September 24, 2014
On a typical warm summer's day in August, I joined a couple of dozen friends on a canoe trip down the Fox River near Ottawa, Illinois. After arriving at our starting point, we pushed off nearly twenty canoes for a good day's journey towards our destination further downstream. Packed with food, drink, and music, we had prepared for an enjoyable time of fellowship.
With a choice to either make solo trips down river or sojourn bound together, we opted for a leisurely trip in tandem. The former would cause rapid progress towards the end of the trip while the latter gave time to enjoy the company, the weather, and the scenery. The mission for the day, after all, was to take it easy.
With eight canoes forming a barge, the Fox River's current carried the lumbering mass downstream at a slow, steady drift. No worries. No cares. Life was easy. No effort proved to be necessary as umber, rust, and beige bluffs ambled past like quiet, giant beasts. Country music, laughter, and storytelling filled the air, our voices, and our hearts. Five hours to float downstream towards a meal of catfish, chicken, and plenty of complementary side dishes.
Approaching the area approximately a half mile from our destination, the current slowed dramatically - practically to a stop. In fact, it seemed an opposing current now impeded our travels. Our coasting carried us only so far. To reach our objective - and a fantastic supper, placing oars in the water became a necessity. Separating the canoes and paddling with strong, coordinated effort, we pushed against the current. Strength, determination, and coordination moved some outriggers faster than others and reached the target quicker. But to do so required great effort.
If you think adventure is dangerous, try routine. It's lethal.
In our personal lives and as leaders, we are constantly presented choices in how we reach our destinations - how we achieve our goals, our objectives. We can opt for taking it easy and letting the currents take us wherever we are going. But going with the flow will, indeed, only carry us so far. Nothing worth achieving comes without great effort.
Destinations worth reaching require that effort, and frequently against the current - sometimes very strong ones. Strength, perseverance, and courage all factor into our ability to go against the mainstream to achieve goals - whether those we hold for ourselves or for our organizations. Sometimes that opposing current is within us - old habits, doubt, fear of change, popular belief. Other times the similar factors are affecting our organization's ability to reach new landing-place. The "we've always done it this way" syndrome, the fear of "different" or "new," and lack of faith make it easy for followers to prefer the steady, easy pace of floating with the current - with what is known.
"Safe" - or going with the flow - only gets us to a point of stagnation. Pushing against the current allows us to reach places we never otherwise would be.
Come on. Put your oar in the water. And push.