Looking Up
A Reflection on Passion, Purpose, and the Struggle to the Summit
I’m down in the valley, about to cross the James River on the Blue Ridge Parkway...
It’s hot and humid, although by the time I get to the top of this climb - IF I get to the top, the weather will be noticeably cooler and less humid.
Way up and off in the distance, I can see a small white speck on top of Apple Orchard Mountain. That’s my destination.
Once part of the nation’s early-warning system during the Cold War, the “golf ball” tower is now used as a long-range radar tower to help track commercial flights. That tower is a 13-mile climb from where I am - and 3,300 vertical feet above my head.
And I’m doing this for fun. On a bike… One that you have to pedal.
Ask Big Questions
“Why?” you may ask, and that’s a really great question. It’s a question that I’m asking myself right now. Rationally, I know it’s one of Virginia's last sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway that I haven’t ridden. I know I’ve been wanting to do this section for months. I know I’ve told people I was going to do it and that I couldn’t NOT do it. But those reasons are really uninspiring and were not doing anything for my motivation.
Discover The Missing "Why"
In business, we tend not to think about the reasons behind our goals that much. We know we need to make more money and grow, so we have yearly meetings and say things like, “Let’s commit to 10% profit next year!” or “Let’s be the largest XYZ company in our region!” Don’t get me wrong, it’s better than not having ANY goals, but it will be an uphill battle if you have not yet connected the “WHY” to what you are doing. This is a pretty great segway to me on my bike, starting this climb and trying to get right with my current goal, which was looming over my head.
Face the Challenge
So, I decided to check in with myself to determine if my “why” aligned with my goal. The first step was to acknowledge that I could adjust my goals. I could turn around. It was my weekend, after all, so maybe this goal was outdated, and I needed a different goal that I could better connect with. Or maybe I should take up golf. Once I gave myself permission to fail, the pressure was off.
Discover your True Motivations
So now I was choosing- which is much different than doing something because you think you have to. And since I had a LOT of time on that climb to think, I thought about EVOLV and our mission, “Inspire and empower a community of passionate, creative design professionals to execute innovative projects.” The word “Inspire” immediately jumped out.
The reality is that we are all capable of much more than we think. I’ve proven that to myself before, so what if someone out there just needed a nudge - to SEE someone else going for it. That was it.
Now, I had my connection between the “what” and the “why.” Now, I had a fire lit under me - a connection to something bigger than my actual goal. And suddenly, I’m not thinking about the heat or how much climbing is left - I’m completely connected to and present with myself, my mission, and my surroundings.
Realize Your Why
So, what about your goals? Are you having a hard time staying motivated? Maybe it’s time to connect with your WHY - or give yourself permission to choose a goal better aligned with your passion. A good goal should be exciting and slightly terrifying. So, what goals give you that little jolt of excitement and fear? What’s keeping you from really going for it? I’m glad I connected to my WHY and didn’t give up on my goal. That view from the top… Unreal.