Ready to Go

Just because we are prepared to take off does not mean there is a free runway. How might we recognize that a timeline is frequently the reason an initiative or a campaign fails (deadlines can be used to great effect in the right application)? We might have recently adopted our strategic plan, and our highest priority is enhancing collaboration with key stakeholders. But the projected partners have their own prerogatives, and finding the right situations might take more time than our annual goals forecast.

How might we recognize that part of our purpose is to stay in the game (infinite mindset), even when unanticipated delays make us feel irrelevant and stuck?

Opportunity

The boarding gate is open; why not roll up a plane and fly to an uncommon destination? In general aviation, autonomy is a benefit of having access to a plane and countless destinations that can handle our small aircraft. For commercial aviation, an open gate does not mean a plane, crew, landing slot, and supporting infrastructure are readily available to support a moment of serendipity.

As our enterprise matures, we often lose the freedom and uninhibited programming decisions we made in the early years. ‘Why not try this’ was an opportunistic refrain. In advancing stages of an organization’s lifecycle, we can find ourselves more constrained. A philanthropic foundation supporting causes with multi-year grants typically does not shift its focus to a new strategy overnight. Disrupting grantees and their work might have a seismic impact on the durability of the local social sector.

How might we build in room for the ‘why not’ while balancing our role as a critical part of our community’s network? What if we intentionally used an opening in programming to load up a flight and connect uncommon city pairs? And what if it turned out that all we achieved was to create a story worthy of sharing?

Commit to the Gear

There are times when, while riding a bike, we reach the easiest gear, yet the terrain tests our ability to proceed. We can commit to the gearing we have and do our best to ride on, perhaps adopting a very low cadence or swerving across the road to dampen the grade. Or we might accept that we are unable to proceed and walk our bike until the slope softens. We might note that our equipment is not ideally suited to the route and adjust the gear ratios or even upgrade our bike for future attempts.

Sometimes we encounter the unanticipated, and we challenge ourselves to commit our resources and energy to navigate the impediment. Often, these moments lead to our best stories.

One or Seven Flights

Does our mindset change if our scheduled flight is delayed, depending on whether we are taking a short flight or embarking on an international itinerary that requires 7 flights to reach our destination? I have seen passengers deboard a delayed commuter flight because they were going to miss their meeting in the destination airport. I have also witnessed passengers who are going to miss a key connection continue their journey, knowing they will have to explore complicated alternative itineraries.

Our mindset is often influenced by both the proximity to our goal and the estimated timeline for reaching it. When we embark on an adventure with multiple phases, we might assume an infinite mindset. We will get there when we get there. When we plan a short-duration journey between two nearby locations, it is easier to adopt a fixed mindset in which the timeline is predictable and the destination feels visible from our starting point.

How might we remember that an infinite mindset might serve us well, even when our schedule and devices tell us we are running behind?

Legacy

What we leave behind after the project is over might say as much as what we accomplished while we were trying to achieve our goals.

Hiking in the Dolomite Mountains in Italy, World War I trenches, fortifications, and defensive strongholds are abundant. The amount of barbed wire strung across ridges and peaks is remarkable. Some of it is strategically embedded, while other strands seem to have slipped and tumbled to temporary resting spots.

How might we recognize that our success might get the headlines, but the legacy of our work may be judged by what we leave behind?

Pathways

When the pathway is smooth and well signed, it gives us reassurance that our route is viable. When it is hard to follow and there is a lack of signage, it can be discouraging. What type of experience are we trying to curate? If we want to create delight, it might be best to invest in a well-designed pathway. If we are seeking those who think and act differently, then a sketchy trail that causes moments of disappointment may ensure we attract the true adventurer.