Going Backward To Go Forward

I love using the metaphor of climbing a mountain to demonstrate principles around progress. The top of the mountain is the destination and each of us are on a path trying to get there.

But here’s the thing: In life there’s no one way to get somewhere, there are nearly an infinite amount of paths. And there’s no one way that will work for you, many different strategies can help you achieve a goal. Yet we get hung up on the idea of making sure we’re on the right path, that’s best for us. And what I’ve found is, people waste so much time deciding what path to go on that they miss all of the positive progress they could have made, had they committed and gone. Maybe you’ve heard the expression “you have to go back to go forward,” and I have issues with it. While it may seem like you’re ‘undoing’ your progress because you end up right where you started, it doesn’t mean that your effort was wasted. When hiking a trail someone doesn’t walk backwards, they turn around and walk forward the opposite direction.

In reality, that’s often necessary because there will be obstacles. Let’s say you encounter a locked gate blocking the way and you can’t get past it. When you started, you didn’t know the gate was there. It’s only once you got there that you acquire information you were missing. You didn’t know what was required to succeed on that path. Before you get started, by all means you should ask people who’ve gotten to the top of the mountain before telling you what you need to know. You should do your research and make sure you’re prepared. But the path is never the same twice, and waiting until you know everything you’ll need to know will never work. Because you took the path, you learn that paths might have gates, so go back to the bottom to grab a ladder that you bring with you. Or you call someone who can teach you how to build a ladder out of the forest.

That’s why, the way I prefer to think about it is that there’s only one path, and on that path you only ever go forward. Sure, taking that path might lead you in what seems like the wrong direction. It may take you downhill when you know you need to go up. But if that’s the only path, then the only way to get to the top is by continuing to move forward. One step forward is one stop closer to the top, even if it’s a step downhill. I share this to remind you how important it is to take action, show up, and do the work. That’s the only way you get the critical feedback you need to increase the likelihood you’ll succeed. It reveals what it actually takes to make progress in ways theory never could. And if that’s what you want, then that’s the path ahead of you. So take a step.