Many of you know, I love to ride motorcycles. When I am not doing workforce and career development, I do a lot of Christian ministry with bikers around the country. Bikers share an interesting outlook on life that would serve workforce and career development professionals well to adopt also. It goes like this …
THE JOURNEY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE DESTINATION!
For sure, we are all interested in the destination, but perhaps we would be wise if we paid more attention to the journey itself. Let me put that biker thought in the context of a typical business setting …
PROCESS IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ACHIEVEMENT!
I recognize everybody is not going to agree with my statement. And I understand, if you disagree, that you might be able to come up with some very good reasons why I could be wrong. But let’s just agree on that point — for now — and move on with the discussion.
LIFE (CAREER) IS WHAT HAPPENS WHILE YOUR PLANS ARE BEING WORKED OUT.
It’s true that the last step in the journey is the one that lets you touch your destination, but did it ever occur to you that the last step is not necessarily the most important step? From my experience in the workplace and in ministry, I have come to the conclusion that the most important step is actually the “next step”. Unless you take the next step in your journey, you have already taken your last step — and you will never touch your destination. The “next step” is the key. And next steps are always part of the process — the journey — for your career and for your life.
When you see this, you start to understand that process may actually be more important than achievement. That’s because each new step is a success within itself. And just as the next step brings you to yet another possible next step, so too does success breed more success. Next steps build momentum for achievement.
If you follow that, you begin to see that if a person (you or the customers, clients, and students that you serve) waits for achievement (a destination) before tasting success, chances are that person will run out of fuel long before he or she ever reaches the destination.
Let’s boil this down to something very simple, straightforward, and practical.
- You do not have to wait for tomorrow to be successful.
- Because life (and career) is a journey rather than a destination, your success can be found in the little things you encounter day-by-day.
- Learn this for yourself.
- Teach it to your customers, clients, and students too.
- When you do, you will discover that success actually leads to achievement, rather than achievement creating success.
When you are successful today, you will be an achiever tomorrow. Ride safely and blessings to all!
Weel said & this is from a person who is always looking for the light at the end of the tunnel, the final destination, Friday afternoons at quitting time, last day of final exams, the end result, satisfaction from a project completed,………you get the picture. I have trouble enjoying the process & live more for the end result. I know this will probably shorten my lifespan. However, I’ve always set goals & have not been happy until I have completed them. I always feel like something is hanging over my head until the job is done.
However, I have just now realized that while that may (or may not ) work for me, I have set a bad example for my daughter who exerts alot of pressure on herself to achieve. She’s in college & under a great deal of stress. I’ve told her to relax, pace herself, everything will work out, etc. She’s very good at breaking down things into smaller obtainable goals, but she worries just like I do until it’s complete. She doesn’t have another role model about how to accomplish tasks, so “she’s ended up just like me.” How do I fix that now? Moreover, how do I fix me?
Thanks for the article. If gave me alot to think about….as if I time with all this work to do to complete this course. (HaHa)
Excellent - if more people would approach their daily life with a positive journeying..what a difference we can make in the lives of not only our children but our fellow adults - helping to create “successes” no matter how small or large…
Yay to Kimberly and Kat!
The light at the end of the tunnel does seem to be the destination and there’s always one more curve or bend in the road too. I used to sometimes think I was just wishing my life away … moving from one destination to another.
Ride on!!!
Frank,
The next step is important. People who have been displaced have so much difficulty taking that next step. Career Development Facilitators can do so much in helping people feel comfortable with that journey. Thanks for the article.
The journey is definitely the most important aspect and visual of reaching your goal. Reaching your destination last only for a little while, yet when we are on our journey towards success or achievement we are able to absorb the scenery and experiences that happen along the way, whether they are good experiences (sunny skies) or bad experiences (flat tire/ stormy). Our goal as CDF’s are to make it through successfully and know that we achieve success because we withstood challenges along the way. DON’T PULL OVER…KEEPING RIDING!!!
