The road less-travelled

In Umesh Ramakrishnan's book, There's No Elevator to the Top, he tells
us that vertical ascents in organizations can result in untold, missed
opportunities that broaden and enrich the individual in their career
journey. While Ramakrishnan's focus is on business and the leader's
most beneficial and growth-oriented career trajectory, when we broaden
our mind's perspective, we also see its applicability to the
individual's life journey. He relates John Kealy' story - the owner
of iDirect which he sold to Singapore Technologies - and his journey
into unknown territory.

"He (Kealy) used a climbing analogy to describe business careers. In
the early twentieth century, a career trajectory was like hiking up a
mountain. You saw the summit and worked your way up, with your eye on
the top the entire time. You knew where you were going. 'Now we're
rock climbing…. We're just kind of working our way up the side, not
quite sure where we're going or where that next turn is. But if
you're smart and aggressive and opportunistic you find your way to the
top.' While it may not seem to be the fastest way, the most
intelligent path between two points may not be a straight line."

Kealy's analogy is familiar to all of us in our leadership and life's
journey. The side-paths we have taken and explored are the ones
filled with the greatest learnings and most beautiful memories because
they have served to broaden and deepen our view of life and ourselves.
In this new year may you look to the words of American poet, Robert
Frost, who wrote: "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one
less traveled by, And that has made all the difference." Live to your
life's fullest potential; dream and see things than never were and
say: Why not?

Dare to dream this year - of the possibilities in the world around you
and in the people you touch. Dream of and then realize your own
possibilities. And have fun doing it and enjoy the journey. May it
be your best year ever!