Clarity is one of the most important drivers of success. If you are not clear about what you’re doing, and why, every misstep could appear as just a hurdle to cross. And slowly you will be nudged in a completely different direction. After all, are journeys not full of hurdles?

1. First check the path you’re on, before accepting there is an obstacle you have to overcome

We expect there to be complications. So any hiccups, sidesteps, bumps and stops are seen as part of the journey. “It should take long”, they say. “It should be difficult”, they insist. Shouldn’t it?

Consider this, if you have absolute clarity you know where you are going and you have a plan on how to get there.

Take the courageous climbers who attempt to summit Everest. They plan for hiccups, bumps and stops. There is a clear path, no sidesteps. And even then, reaching the summit is not a given at all.

What they’re doing differently is they have absolute clarity. They plan for the travel, the provisions, the climb and the probable emergencies.

Imagine that their team leader suggests a meeting to discuss how they are going to get their camera gear to the summit and how they cwill uld upload videos to Youtube. Everyone will be very clear about whether that obstacle needs to be discussed. Probably NO.

2. Ask yourself if what you’re doing is what you would choose to do if you had unrestrained choice

Realize that many of your choices are influenced by the opinions of others. Or social convention. And your fear of being exposed, being different or not following the crowd.

If you have that same clarity in your job, for example, your TO DO list will be a joy to work on. Not a monster to fear. You can decide quickly and with conviction if a meeting is really necessary. Or whether a specific person is the right one to build a relationship with.

You will realise where time is being wasted and you will act on it with resolve.

You will feel more productive and balanced because you know you’re our working on something that gets you closer to your goal.

3. Accept the fact that most people around you will not understand why you’re making these choices

We are convinced by everyone around us that clarity is a myth and we must power through the obstacles in our way. They tell us that we must learn to accept the way things are done, because we’ve always done them that way.

If you want different results than everyone else, you cant do what they are doing. Keep this quote in mind and realise that often conflict is a sign of progress:

All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident. –
Arthur Schopenhauer, German philosopher (1788 – 1860)

Say it with me: “No more. I want clarity. Starting now!”

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