"Of All The Paths You Take In Life, Make Sure A Few Of Them Are Dirt." – John Muir

By Perry Rearick, Chief Editor, Follow Your Buyer

Last week, I spent several days skiing and snowshoeing in the Colorado Rockies. It put me in a John Muir mood.

Not to insult anyone’s intelligence, but if you’re unfamiliar with him, Muir was a naturalist who explored, studied and trail-mapped a great deal of the western US in the late-1800s and early-1900s. His quote about making dirt paths a part of your life is among my favorites and its wisdom has applications beyond hiking in the wilderness.

I receive great value from hiking. The walking pace and need to maintain situational awareness enables one’s senses to experience things that would otherwise go unnoticed and unlearned.  

“Life” can cause us to over-value speed and efficiency, and falsely lead us to believe we’re being more productive. However, it can also deliver a superficial existence, in leisure and work, that has us missing out on enriching experiences, opportunities to grow, and occasions to help others.

In business, it happens in ways we least expect and here are some examples and ways to avoid the traps.

Over-fixation on completing our daily to-do list and losing sight of the quality of the to-do experience. After knocking out a task, take a moment to consider something you learned.

Measuring the success of sales teams based only on the number of calls made to prospects. Why not count the number of new things learned from prospects, challenges they face that you can help them overcome, and share it across the team.

A creative new product session that is focused on how to churn out more revenue generating business. Instead, develop new products and services around helping customers get an outcome they care about.   

This week, operate like you’re walking along a dirt path rather than speeding down a highway.