As a child I loved exploring new places. We would go for family walks and, at some point, mum and dad would allow my sister and I to wander off into the trees, or scrambling across boulders. We were explorers making new discoveries.
In one sense every space that is new to us is there to be explored but most us do our exploration in spaces that are known and relatively safe. We wander off into the fells armed with a map that shows us a range of available paths. The map provides information that makes our journey predictable. We can work out which pub we can visit for lunch or where we will sit to eat our picnic.
Creating a successful business used to be more predictable. We had maps, there were well marked paths and accurate contour lines. Covid-19 has changed the landscape and, whilst some things remain unchanged, large parts of the landscape have become unknown. We are all explorers now.
The question then becomes: How would an explorer approach a journey into the unknown?
To begin an exploration you must at least know where you want to go. You may not be able to predict with 100% accuracy what you will find when you get there, but you must have a good enough vision of your destination to recognise it when you get there.
Your first step: Define your destination. Get a clear and motivating vision of your ultimate destination.
The second thing an explorer must do sounds obvious but is of no less importance. An explorer must know where they are starting from in relationship to their ultimate destination. Only then can you begin to define your journey from where you are to where you want to be.
Your second step: Orientate yourself. Be clear and brutally honest about your current position.
The good news about heading off into the unknown is that you can almost certainly define some places between where you are and where you want to be. The Waypoints break your journey down into manageable sections. At each stage of the journey these Waypoint provide a shorter-term focus that keeps you moving in the right direction and moves you closer to your ultimate destination. You may not be able to define the more distant Waypoints. They will come into view as you progress.
Your third step: Define the Waypoints on your journey. Get a clear vision of them that will motivate you and keep you on track.
On a journey into the unknown an explorer will have to make lots of decisions. These may be affected by weather, the need to restock supplies or the discovery of an insurmountable obstacle on a particular path. Whilst most of these decisions will be unpredictable there are also lots of predictable decisions that have to be made at certain point along the journey. Identifying these decisions and the factors that influence them before you set off will make the journey easier.
Your fourth step: Create your signposts.
At this point the explorer can step back and take an overview of their proposed journey. With the destination clear, the Waypoints identified and the signposts in place some of the potential paths will have become clear. Now the explorer can tentatively plot a course from where she is to where she wants to be.
Your fifth step: explore the potential paths that will take you towards your destination.
Planning is incredibly important. How else can you set off with confidence that you are heading in the right direction? There are lots of unknowns ahead of you, but you have enough to keep you moving in the right direction. You’ve identified some of the choices you will need to make on the way. With all that in hand, it’s time to focus on the immediate future. What lies ahead of you right now? Starting with where you are and looking towards your first Waypoint what do you need to do? What choices need making in the next 3 to 6 months?
Your sixth step: focus on the part of the journey immediately in front of you (your Line of Sight).
It’s time to move. Choose one of the paths immediately in front of you and take your first confident step.
Your seventh step: Choose your path (and step out).
You can download a PDF that will guide you through each of the seven steps of Wayfinding. Simply visit https://Growhouse-gb.com/next.