Lessons from the Trail: Getting Lost, Getting Found, and Getting Ahead

Hey trailblazer!

You know, sometimes life takes us on unexpected adventures that end up teaching us the most valuable lessons. And that's exactly what happened to me during our recent trip to Sedona.?

Let me set the stage for you. What do you do in Sedona when it's 1000 degrees? Morning hikes and midday spa appointments, that's what.

We were all pumped up and ready to hike in search of a vortex.?

I wonder if we'll feel the energy??

As soon as we hit the trail, we encountered hikers heading in the opposite direction of our destination. And boom! Let’s follow them to a new destination - Subway Cave .? We had no clue where it was or why it was called Subway, but hey, it sounded intriguing! And potentially a shorter hike.

Off we went, venturing into uncharted territory, armed with nothing but our phones and a single bottle of water. Because, well, who needs a trail map or knowledge of the hike duration, right??

We arrived at Subway Cave, greeted by a reconstructed ruin possibly once used by the ancient Sinagua tribes. Talk about a pleasant surprise! Of course, we unleashed our inner shutterbugs and captured every moment of this unexpected historical detour. Snap. Snap. Snap.

Now back to civilization! Lunch and spa appointments await. Easy peasy.?

Until the dreaded "this doesn't look familiar." Oopsies. Where are we? Let's pull up a map on our phones.

We had veered off course.?

We backtracked a bit and overheard another group. "I think we're lost," one of them said. It was the original group. We conferred. They decided to push on into unfamiliar territory. We kept backtracking almost all the way back to the cave to find our original (and familiar) trail, and luckily saw a pair of hikers just arriving along the trail we needed to take back.

BTW, those original hikers? WE NEVER SAW THEM AGAIN!! Hmmm.

As we maneuvered our way downhill, we couldn't help but reflect on our little adventure-gone-awry. What could we have done differently to avoid getting lost? So many things in fact, but Stacie had an insight. As you blaze a new trail (or take any path really), pause and look back. What do things look like from the other side? What are the milestones you’ve passed that will point the way back?

You see, every path we take, whether on a trail or in life, holds valuable lessons waiting to be learned. And how do we gain these insights? By pausing, my friend, and looking back from where we came. It's in those moments that we gain a fresh perspective, seeing things in a whole new light.

These lessons apply to your #brand building and #business in general. Don’t be afraid of being spontaneous. That’s how you give yourself the opportunity to discover new things (like Subway Cave!), and to differentiate your brand. But pay attention along the way.?

Pause.?

Reflect.?

Look back, and observe those milestones along the way.?

It also reminds me of Johari's Window. Basically, it's a #framework that helps individuals and teams better understand themselves and each other, and it can also be applied to how teams can better understand the brands they lead. It consists of four quadrants:?

1. Open Self (what we know and what others know),?
2. Blind Self (what others know but we don't),?
3. Hidden Self (things we know but the others don't), and?
4. Unknown Self (unknown to both).

In terms of brand building, Johari's Window can be used to recognize areas for self or team improvement. For example, it allows us to become aware of our strengths and weaknesses, or build #trust with customers by being more open about our products. Through this process, we become equipped with the knowledge needed to set better goals, make informed decisions, and take actionable steps towards achieving them.

And also. Duh. Making a plan before you begin any journey is key. When you’re blazing new trails with your brand, a guide can help you stay on track, giving you direction so that you don’t lose sight of the bigger picture. If you need a guide to blaze a new trail, you know what you need to do.

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