Stop Side-Stepping

When I was younger, I used to play football. I’ve always been fast and apparently pretty good at side-stepping my way around an oncoming tackler as I ran for a touchdown and 7th grade glory!

In football when you have the ball, avoiding an oncoming player so you don’t get crushed is a good thing, but at some point you do have to run forward and actually go towards the goal.

Imagine if instead of running forwards, all a running back ever did was side step! I can hear the announcers now. “Well it’s minute 35 of today’s game and number 40 has still yet to be tackled, the defense just can’t seem to catch him, man is he fast! However we do have to note he’s run for a total of 0 yards.”

Not getting hurt is not the point of the game. It’s a highly appreciated bonus, but the point is to score the goal and side-stepping alone won’t do it.

This week on the podcast I ask the question: Is Self-Development A Waste Of Time?

You can listen to it right now on your favorite podcasting app: Apple, Spotify, YouTube

Stop side-stepping.

I have a confession - I have done a lot of side-stepping in my life when I should have stayed focused on running towards the goal.

Just this last week, I was feeling discouraged with the progress I was making on one of my highest and largest goals/priorities.

What I should have done was put my head down and just chomp down those yards to the end zone. However;

Side-stepping is less scary while still providing a feeling of momentum.

So I looked into another venture that I felt could help me financially towards my goal, but was not my goal itself. THIS IS SIDE-STEPPING!

There is definitely a time and place for side-stepping, pivoting, twirling, and whirling, but mainly I think we all just need to keep on moving forward towards our highest goal/priority.

In my situation specifically, I realized that the time, focus, and energy it would take to accomplish this other seemingly easier goal, was too much.

I realized that after I side-stepped, the true end zone would still be there, I’d still want to get there, the game clock would have been spent, but I’d be no closer.

That doesn’t sound like a winning game plan to me, how about to you?

Have a good day everyone, let’s put our heads down and run forward!

You’ve subscribed to The Wise Letter, now continue the journey with my podcast Can I Ask You A Question!

Each week we’re exploring questions and unlocking wisdom through solo episodes with myself or deep dive interviews with the most interesting people in my life.

I’d be honored if you would subscribe today wherever you listen to podcasts. Apple, Spotify, YouTube

Blessings on the journey!

Geno Schmelzer,