Success Lessons Learned on the Road to Hana

The Journey of Success: Lessons from the Road to Hana

One of the most significant things that I have learned from my experience about success is that success is not a destination, it’s a journey. It’s a journey of growth, resilience, and learning. The destination is important but in reality, we spend more time in pursuit of our goals than we do reveling in their accomplishment. It has been said that the pursuit of happiness could more accurately be written “the happiness of pursuit.” It is who we become on the journey that truly matters to our lives.

In business, we can become very goal and outcome-driven. Vision and goals are essential to business, however, we can become singularly focused on these outcomes which present a new set of challenges for our lives. When our desire to achieve becomes so myopic and all-encompassing, it can limit our ability to see and experience all the other aspects of life that are happening around us. There is also a danger in defining success simply in terms of achievement. I have learned that success speaks to the quality of my relationships with my family and friends. It extends to my health and contribution to the communities I live in. The danger of success is that we can live in the future and fail to miss the gift of today, maybe that’s why it’s called the present. In business, it is important to have a vision and a plan to get there but if we reserve our joy for arrival at the destination, it can be a hard journey. The Bible warns us of this approach:

13 Listen carefully, those of you who make your plans and say, “We are traveling to this city in the next few days. We’ll stay there for one year while our business explodes and revenue is up.” 14 The reality is you have no idea where your life will take you tomorrow. You are like a mist that appears one moment and then vanishes another.

James 4:13-14 VOICETweet

The Road to Hana

On a family vacation, we decided to take a trip on “The Road to Hana.” I remember arriving in the small town and thinking to myself “What is so different about this place?” It is undoubtedly a beautiful example of nature but the whole island of Maui is pretty spectacular, why have we driven all this way for more of the same?  Janet reminded me that it was “the road’ to Hana. The 64-mile highway around the edge of Maui boasts some of the most picturesque waterfalls, beaches, and bridges through incredible natural beauty. However, if you think it is all about the destination it can be easy to focus on the road, how much gas you have, and how much longer the trip will be.  Years later, we revisited the trip and stopped at the mile markers alongside the tour buses, learned some of the history, and made great memories. Finding joy at every mile marker made the whole trip better and taught me something about my approach to business.

Applications

Take a few moments and write down what success means to you. It might speak of values or outcomes, probably a mix of the two. Then consider if your current pattern of life is taking you in the right direction. If you find yourself to be very deadline-driven, consider how to appreciate the in-between moments. Gratitude is a key component in satisfaction and helps keep motivation levels high.  Being intentional to be thankful is a valuable practice that puts gas in your motivation tank. Finally, involve God in your life.  Proverbs 16:3 says “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” When I give my plans to God he will help me set the correct pace for my life. He helps me to see areas that I might have overlooked, He strengthens me and sustains me.

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