Lessons from our family cruise Part 1
“...The world becomes your classroom...” - Kobe Bryant
My family and I recently went on a cruise with a few friends. Celebrating my oldest daughter’s birthday. We had a great time. It was the 1st cruise for everyone except my wife and I.
During an interview, Kobe Bryant said something interesting that caught my attention. He seemed extremely focused, and though I may be paraphrasing, his statement went something like this: “When I had a clear goal in mind, everything around me became a teacher.”
My focus is becoming a better person, helping others realize their potential, and building generational wealth. I would say generational wealth is at the top of my list. My ultimate goal is to provide a solid foundation for my family to thrive rather than just survive for generations to come. Though it demands a lot of effort, it needs to be done, and why not by me? Since setting this goal, I have regained my passion and the motivation to tackle tasks that I had only contemplated in the past. My wife and I are diligently working together to develop a long-lasting legacy for our family.
As a result of my new focus, I tend to find lessons in everyday things that went unnoticed, by me, for years. Here are the lessons I picked up while enjoying a great 7-day cruise.
Lesson 1: You may be closer to your destination than you think.
One of the things I like to do and it is a little weird and I encouraged everyone to do it. Look at the map on the stateroom TV. It shows where we have been, where we are going, where we are right now, windspeed, boat speed, and water depth. The perspective automatically changes, it shows the full map, call it the 20 thousand foot view, shows a view in between and then what is right in front of us.
The one thing that has always amazed me is how close to our destination we usually are. For this cruise, we were heading to Honduras, Belize, and Cozumel. When you think about these countries or hear about them on the news they seem so faaaar away. But really a day’s boat ride (actually less) or a few hours on the plane and you are there.
I initiated a group discussion with my family regarding our individual goals and aspirations. Using the map and how close we are to our first stop. I then encouraged them to brainstorm the necessary steps required to achieve their next goal. By adopting a new outlook and reevaluating our situation, we realized we were not as far from our aims as we initially believed. This experience taught us that perspective plays a crucial role in shaping our perceptions. Here are a few tips to achieve your goals.
Define where you want to go
As I chatted with my daughter and her friends, I discovered that most of us, myself included, are clueless about our direction in life. By direction, I mean the destination we want to reach. I have been an entrepreneur for most of my adulthood, but only recently did I gain a clear vision of my destination. The destination is the motivation. It is what drives us and shapes our direction.
Look at the map from different perspectives (get some help if needed)
You have a clear destination in mind. Now explore the terrain, study the guide, seek the mentor, and attend the workshop. One thing I have learned in the past 8 months is that there are many maps available. There are plenty of people who have achieved what I aspire to do. There is a blueprint to follow, a map to guide us on the journey.
Focus on the next step
You need to examine the map closely. Not everything will be clear or legible at the start, but you need to plot a course toward your destination. You don’t need to know every street right now, but you need to know your first turn. And yes, it involves a turn, because if you were already on the right track, you probably wouldn’t be reading this article.
Take Action
This may be the simplest and hardest thing to do. Take the step. Your loved ones may not get it. Your mind will shout Danger… Danger… But after studying the map, you have to just step. I’m not asking you to make a big jump, just a step.
Repeat
After you take one step… Take another … And Another… And keep looking at the map, identifying the next step. You may not end up where you thought you were going but you will more than likely be happy with where you end up and the views along the way will be amazing as well. It is about the journey after all.
Here is a pic of the sun rising over the clouds on our first morning on the boat:
Following those steps on a consistent basis may seem boring at times, a challenge at other times but with consistency, perseverance, and a little help, you will wake up one morning and find yourself at the destination.
