It’s usually all about setting goals and achieving those goals. Not letting them change, and doing what you have to do to get there. I am one who likes goals. Likes accomplishment and is driven by a known challenge. This is all well and good when the environment around you is predictable. And also when that predictability is considered a good thing. So what about when we live in a dynamic environment and want to be able to take advantage of the opportunities that it presents.  And the evolving culture of this environment is the very motivating factor to play in the space, like digital and social for example. Where if we are too focussed on our goals we may miss a better option.

How can we make sure we still lead the pack when we are not quite sure where we are going?

Change is opportunity

With no defined course, just one that is striving for success, you can not be thrown off track. Instead you are only presented with additional choices that you could choose to ignore or turn into an opportunity. I did try to put it into my own words but our scholarly friend John Schaar summed it up much better than me.

    ‘The future is not some place we are going, but one we are creating. The paths are not to be found, but made. And the activity of making them changes both the maker and their destination.’ 

Flexibility is more than nimble hamstrings.

The ability to take advantage of opportunities that present themselves requires absorbing and adapting to change. This means switching direction without creating a tidal wave of clutter around you. Having less loose ends, unanswered emails, and dirty washing. So that we are not too busy sorting out our ‘stuff’ to notice an opportunity when it comes along.

So I think it is good to be a little lost and not know exactly what you are after. That way you won’t miss something great if it comes along because you are too focussed on where you want to get too.

I think I am a good example of this. Often considered a little erratic with a confused career path. I moved through a bachelor of science and a bachelor of commerce, into an online startup for a couple of years, trading that in for two years of travel, back for a soul destructing session in a satellite company, into non-profit for a few years, dabbling in a masters of international development, and now working in the most exciting enterprise social network company yet. So although it may sound like I am not going anywhere in particular, perhaps instead I am going everywhere. I was never really lost. I was really just keeping my eyes open for opportunity. Sounds pretty good to me.

For the month of March I am writing a blog post every day as part of #b03. Thanks to Steve for the challenge.