 |
|
| Vol.3.108 | |
Gifts on the Way Backby Vince PoscenteAuthor of The Ant and the Elephant, Invinceable Principles and The Age of Speed The need to explore is part of the human condition. Yet sometimes the adventure takes you to a dead end. At this point there are three options. Blame it on someone else's stupidity that got you here. (How could it possibly be our fault when we are unmistakably surrounded by knuckleheads?) Deny you're at a dead end while you drive yourself coo coo looking for a way around. Or, go back to find a better way. Picture yourself on a trip to Greece with your fiancée. You rent a motorcycle and tour the mountainous landscape of Crete. As you climb the winding and narrow roads a pungent aroma of olive groves satiate your senses. For fun you take a spontaneous left up an unmarked road. You tour past idyllic moments of farmers' handiwork and kids playing around. The road narrows as you ascend. At one point you carefully pass a very old lady with an infectious smile. She waves a subtle hello with her storied hands.
This story happened with my first wife - my "mulligan" if you will. We married in our twenties and there was one month out of the three years that we thrived. The rest was a marital mistake - an emotional Exxon Valdez. Quitting the marriage was a difficult decision, but the marriage proved to be a dead end. Dead ends happen. Ask Coca Cola when they introduced New Coke in 1985. This dead end forced them to bring back the original Coke formula. Speaking of oranges, Tropicana Orange juice rebranded in a way that confused their loyal customers. A 20% slide in sales forced the well-meaning marketing people to turn back to their original brand image. A dead end can be a good thing - You too may have experienced your mulligan relationship or job. Think of what you learned and the people that surround you now. (Oh, by the way, there are no mulligans when it comes to family. You get to enjoy that little discovery factory for life.) My "juicy oranges" are my wife (the upgrade), our kids and the mountain of self-discovery I chose to explore. The charm you can attain from a dead end is waiting for you. If you've hit a true dead end, just turn back for a better path. Something fresh, sweet and juicy is waiting for you along the way! Until next week, it's full speed ahead,
|
Email This Full Speed Ahead Article to a Friend 
|
© 2010 Vince Poscente. All Rights Reserved. |
A quarter mile later you reach an obvious dead end. With a shrug you turn around. You instantly realize the reason for the bewildered looks of the locals observed on your upward trek. A minute later the same elderly woman is standing in the same spot with an even bigger smile. This time, those precious hands hold two fresh oranges. She gestures for you to stop and take the plump gifts. In your life, you will never taste an orange as fresh, sweet and juicy.