Real Progress
Are you getting where you want to go, or just going through the motions? Those who make real progress are informed by the past, inspired by the present, and intrigued by the future. These three elements hold true whether we’re working individually or as a team.
Our current state is a clear reflection of our genetics and our cumulative life experiences. Those who openly acknowledge and embrace their past have an opportunity to learn from it. Those who choose to filter, obscure or, worse yet, “manufacture” a fictitious past are cheating themselves out of the ability to learn from their reality; they are also attempting to cheat others. Openness to learning from our past and the history of others is a prerequisite to achieving real progress.
The present, right here and now, is the pivot point. In fact, it’s the only point at which energy and ideas can be turned into action. When a group of talented and inspired people come together in an organization, the potential for real progress increases exponentially. The deeper the pool of talent and experience that is assembled, the greater the opportunity that exists for an organization to make real progress. The late Steve Jobs, whose life and work “made a dent in the universe”, had this to say: “A small team of A+ players can run circles around a giant team of B and C players.”
Our human curiosity is the unique quality that drives real progress. It enables us to create and produce remarkable things at a much faster pace than the speed of evolution. When we are intrigued by the potential of the future, we become motivated in the present to work toward real progress. This is the magic spark that brings Vision to life.
I encourage you to embrace your past and choose to associate with those you aspire to be like, and who inspire you, in the present. Then it becomes possible to passionately pursue what intrigues you and achieve real progress. Enjoy the journey!
Our current state is a clear reflection of our genetics and our cumulative life experiences. Those who openly acknowledge and embrace their past have an opportunity to learn from it. Those who choose to filter, obscure or, worse yet, “manufacture” a fictitious past are cheating themselves out of the ability to learn from their reality; they are also attempting to cheat others. Openness to learning from our past and the history of others is a prerequisite to achieving real progress.
The present, right here and now, is the pivot point. In fact, it’s the only point at which energy and ideas can be turned into action. When a group of talented and inspired people come together in an organization, the potential for real progress increases exponentially. The deeper the pool of talent and experience that is assembled, the greater the opportunity that exists for an organization to make real progress. The late Steve Jobs, whose life and work “made a dent in the universe”, had this to say: “A small team of A+ players can run circles around a giant team of B and C players.”
Our human curiosity is the unique quality that drives real progress. It enables us to create and produce remarkable things at a much faster pace than the speed of evolution. When we are intrigued by the potential of the future, we become motivated in the present to work toward real progress. This is the magic spark that brings Vision to life.
I encourage you to embrace your past and choose to associate with those you aspire to be like, and who inspire you, in the present. Then it becomes possible to passionately pursue what intrigues you and achieve real progress. Enjoy the journey!
