The Chase

We're all chasing. Yet, I'm very certain that if we were to really ask ourselves what we're chasing after we wouldn't even have a clue. One day, we might desire respect, the next day money, and the next day...and the next day.

The chase is exhausting, especially when you wake up in the morning stare at yourself and think...What am I really here to do? What is my place amongst a growing population of nearly 7 billion people?

We all ask ourselves what is my purpose? And depending on our mood, we will have different answers. I've chased, and I've pushed things to the side, procrastinated with decisions. But one day, a question was asked of me that completely changed my life. It was a simple question. But it had an amazing impact on me. So I figured I'd share it.

The question:"Where do you see yourself in five years?" 

Well, this question is pretty simple. And it shouldn't take much thought to answer. Right? WRONG! Because its one of those open-ended questions. A question that you can answer with many statements, but was followed with this question.

The follow-up question: "What plans have you made to achieve your goals in the next five years?"

See, what I realized in this simple interaction was that just because I could easily say where I wanted to be in the next five years. I hadn't actually made up an action plan to achieve any of these goals.

Honestly, it hurt to realize that the only person that was holding me back from my potential was myself. I had no one else to blame for my failures or my shortcomings. It made me re-analyze my process. And, what I realized is that I had gotten caught up in the end result and not focused enough on taking time to make sure I was following the correct process.

Its like a good free throw shooter in basketball. Sure they make a high percentage of free throws, but look at their process before they shoot each shot. You will often find, its the same actions. Following a process, allows them to feel prepared to make the shot.

What I've realized is that we must constantly re-evaluate our process, and decide on why we do what we do. Is there a better way to solve a problem? Is there a better way to get to the end result? Because if the process is flawed, you will never reach your potential.

It's hard to accept that you have no control over the future. But its easier to grasp life's uncertainties when you sit down, reflect on your life and begin planning for how you would like to see yourself in the next 5 or 10 years. Plans never work out completely, but what I've found is that having a 5 year plan on paper is better than having no plan at all.

The chase... well, I've found that you can transform it to The plan...
And a plan only leads to purpose.