Keep focused ahead

Both of my sons are now driving. My oldest has been on the road for more than three years, while my youngest will get his license soon.

When I was teaching them to drive, both boys made the same mistake — looking too closely at the road right in front of the car.

The car would weave and drift as they tried to keep it "between the lines." We even had to dodge a ditch or two at the last second.

I taught them a lesson my dad taught me, "If you look about 100 yards down the road, while being aware of what is close, you won't weave back and forth."

The lesson worked — and their driving improved immediately.

Today, while reading a blog post from Chris Locurto, he related the story of guy who tightrope walked across Niagra Falls.

Sounded pretty impressive to me. But what I found even more impressive was his answer to the morning show host’s question, “how do you keep your balance? That’s when the tightrope walker shared how he never looks down at the wire he’s walking on because it’s too unstable. Instead, he focuses on the end of the wire where it’s solid.

Chris' observation brought back the memories of the driving lessons. The similar aspect of each teaches both a life lesson and a business lesson.

How many times do we focus on what is right in front of us, clouding our view of the "bigger picture."

In my own business career, I have fallen into this very trap — being overly concerned with this month, this week, or even just today. I would forget the bigger picture, thinking success or failure hinged on the outcome of some short-term endeavor.

I was focused on the road/rope ahead of me instead of the greater distance.

If we operated with such a short-sighted mentality, we will fall victim to the perils of small successes and failures. Each are dangerous for the leader.

A short-sighted leader will view small successes as better than they really are, and equally view small failures as worse than they are.

This short-sightedness will cause a leader to constantly weave and dodge, providing unstable leadership for himself and his team.

If we keep our focus on the "bigger picture," "ultimate goal," "higher prize," we will be better leaders and in turn, our businesses and life will prosper in much greater measure.

"Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." — Philippians 3:13-14

Until Next Time...