundamental: This is what happens when we are on a path, and what's ahead is unseeable.

But if we want to keep going, we must light the path as best as we can.

Here's an example.

I do a lot of keynote speaking, typically about how people and teams can thrive in times of change. Sometimes the rooms are packed, and it's a thrill. But other times I arrive to a near-empty room-if, say, conference attendees choose to spend their time elsewhere. It's demoralizing every time. I've worked hard to become a great speaker, and I aspire to be in demand-to be someone that people can't miss. Empty rooms tell me the opposite: They say, You might never get there.