Staying In Your Lane?
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In meteorological recorded history, hurricanes and tropical cyclones have not crossed the equator. There is a distinct gap between their documented paths.

What is the gap between your enterprise’s work and those of partners and affiliates? Is the unique land of travel discussed, reviewed, and confirmed? Would it benefit from generative conversation, or does tradition dictate perceived autonomy? Is your cause’s lane of travel yours, or has nobody else attempted to merge onto the route? What if everything merged tomorrow? What if a barrier forced an even wider gap?

Static

Static might be disruptive and aggravating. It can seize our attention and disrupt our regularly scheduled programs. It transforms how we perceive time. But, it might be the forerunner to a significant event or tectonic shift. How might we remain curious about moments of misalignment and uncertainty? How might we remember that those who came to the edge of the Grand Canyon or trekked into Yellowstone’s Geyser Basin felt doubtful until something unprecedented emerged?

Leading Edge

If you want to occupy the leading edge, you may need to sacrifice the safety of fertile ground and followers. You might need to position yourself on a precipice or shoreline, prepared to weather the most significant impact of storms and the scarcity of reliable resources. You may not thrive. But you are remarkable. Of all the photos I took on a recent backpack trip, only two focused on a singular tree as the primary subject. In both cases, each tree existed closer to the improbable than the safety of the forest. Tens of thousands of trees and yet two occupied the landscape in a way that required capturing for future consideration.

Certainty

Are you more or less likely to trust a directional sign if it appears rickety and patched together? Is it safer to take guidance from a signal that appears in an original state versus one in a liminal state?

What opportunities do we miss when we forsake the uncertain? What risks do we avoid by staying on the main path? What resources are we willing to expend in search of something new?

Correlation and Causation

Correlation is not causation. In a US Presidential election cycle, there are references to one party’s ascendency to power equating to economic outcomes. These correlations and causation folk tales either lack evidence, do not account for other factors, or focus on limited outcomes.

It is a convenient trap in which we get caught. We believe that adding a certain type of board member, hosting a specific gala, running a certain program, or marketing on a particular platform will lead to a specific outcome. There may be correlation and causation links, but often, they are anecdotal and conceal better decision-making opportunities.

How might we not inherit the C-to-C trap and remain curious, even if it appears to go against tradition?

The Wallace Line

Naturalist Russel Wallace noted the Wallace Line in 1859. It is defined as a narrow border region in the Sula Sea that marks a natural border of Asia and Australasia’s flora, fauna, and animal species. The theory suggests a remarkable distinction between the animals inhabiting islands and landmasses approximate each other. There is a dispute about the exact line, but general evidence demonstrates that numerous wildlife and plants on one side are not evident less than a mile away on the other side of the line.

How might we not assume that just because we witnessed a program, event, resource, or perspective in one part of our community, it also exists just a few blocks away? How might we recognize that the macro and micro can be captured in Venn diagrams with dynamic overlaps and self-contained characteristics?

Blazes and Scars

When does defacing a tree serve the common good? Blazing a tree was a common form of marking a route in geography where trees existed in abundance. A uniform combination of markings symbolized that this was human-made and intentional. It contained meaning and assured travelers that they were on an established trail.

Animals also used trees to mark territory, sharpen claws, or satisfy natural instincts. These markings may be considered scars, even though the animal kingdom might believe that these marks served a similar purpose to a human blaze.

How might we expand our mindset to remain curious about the features we encounter during our journey? How might we not pass up the opportunity to double-click on the unknown so we might add depth and dimension to our understanding?

Streak vs Continuity

How does a streak impact our mindset? If we show up, post, attend, appear, engage, and lead consistently, are we nurturing the streak or fulfilling our commitment to performing the work that matters? When does a streak start to elevate over continuity? What if we break the streak? Is all our momentum lost? Do we disengage from our area of focus? Reflecting on a streak might be an excellent way to test assumptions and motivations. If your streak is additive (safety, life-saving, essential), persist with all vigilance. If it is capricious and primarily for internal satisfaction, consider if enabling the streak is diverting resources and limiting creativity.