It’s a fundamental truth that life will not always unfold as we expect. Occasionally, you get thrown a curveball or two.
There is a famous saying that goes, “Man plans, God laughs.” It is sometimes sad and frustrating, but true. While I’m a staunch supporter of goal setting and planning, I also realize that things seldom work out exactly as expected. In fact, it is often the unplanned episodes in our lives that ultimately define our character. No one can think through every scenario and contingency. Life (and certainly business) just doesn’t work out that way. Sometimes, you can end up going in an entirely different direction. It may be the pivot in strategy that lands you in a better place.
All the above being said, however, life is also not a matter of pure chance; it’s a delicate balancing act. I often tell my clients that you need to aim for the “bull’s eye,” but be happy to just win the game. No one throws darts perfectly every time. The same phenomenon occurs in golf and numerous other sports. One day, you feel you can do nothing wrong, and then the next day, you muddle through and make the best of some bad chances. The important thing is to be flexible, creative, and resilient.
Many things will happen in our lives. Loved ones will pass away unexpectedly; businesses will fail; marriages will end; our health will inevitably have some complications; friendships will fade, etc. This doesn’t mean that we don’t strive to make informed business decisions, cultivate healthy relationships, and prioritize our health and well-being. It just means that even the best plans and intentions will get sidetracked in some way.
What defines a life is how we deal with the unexpected. Adversity and challenges will arise and confront us all, often unexpectedly. We will feel that we did everything right, yet things still didn’t work out as planned. What then? Bad things do happen to good people. How will this event define you? Will you stay true to yourself and your objectives?
I don’t claim to subscribe to any particular “Zen” philosophy, but I do admire the view that life sometimes does just happen. We need to somehow disconnect ourselves emotionally from the unanticipated outcomes and be present in the experience. Questions such as “What am I supposed to learn from this?” or “How did I contribute to the situation?” can be helpful. It’s also important to have a foundation of underlying values and beliefs that guide your actions and reflections.
So, live your life proactively. Do your best to reflect on your life and consider what you want to achieve. Set measurable goals with specific timelines. Create action plans and “to-do” lists, but please keep in mind that perfection or complete success may not always be achievable. More than likely, things won’t go perfectly as planned. Instead, consider these activities to be more of a guidepost or general sense of direction. When you find yourself off track, try to understand the reasons and make any necessary midcourse adjustments. Be open to these new experiences and see them as learning opportunities. The path may need to change (whether you want it to or not). Don’t get worked up by what you can’t control, but take hold of what you can. It will all work out in the end (one way or another). We don’t always know what “work out” ends up meaning, and that is okay.
Your “North Star” still exists and can still be navigated. After all, America was discovered by people trying to find a different route to India and Asia. You never know what you will find along the way. It could be even better than you originally planned.
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