Getting from here to there
One of the most critical, basic lessons a soldier needs to learn in any basic training is land navigation. What good are the skills of marksmanship, communication, or grenade throwing if you can’t find your way to the enemy? Every mission has a destination, or an outcome, it is seeking to create. Learning how to navigate through the difficult terrain of the mountains of Georgia and the swamps of Florida helped me to understand how to get from point A to point B. These lessons are incredibly valuable as we head into a new year with new goals.
2020 was rough for many of us. The secret though is that 2021 will only be better if YOU make it so.
Here’s how you can do just that:
1.Plot where you are on the map.
This obviously follows the first things first model. Too often we want to jump ahead and start brainstorming destinations prior to really acknowledging the reality of where we are. Take some serious time (between a few hours to a few days) to really consider where you are - mentally, emotionally, spiritually, physically, financially, professionally, etc. This will allow you to really understand where you are capable of going in a certain period of time, as well as what vehicle and route you will need to take to get there.
Whether you find yourself on a mountaintop of victory or in a valley of despair at this moment, embrace that location with stoicism, recognizing that it is neither good nor bad but rather just a fact of your current reality.
2.Plot where it is that you want to go
It’s time to brainstorm. How do you want your life to look differently this year? In the given areas above, what needs to change? What would you like to change? Imagine, without many limitations, what possibilities could await you. This is not the time to let the negative voice in your head have the microphone. Simply identify the outcomes you would like to create.
3. Conduct a map recon of the best route and vehicle to take.
Now that you know where you are and where you want to go, it’s time to decide on the route and vehicle that will best be able to get you there. This part can be pretty time consuming and a little less exciting, which is why people neglect it. Knowing your current location and your desired destination, what is the best way for you to get from here to there? What practical steps do you need to take and what will actually be able to get you to point be (e.g. a car won’t be able to get you from New York to London, you’ll need a plane or a boat for that)
4. Create checkpoints.
It’s easy to make vague goals that nobody (including you) can really track, but checkpoints along the way help you make sure you’re heading in the right direction. For soldiers navigating terrain, this could be a lake or a mountain that let’s you know you’re going the right way. When setting audacious goals, it’s critical to dream big but create steps along the way that are more achievable and create the sense of accomplishment before you reach the final destination.
5. Identify obstacles along the way.
Oooo this is a big one. Some obstacles completely restrict your movement, so you have to create a plan to either navigate around them or force your way through them. Obstacles for soldiers can be bodies of water, barbed wire, or a cliff. When setting goals, our obstacles can be time constraints, lack of resources, financial debt, and of course, PEOPLE. Don’t be afraid to identify other people as obstacles to your success. The more clear you are on what will prevent you from achieving your goals, the better prepared you will be to handle the resistance when it comes your way.
6. Create an alternate route plan.
You never create only one way to get there. Even Apple Maps shows you multiple ways to get to a place you want to go. And typically, the further you are going, the more options it gives you. Say you find yourself up against an obstacle that was much larger than you expected, it is critical to have a back up plan so that you don’t just give up and head back in the heat of the moment.
7. Identify your pace and compass man.
If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. A platoon leader has an awareness of the distance traveled and the direction the unit is going, but they also assign a primary and alternate pace and compass man to track distance and keep them on the path. We need to have the same accountability in the pursuit of our goals. Changing alone is nearly impossible. Identify your support system for this new journey.
8. Decide on your step off time.
You have to commit to a start time/date for what it is that you hope to change.
Consider these 8 steps today and let's attack 2021, together.
About The Author
Nathan Crankfield is a convert to the Catholic faith. He is a proud graduate of Bishop McDevitt High School, Mount St. Mary's University, and US Army Ranger School.
After serving four years of active duty in the US Army, he joined the staff at Dynamic Catholic as a parish consultant. He now serves as a Residential Director at Benedictine College. He is the Founder and President of Seeking Excellence. Find more of his writing by visiting our blog section.