My husband is always telling me to stop and smell the roses. As I read your statement that if we paid more attention the the journey itself instead of the destination we would be wiser.
I think it is true that the last step of the journey is not necessarily the most important step. The steps that we take in our journey is how we continue on.
We can’t get stuck and feel that we have reached everything that there is along our journey.
I think achieving is important but continuing the journey- not giving up is an essential part of life. We run into challenging situations all along the way.
Excellent article. It definitely gives me pause for thought about the way I am - always rushing to get the next thing done and never realizing any sense of accomplishment or enjoyment when something does get accomplished because there is always so much more to be done. I think it is important to acknowledge that each step is necessary, especially the next step, and that each step is an integral part of arriving at your destination
As you have most likely heard from your wife I am very computerly Challenged.But I do love motorcycles.I personally ride a bike that I built myself’it’s a 91 thru 2004 Fat Boy.I hear you ride a Gold Wing.That a great Cruiser.My next Bike will be a Harley Street Glide.I’m getting older and need the comfort rather than the NOISE.I’mwould like more info. on your Bike Minisitry.MAC
Hi, Mac! Great to hear from you. You just have to ride to understand what it is like! I am glad you are there and can appreciate that. To find out more about our motorcycle ministry, check out http://www.bikerchurchusa.org. You can email me any time through that site, and we can talk about whatever you want. Looking forward to hearing from you! Be blessed!
I am not much on chatting, but I have a great time reading everyones’ comments. As the sun said to the moon, “see you in the future” .
Is there a biker chapter in each state?
We are working on that now. That is the goal, but there are still many states without this connection! We have an inaugural service in Florence this Sunday at 805 N Cashua Drive. It starts at 10:30 am and should be a very spirited time. The Christian Comedian of the Year, Barry McGee, is planning to be there with us!
Hey Guys it’s Mac again. Today it’s cold and raining at the beach.And I’m still running around 900 mph with my hair on fire.On a cold and nasty day like today I’d like to chill out and just relax. Like that country song says I’d give my last breathe to my love ,take a bullet for my kids ,give my life to my country,stand up and fight for my friends.But this job ain’t worth dying for!!!Thanks for the kind thoughts.RELAX AND RIDE Mac
Hey Guys What a great day here at the beach 65 degrees sunny and warm with no wind, That Harley is calling my name.But so are about 20 other people and those are the ones who sign my pay check.So I guess the bike is going to have to wait.If any of you fellow bikers out there are down the Morehead City Atlantic Beach area, give me a call I’ll take you Down East on about a 100 mile round trip. We’ll see Cape Look Out Light House The wild horses on the Outer Banks Fishing Fleets and some wide open road to feel the wind in your face.
Paradigm Shift
This piece has challenged me in my thinking. I am currently working on my doctorate in Organizational Psychology. I have 2 more years to go and it feels like the end is no where in sight for me. In fact, I have lost my excitement and motivation as the journey has been long and laborous! However, Frank, you open my eyes to see that my perspective is all wrong. I have failed to see completing each class or even completing each assignment as a successful moment. I have not viewed the culmination of those things either as a major success just like reaching the ultimate or what I have deemed the ultimate success of completing the program.
I recently had a conversation with my old high school honors biology teacher. She completed her doctoral program last year. She was encouraging me to stay the course. In her words she told me that I need to define what my “carrot” was and to work towards achieving that. She talked about milestones and refocusing in order to ultimately arrive at the end. That conversation spoke to me, but it has just come alive to me when reading this piece.
So what lies ahead for me? I must determine what I will consider successes and I need to identify my carrot(s). Angie
Thanks, Angie. Continue to be encouraged. I think the doctorate is designed to try your patience and perseverence more than your intelligence or creativity. Your high school teacher is right. It is like eating an elephant. You will choke on the creature unless you do it one bite at a time. It really is a journey, and you ride it one mile at a time. You will make it! You are good! You can do it! And we are very proud of you!!! Be blessed!