Where am I?

If there's anything I like about road trips, it would be the fact that it allows me to see so many places in quick succession, and still feel like I was physically present. Just staring at the window feels like enough experience for me. On the road, you'll meet all kinds of people, hear all kinds of things, and see all kinds of things too.

And there's also the part where we say "we've passed this place...we are in this state or this area." We use our Google map to see how far we have left to cover, and try to check where we are. Very interesting experience.

I have come to see life through the same lens. I believe we are all on a road trip to a destination we have chosen for ourselves. You could say that for the past three months, we have been on our road trips. We have had events, experiences, activities. Some were good, some were not.

But at what point in this road trip do you ask yourself: "Where am I?"

Yes, you're on your growth journey. You're moving, but at what point do you check your personal Google map to see how far you have gone, and where you currently are?

At what point do you park your car to review the distance you have covered, check your car, and just try to look around to know where you are at the moment?

Q1 is about to close. Now's a good time.

Why Check Your Current Location?

You know your desires and your interests. You've answered the question: "What do I want?"

But what would determine how you get there is knowing where you are. If you don't know where you are, it would be difficult for you to know the path to take to reach your destination, or how you'd move.

Perhaps, you are lost, confused, tired or scared at the moment. How do I move forward? How do I get to my destination?

First things first, ask yourself "Where am I now?"

Yes, you want to be a billionaire before the year runs out. You want to finish with a strong GPA. You want to get to a new height in your career. But where are you right now? How much progress have you made? What efforts have you put in? Are you still on the right path?

Check it. You may need to re-strategize. 

• Maybe there's a better way to go. 
• Maybe I should take that road. 
• Maybe I need to ask for directions.

Taking a stock of where you are opens your mind to the realities around you. Are there challenges or opportunities, do I have an advantage or a disadvantage?

Take stock. Where am I?

Please, be sincere and open with yourself. If you aren't sincere with yourself, you would by your own hands take yourself to the wrong path.

How to Assess Your Current Location

When it comes to assessing your present location, there are three things you need to take note of:

1. Your Personal GPS

•    How have you been tracking your progress? 
•    Are you using an excel sheet, journaling, or any other method?
•    How have you been documenting your journey - where you started, the ground you have covered, and your desired destination?
•    If you've not been doing that, it's fine. But you need to reflect a little more deeply to tell accurately how far you have gone in line with your starting point and your destination.
•    As Q2 is coming in, create a system to track your progress going forward. Do whatever works for you. It makes it easier to take stock as you need to.

2. Your Internal Environment

•    On this road trip, you're in the car. That's your internal environment.
•    You are in control. You control how fast you go, the atmosphere (Air conditioner), the music you listen to, and even the direction you take.
•    You are in charge of EVERYTHING that goes on in that car.
•    Besides, it's a solo journey. Just you.
•    Ask yourself two critical questions: * What are my strengths? * What are my weaknesses?
• You could be a fast runner, but you don't know how to handle the steering properly.
•    If you want to start a company, your strength might be your technical expertise. Your weakness might be poor people management skills.

3. Your External Environment

•  This is everything that happens outside the car.
•  The state of the road, the weather, the scenery, the events around you, the people you meet on the road.
•  They are not in your control, but you have to see them to get to your destination.
•  You cannot avoid them.
•  What then do you do when you cannot control it?
•  Look out for opportunities and challenges:

     * A bumpy road might be a challenge that informs how you drive.
     * Good, bright weather could be an opportunity to move quickly and enjoy the ride.
     * In career growth, an opportunity might be an opening in a company you'd love to work in.
     * A challenge might be the fact that the company is in another state.

Final Reflection

All in all, if you want to know where you are right now, you need two things:

- Your personal GPS

- A SWOT analysis

With these two, you have clarity.

Again, ask yourself: "Where am I?"

Till the next one,

Gee.