A BUSINESS LESSON FROM YOSEMITE
A few years ago, Cassie and I spent some time in Yosemite National Park. The depth of the park almost overwhelms you at first. And I remember having both the sense of being so small, and at the same time, feeling so empowered—as if anything was possible. After three days, we drove down the coast of California, and I realized that that feeling from Yosemite wasn’t just an emotion, but a truth.
I am small. But nature reminds us that small beginnings aren't something to be skipped over. Slow starts aren't meant to be rushed. In fact it's in these moments that what seems impossible is made possible. The giant sequoia was once a seed. The high Sierras were once flat.
“Wherever you find yourself, don’t let the pressure to perform outweigh the patience to succeed. Small beginnings are the stuff of life.”
I have to constantly remind myself that while we often compare outcomes, we rarely compare processes. "How can we get more clients?" "How can we get more followers?" "How can we grow profits more quickly?" These questions are so rote in the business world, that we leave little time to reward the prudent, value the methodical, and embrace the process. Are the sequoias impressive? Of course! But I learned many of them are over 2000 years old. Most days, I'll admit I don't have that kind of patience.
But I'm working on it.
Wherever you find yourself, don't let the pressures to perform outweigh the patience to succeed. Small beginnings are the stuff of life.