Hello, my friends.
Today I want to talk about Destination Disease.
As an adjunct professor in the college of business, I get to teach MBA students and seniors in the undergraduate program. I speak to people of all ages.
It is not uncommon in these arenas to observe the onset of Destination Disease. This is the malady whereby you put off the most important things in life in order to reach a certain, yet elusive, “destination.”
“Someday when I have enough _____, I will _____.” The problem is, you never have enough to actually do those things that are most important to you.
One of the most common misperceptions I encounter is that goals are all about stuff, about acquiring things.
I was the same way at a younger age. I wanted a car, a house, material goods and to take certain vacations.
Over time, I learned there is a role for material goods in life, but they shouldn’t drive your life.
One of the things I do on a regular basis is train sales teams. Anyone in that business looks up to the preeminent salesman, Zig Ziglar.
He said, “What you get by reaching your destination is not nearly as important as what you become along the way.”
That is profound.
The good news is, you don’t have to wait until you’re older to realize it wasn’t about things but about the life you build along the way. You can build a meaningful life every day, starting where you are right now.
You don’t have to suffer from Destination Disease.
Here are some ways you can become your best you. These help you enjoy the journey as well as the destination.
- Realize the truest goals are not about things but about what you become – who you are as an individual.
- Ask yourself what principles and values drive your life. Do you have a solid foundation on which to build?
- Consider how you treat other people. Do you treat them with respect? Do you value those who are closest to you – and show them on a regular basis?
- Guard against making material possessions the center of your life. While it is perfectly okay to have things you enjoy, be careful they do not become the center of your attention and the driving force for all you do. Be sure the things you own do not come to own you.
- Remember life is ultimately about people and the relationships you develop along the way. It is about how you serve people and impact their lives. Are you investing well?
This is one of the core teachings of my Ascend on Demand program – the importance of avoiding Destination Disease.
Don’t wait until you get to the destination to learn life’s most important lessons.
Ed DeCosta is one of the most engaging executive coaches and thought leaders of our time. He delivers results with companies of all sizes, from high tech start-ups to Fortune 500 corporations. Ed is an ICF certified professional coach. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from West Virginia University, a master’s degree in international management from the University of Texas, and an MBA from the University of Texas. Ed is also an adjunct faculty member in West Virginia University’s College of Business and Economics, teaching Professional Selling and entrepreneurship courses.
LOVE the Zig quote: “What you get by reaching your destination is not nearly as important as what you become along the way.”
Building a meaningful life DOES happen every day!