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Recently, I spent a long day driving on
the New York State Thruway. For readers not familiar with this toll road,
I can best describe it with three words: boring boring and boring. Having
traveled it since I was 5 years old, I believe I know about every bend in
the road. The western section is the most tiring since it is
predominantly flatlands and the prevailing scenery is the backside of a
variety of farms, none of which contain a purple cow. We made a tiring
round trip totaling 700 miles in one day to deliver a horse to the other
end of the state.
The good news about
driving the Thruway is that it provides the opportunity to do some
serious thinking.
As conversation with passengers
dwindles, the opportunity for the mind to drift, wander and ponder
increases exponentially. As one who has his day filled with activity that
requires concentration, the chance to do some “free wheeling
thinking” is welcome. Interruptions are few, snacks are handy and
temporary disconnection (short of cell phones) from the world is
possible.
As I was thinking between the white
lines, I found myself comfortably cruising at the pace in the right lane.
The right lane pace is determined by others, not you. You know what
it’s like to be in the right lane; it’s the safe lane. You
don’t have to do too much other than steer and adjust your speed if
the vehicle in front of you is going slower than you are. No decisions or
judgments required about whether there is enough room to change lanes,
accelerating, passing and when to return to the right lane.
While driving in the right lane, those
80,000 lbs. “semi’s” can go around you at their own
discretion. After all, you are in the “safe lane” and are
just going with the flow.
During my freewheeling thinking, I began
seeing the similarity between interstate driving habits and the way some
people live their personal and business lives.
First, there are the fast lane drivers
who never leave it. They expect to be the first in line whatever the
conditions are. Being in the lead is more important than anything else.
Everyone and every thing else is secondary.
Next, are those who use the passing lane
only to pass the slow movers and then respectfully return to the right
lane to allow others to use the left lane. They are in charge of their
lives but respect others’ rights for opportunities.
Finally, there are people who spend
their entire lives in the right lane because it’s safe. Few decisions
to make, no risks to take. They tolerate and live with frustration of
slow movement for the sake of safety. It’s mind numbing and
comfortable.
Don’t misunderstand me; I
recognize there are people who need to be only right lane drivers with
their vehicles and their lives. They just aren’t capable, for a
variety of reasons, to handle “the giddy-up lane.”
For the rest of the group who are
capable, but reluctant to pick up the pace, it’s a challenge to
break the right lane comfort pattern. The group is sadly trapped in a
groove of complacency.
This week’s question for you,
“ What do I have to do to accelerate the pace of growth in my life
and business?”
I work with small business owners who
are ready to make a change in their businesses. They usually are dealing
with the 3 not enoughs:
- Not enough time.
- Not enough money.
- Not enough of the right people on the team.
Would you like to know more about how
to create more profit in less time? click
here
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