Embracing “What Got You Here Won’t Get You There” Thinking

I was on a call this morning, and this quote from Marshall Goldsmith came up. “What got us here won’t get us there.”

Easy to say… Harder to embrace.

It’s easy to say because most of us would agree it’s true. Sure, some would tell you that if it’s not broken, don’t fix it. That’s fine if it’s truly “not broken.” More often, denial has kicked in. It is broken, but we don’t want to see it or embrace it, which leads to our second point.

“What got us here won’t get us there” is hard to embrace because change is uncomfortable. If we accept that it’s time to move in a new way or direction, then we will have to leave the comfort zone, even if the comfort zone isn’t working. That’s where the friction lives in this…

Just because something is comfortable, that doesn’t mean it’s good.

And, just because something is uncomfortable, that doesn’t mean it’s bad.

When we reach the “what got us here won’t get us there” moment, uncomfortable is really the only option we have. The alternative is staying where we’re at, in the status quo, which will only bring us more of the same. “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Maybe that quote came from Einstein, or possibly someone else. Regardless, it’s true.

So, what do you do when you find yourself at this crossroads? These are the moments where the circle you’ve surrounded yourself with becomes the most valuable. Instead of trying to navigate your options alone, find the ones who have already traveled the road you’re on – the ones who are further down the path. Inquire for some advice, ask for some help, and learn from their experiences. What will get you there, wherever “there” is, will probably show itself in those conversations.

Call-to-Action

Don’t run from it when you find yourself in that “what got us here won’t get us there” moment. Lean in. Ask questions. Tap your inner circle for some wisdom. What’s going to get you there is available to you, but only after you let go of what got you there in the first place.