Many of us have heard the old Lao-Tzu proverb: ” A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” This is a simple and profound statement that, I myself, use quite often. However, there is a very important element that is overlooked in this quote.
We are perfectionists. Most of us will avoid the first step until we are confident that we can complete the thousand mile journey. We’ve been raised on an “all or nothing” diet from a very young age and it is so ingrained in our culture that we can rarely break free from it. “Don’t be a quitter.” “Never give up.” “Finish what you started.”
The idea of finishing should be washed away from your mind. There is no finish line. The goal to achieving excellence is to realize this and push forward for improvement. Not the finish line. Innovation comes from the journey of forward progress, not the end (if there was such a thing).
Let’s forget the “thousand miles” for now. “A journey starts with a single step.” What’s the journey you’re going start?