This ‘Life’s Little Instruction’ from March 27 has sat there for weeks now on my countertop, taunting me.
Do I?
Dare I?
(But what’s on the next page? And what if I don’t like it as well as I like this page?!)
I laughed at it again this morning: “When you think you have things figured out, turn the page.” <—– That sentence reflects the essence of the reason MonkeyBar Management was founded. Because here’s the secret: none of us have “it” figured out. And yet, we have to turn the page anyway. Life only lives in one direction.
Each day, in big and small ways, we must leap across the gaps in front of us, grab the next bar. We must keep up the momentum, or we stay stuck and withering.
Whether it’s an entire industry, an organization, a project, or something as simple as cleaning out your closet as the seasons change, we’ve all felt that moment of panic, of doubt: “Do I have it figured out?” “Do I have the courage to let go?”
In my 20+ year career working with nonprofits and small businesses, I have seen more projects and ideas and entire organizations fail (or fall into decline) because of a lack of courage. The courage to let go of a toxic team member, to confront a problem, to break from tradition (euthanize that sacred cow), to turn down a major financial supplier whose money forces ethical challenges. Courage in the face of daunting gaps is what separates incredible from forgettable.
What page are YOU ready to turn? What’s stopping you?
The calendar lies to us: there is no such thing as “all figured out.” Some questions will always remain. Success is found when you conjure up courage in spite of the questions. So now, let’s go forward into the gap of uncertainty, and turn the page together.
