How to Measure Success When Blazing New Trails

Written by: Numair Qureshi

I had a moment today at Starbucks where a complete stranger caught me writing fervently in my journal while everyone else was aimlessly scrolling through social media.

When I stopped writing and took a quick break to clear my mind, he asked me what I was working on. He could tell I was creating something.

He said I was acting differently than anyone else in the coffee shop; he could tell I was pursuing something meaningful, and that I was purpose oriented.

I shared my vision for MixoType, and how it's going to help people achieve self-actualization through their unique identity. That we were going to help make identity visible and guide people into building their lives around it.

He was astounded, and then he asked me:

"How do you measure success when you're creating something the world has never experienced? How do you now you're getting close to your goal?"

When you think about it, this really is a profound question.

Newton & Leibniz created calculus.
Einstein published papers on special relativity.
Edison invented the light bulb.

Though they stood on the shoulders of giants, these scientists had to find the courage to go deeply into uncharted territories and create new masterpieces out of the unknown. Copying someone else's success is easier than birthing a new paradigm.

If you are going to blaze new trails, then the best way to measure whether or not you are getting closer to your goal is to stay the course and take consistent action.

As you work towards your goal, your narrative and understanding of what you're working towards will become more and more clear.

Once you're able to express your narrative clearly, you'll be to ask others to help you.

No one single person will be able to give you all the answers you're looking for; rather, you will find the right answers as you are ready for them.

As one part of the journey becomes clear, you will be able to shift your focus onto the parts that remain hazy. You'll then shed light on those areas, and they too will become clear.

If you have the courage to stay your course and master your narrative, you will be able to create your masterpiece.

As you become better at describing the problem you are working on, you will be able recognize the solutions when they appear. As long as you stay present and work hard, every step of the process will begin to unfold as it should.

The right people will enter your life and help you, insights will appear seemingly out nowhere, and epiphanies will emerge.

None of this is magic. Instead, it is all a response to your selective focus. Whatever you focus on, you see.

This new friend I made at the coffee shop gave me all the insight I needed to realize that I'm definitely headed in the right direction.

What problems are you tackling?

Comment below, and always remember to Follow your Curiosity.