“Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start.” - Nido Qubein
Some years back, I read an account of the U.S. standard railroad gauge (distance between rails) and how it came to be set at 4 feet, 8.5 inches.
Why was it set at such an odd number? The reason? Because that’s the way they built them in England, and British expatriates built American railroads.
But why did the English adopt that particular gauge? Because the people who built the pre-railroad tramways used that gauge.
They, in turn, were locked into that gauge because the people who built tramways used the same standards and tools they had used for building wagons, which were set on gauge of 4 feet, 8 and one-half inches.
Why were the wagons built to that scale? Because with any other size, the wheels did not match the old wheel ruts on the road.
So, who built the old rutted roads? Imperial Rome built the first long-distance highways in Europe for the benefit of their legions. The roads have been in use ever since. Roman war chariots first made the ruts. Four feet, eight-and-one-half inches was the width a chariot needed to accommodate the rear ends of two war horses.
The account of the railroad system is symbolic of the way many people go about accepting and living their lives.
Many people live according to the “standard gauge” others have placed upon them. Breaking free from this entrapment of low expectations is a pipe dream filled with “one of these days” thinking that slowly turns into faded memories of what could have been.
As you read this, reflect briefly on why you do what you do. Think of the patterns and routines in your life. Are you in the driver’s seat regarding your goals, dreams, and aspirations? What gets you up early in the morning and keeps you up late at night? What are you pursuing in life that you are passionate about? And are you moving in the direction of those passions?
I know that “standard gauge” thinking - accepting things because “it’s always been this way”- is the greatest obstacle to where your heart, passion, and talents could otherwise take you. It’s what kills your dreams and causes you to:
Embrace the status quo
Believe that success is out of your reach
Believe that you are trapped where you are
Believe that others are more deserving of success than you
Zig Ziglar said, “If you don’t see yourself as a winner, then you cannot perform as a winner.” And this is my challenge for you:
Don’t allow the “standard gauge” of others to define who God has created you to be and to become.
Don’t allow your negative self-talk to defeat you
Don’t be afraid to take risks, fail, and try again!
My prayer for you in 2024 is that you will:
Deepen your perspective of who you are and why you were created (your spiritual life which grounds you)
Align yourself with like-minded people who share your values (this is your tribe who you share life with)
Welcome to 2024! May it be your best yet!
Doug Dickerson writes and speaks on leadership and personal growth. Read more at www.dougdickerson.net/. Email Doug at dougdickersonleadership@gmail.com.
