There’s a big difference between having directions and knowing how to get somewhere.

“Information is not knowledge. The only source of knowledge is experience.” - Albert Einstein

When I first meet with a prospective new private client, part of my “spiel” is to explain that my job is to ensure that a time will come when they no longer need me.  When that happens varies greatly.  It won’t be tomorrow, next week or probably even next month but it shouldn’t be measured in years…if it is, I’ve done something wrong.  In that case, I’ve likely done too much “driving” and not enough “co-piloting” when they need my help.  As an example, I had a conversation with a client recently…it was the same conversation I had a while back with someone else…and the same one I had a while before that with someone else…and so on, and so on.  I went something like this;

Them:  I feel like I’m at the end of my rope.  I started out with such high hopes.  I had these big goals and I felt like I had a fairly good idea of how to get there.  Now I’m lost, nothing’s working and I feel like I’m just wasting time and money.

Me:  (while adding a notch to my list of times I’ve had this conversation)  I get it!  It’s normal to get to where you are and feel that way.  Let's unwrap the “why” and see if we can get you back on track.  What’s making you feel lost?

Them:  I don’t get (insert pain point here)!  I thought I did and so-and-so (insert some random “I’ll make you rich quickly” Amazon snake oil salesperson here) said it was easy but it isn’t…it just isn’t!  Can you show me how you do it or at least give me a chart I can follow?

Me:  (after a long pause) Nope.

…and that’s where this article begins.

When I was a kid, we had a family cottage that we’d spend weekends and summers at.  It was everything a Canadian cottage experience should be.  It was warm days spent swimming off the dock, water skiing, fishing and exploring forested islands by canoe, roasting hotdogs over the fire and sunsets before going to bed and sleeping like a rock, only to get up the following morning and start again.  It was my iphone, my Netflix, my distraction of choice, my “hangin’ out at the mall” all wrapped up in a pine and cedar scented package.  Amongst other things, it nurtured creativity, built resilience and fostered a “figure it out” attitude.  I loved every moment of it, so when I was old enough I wanted to spend more time there.

Unfortunately (from my perspective at the time), my parents had jobs so if I wanted to spend more time there, I’d need to get myself there…a task made more difficult by the 350+ km distance through some of Canada’s most remote terrain.  Fortunately I had a car (a real “beauty”) but I had no idea how to get there.  I’d idly watched the drive from a passenger’s perspective hundreds of times and yet I didn’t have a clue how to get there outside of it being generally north.

I asked my Dad.  “What do you mean?  It’s easy.”, he said.  I knew enough to know that wasn’t going to get me there so I asked my Mom who’d been going to the same family cottage since she was a toddler.  The level of detail she provided was astounding.  Turn by turn directions, referencing the colour of the roof on the cabin I would need to watch out for before a certain turn, the shape and foliage of a tree indicating I was nearing an important crossroads, a road that I’d need to take that I couldn’t pronounce much less spell.  Concerned, I asked my mother and younger sister to ride passenger for the first time although as I write this, the idea that as an alternative, my parents would have been OK with their teenage son driving the 4 hrs north, on sketchy often unmarked, uninhabited roads through the Canadian north alone seems unlikely.  My parents were “hands off” and trusting, but not silly.

Soon enough, the day came and off we went.  Did we get there?...yes, but my first experience was eye opening to say the least.  What I thought was perhaps a dozen turns proved to be closer to hundreds.  Landmarks I’d become accustomed to as a passenger over the years were nowhere to be seen.  There were other drivers on the road and some of them seemed to be actively getting in my way, if not trying to kill me.  There were animals hiding in the forest, waiting for me to come along so they could run out in front of me…some, like moose, were larger than the car I was driving.  Local jurisdictions had decided that I wasn’t allowed to maintain a consistent speed but instead, insisted that I drive anywhere from painfully slow to shockingly fast and they only communicated this via small signs randomly placed every so often along the side of the road which I had to watch for on top of everything else.  Why the road hadn’t been built straight was beyond me…what was the point of all these hills and turns this way and that?  On top of everything going on outside the vehicle, I had to monitor what was going on inside the vehicle as well.  How much fuel did I have left?  Did anyone have to pee or stretch their legs?  Was everyone happy with the music?  Oh, and everyone was talking…it was craziness!

Upon arriving…exhausted, I’d come to the conclusion that I musn’t be cut out for this.  Remember, my father had said it was “easy” and I’d watched as both he and my mother made this trip effortlessly for as long as I could remember.  Clearly, they’d never encountered any of the hurdles I had and if they had, why hadn’t they clearly outlined them in detail for me.  All my mother said was “That went well.  Good job honey.”  She was clearly delusional.

Over the years and until that family cottage was sold, I made many more trips there and back.  With experience, I realized that mastering this journey had little to do with a map or set of instructions…those were simple to get but didn’t ensure success.  No, proficiency was based on experience.  I became accustomed to where each turn was, I developed situational awareness of other drivers and wildlife, I adjusted my speed where required (mostly) and I managed my fuel, passengers and music while chatting about the world.  These days, I happily shuttle my kids to and from our own cottage and the day will come when my 12 year old daughter decides to make that journey behind the wheel.  She’ll no doubt ask for directions and I’ve already come up with my response.  I’ll simply reply “Nope…but we’ll do it together.  The first time will seem hard because there’s a big difference between having directions and knowing how to get somewhere.  The next time will be easier, and so on, and so on until you’ll be experienced enough to do it without any help from me.”  I look forward to that because when it happens, I’ll happily reclaim my place as an unconcerned passenger…as my mother now does from time to time beside me.

Back when I had a “real” job as a Project Manager, I was always aware of the fundamental importance of developing an effective project team.  In team building, there’s a common process that takes place often referred to forming, storming, norming and performing.  The team comes together and begins to establish relationships.  This is normally a time of positivity.  Next, as a result of the leaders establishing defined roles for each team member, interpersonal conflict and “turf wars” may take place.  This is where the team is at risk of falling apart.  Assuming this can be managed, what follows is that the team begins to develop trust and work together effectively.  This begins to create positive, efficient forward momentum that can be built on.  Finally, the group begins to excel, putting their team and the requirements of the project ahead of personal needs.  They focus on shared goals and instinctively find ways to solve any problems that arise.

Achieving “expert” status in a given skill such as keyword assessment and analysis, listing development or ads is the combination of both learning how to get somewhere and transitioning a similar forming, storming, norming and performing journey.  In the beginning, we can visualize a desired future state.  We’re internally motivated to move forward and unfortunately, we may even be under the impression it will be easy…all we need is a map.  That’s generally when reality sets in.  It’s not easy, it’s challenging and a map just won’t cut it.  We need to develop the experience required to gain situational awareness, adjust and be proactive…often with the help of a more experienced operator.  At first, the path may seem difficult but with time we gain the understanding and confidence that comes with a different perspective.  Eventually, we can achieve true mastery and the need for a co-pilot dissipates.  Systems, strategy and process become instinctive.

If this resonates with you, then what’s your pain point?  What are you struggling with?  Don’t look for a map, let alone a driver.  Look for experience, for knowledge that you can absorb.  Expect twists and turns…they’re part of the journey.   Do so knowing that your desired future state is possible…others have done it and what one person can do, another can do.

*Special Note:  The next article will be of a technical nature…be forewarned.