Fred Polak, the author of the great work The Images of the Future, once said “The rise and fall of images of the future precedes or accompanies the rise and fall of cultures. As long as a society’s image is positive and flourishing, the flower of culture is in full bloom. Once the image begins to decay and lose its vitality, however, the culture does not long survive.” If this is true, it also applies to individuals and organizations. As a leader, or a co-caretaker of the culture around you, how are the images of your future?
We here at Great Road Leadership love the metaphor of the road to provide perspective and inspiration as you create your future. Our first podcast, (coming soon!), titled “The Engine,” touches on the power and importance of a compelling purpose. Discovering that driving meaning in your work and life will be imperative to reaching your potential. Once you have that clear and catapulting reason, and you believe it to be possible, maybe even inevitable, you will be on your fulfilling way!
We have established that a well-defined purpose is your engine out there on the road, so let’s build on what’s under the hood and how it can manifest on the road ahead of you. The roaring motor and pistons connected to your right foot via the gas pedal are driven by your will. What specifically inspires your will and feeds your resolve? Sit with that question for a while and determine what makes you crazy giddy to passionately and optimistically get after it. Great results require a special level of immersion. You must want to fully plunge because you deem it to not only be worth it, but blissful! In other words, you need to see it, feel it, and want it badly! Go ahead and let your desire run wild!
This very critical piece is your vision, which will be right out there in front of you through the windshield. Stay focused on it! Build it and nurture it with images and feelings that keep you excited to pursue it. What will make you run to it with an undenied confident optimism? How will you empower others to have the same energy to sculpt a future worthy of their “all-in” commitment?
What can you have firmly situated in front of your eyes just beyond the windshield to keep the pedal to the metal? You are the designer of what’s possible, so design away! Make it exciting, compelling, colorful, infectious, and keep it in front of your eyes through the windshield of your life. Develop it, know it, sleep with it, tweak it, live with it always keeping your mind and heart drenched in it! What does it look like? Where is it? Who is there with you? When is it? What are you doing to celebrate victory? How will others feel? What do you love? Who do you love? What do you want? What is happening around you that displays your success? Wat do you see, smell, feel?
Invest in the answers to these questions and let them accelerate you down the Great Road to huge success! Take the time and energy to paint your future with things that matter. Because you matter! You are worth it! The world needs the help of your beautiful images of the future!
There was once an old wise woman who lived in a village with some bold youngsters always looking to stump her with dead end riddles. One day they had the greatest idea. This one was full proof! No way the old lady would solve it! They had found a baby bird on the path leading to the woman’s house and brought it to her front stoop. Their plan was that when she comes to the door, the leader would ask, “wise old lady, is the bird in my hands alive or dead?” if she says dead, they would reveal her wrong as it flew away. If she said alive, it would slowly get crushed, delivering her failure. When they presented this question to her, the old woman paused and reflected briefly and simply said, “it’s in your hands”.
So is your future. What can you see through that windshield?
