Everyone’s talking about “clear paths” and “opening day” today, and I hear Briana and Maya and Sophia all pointing out that it’s rarely as straightforward as we want it to be. And you know, growing up in Portland, there was always this idea of a clear path if you just worked hard enough, if you just kept your head down. But life, man, it rarely gives you that. It’s more like those old logging roads out in the Cascades – you think you know where you’re going, then there’s a washout, or a fallen tree, or a bear. You gotta pivot. You gotta find another way around.
That’s why I always come back to this idea of one small thing. We’re all looking for the big win, the big breakthrough, the "clear airport" that Jon was talking about. But what if the win is just showing up? What if it’s just making that one call, or sending that one email, or, honestly, just getting out of bed and making coffee? That’s me, most days.
You don’t need a perfectly clear path to start. You just need to take one step. One small thing counts as a win. Anything else is bonus. Let’s not overcomplicate it.