Hello, and happy Monday.
Words to Navigate By: “Experienced travelers can help us see parts of the voyage that aren’t visible from the dock.” — The Captain’s Log
This article is part of “No Land in Sight,” a series exploring how we navigate change in our work and lives. These reflections may become chapters in my next book, No Land in Sight; Navigating Change for Work & Life .
Whether you’ve been with us from the shoreline or are just joining us at the docks, welcome aboard!
The Captain’s Chart – Part VII: Choosing Your Ship
The Captain’s Chart
Last week, we looked toward the horizon and considered our palm trees… the future we hope to create and what might make the journey worth taking. Those palm trees represent our vision of a more desirable future.
Now, let’s walk down to the docks.
There may be dozens, or even hundreds, of ships preparing to leave for distant shores. Each represents a possible path into the next chapter of our work, careers, or lives.
A new company. A different career. Going back to school. Starting a business. Consulting. Retirement. Reinvention.
Some look impressive. Others look familiar. A few are headed somewhere we’ve never considered.
But which one should we choose?
A Little Wisdom at the Dock
Imagine meeting a gray-haired captain sitting near the harbor. He has spent years at sea and has watched many travelers prepare for their voyage into the future.
“Which ship should I choose?” we ask.
He looks toward the horizon.
“Tell me about the future you hope to create. What do your palm trees look like?”
We describe what we hope to find… meaningful work, greater independence, more time with family, or an opportunity to make a different contribution. Perhaps we’re seeking a greater sense of purpose and meaning.
He listens.
“Then start by finding out where these ships are going,” he says. “And talk with people who have sailed aboard them. There are things you can’t see from the dock.”
Perhaps that’s good advice for any of us considering a significant change.
A perfectly good ship can still be the wrong ship for you.
Talk to People Who Have Made the Voyage
Before leaving my position as a vice president at Albertsons to begin my own consulting practice, I sought out at least a dozen people who had moved from corporate roles into independent consulting. Here are some of the questions I asked:
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What did you learn? What went well? What didn’t?
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Knowing what you know now, what would you have done differently?
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What advice would you give yourself if you were starting over?
They said, network, network, network.
And one other lesson stayed with me:
“If you’re working, you’re not selling. And, if you’re not selling, you’re not working long.”
For a one-person consulting practice, that’s an important reality. While you’re delivering today’s work, you also need to develop the relationships that may lead to tomorrow’s work!
I understood that intellectually before I left. “Living it was a different thing entirely!”
Those conversations helped me look beyond the appeal of owning my own practice and consider what making it work would require.
They helped me make a more informed choice about my next ship.
Who Is on Your Personal Board of Directors?
Corporations have boards of directors to provide counsel, perspective, experience, and expertise.
I believe we can benefit from something similar in our own lives. I call it a P-BoD… a Personal Board of Directors.
These are people whose experience, judgment, and honesty we trust.
Someone who has traveled the path we’re considering. Someone who knows us well. Someone willing to ask a difficult question or challenge an assumption.
They don’t all need to agree. Different perspectives may help us see the decision more clearly.
And they don’t need to meet around a conference table. Sometimes a conversation over coffee is exactly what we need.
Who are those people in your life?
Before choosing your next ship, seek their counsel. Ask what you might be overlooking. Listen to their experiences, including the parts that didn’t go well.
Then consider what their wisdom means for your circumstances and your palm trees.
The Decision Is Still Ours
Seeking counsel doesn’t transfer responsibility for our future to someone else.
Other people can help us think. They can offer encouragement, questions, and perspective.
But the decision remains ours to make.
That includes deciding when it’s time to choose a different ship… and when it’s wise to stay where we are.
Sometimes we need more preparation. We may have responsibilities to fulfill, skills to develop, or important information to gather.
If we choose to wait, it helps to know what we’re waiting for.
What needs to happen? What can we do to prepare for the journey? When will we revisit the decision?
Otherwise, waiting can quietly become our plan.
A gentle reminder… not making a decision… is also a decision!
Time passes. Opportunities change. Staying has consequences, just as leaving does.
Choose Thoughtfully
We don’t need to board a ship simply because it’s leaving, because someone else recommends it, or because we’re tired of standing on the shore.
We do need to consider whether it can take us toward the future we desire.
Do your homework. Ask questions. Seek experienced counsel. Consider what the voyage will require of you and the people who share your life.
We may never know everything before choosing. But we can learn enough to make a thoughtful decision and accept responsibility for it.
So, let me ask:
“What decision about your next chapter needs your attention now… and who could help you choose wisely?”
Captain’s Log Below
How will you live, love, or lead, differently, or better, this week?
Sincerely,
Bryan Yager
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From the Captain’s Log – Choosing Your Ship
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Let your palm trees help you choose your ship.
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A perfectly good ship can still be the wrong ship for you.
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Experienced travelers can help us see what isn’t visible from the dock.
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Seek counsel. Keep responsibility for the choice.
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If you choose to wait, know what you’re waiting for.
