Connect the dots

As we start another new year there is a flurry of activity where people are talking about goals for the next twelve months, 365 days, 52 weeks or however you measure the year. As we embark on the potential that a new year brings, I am reminded of a tremendous quote by Steve Jobs. Jobs said, “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward. So, you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something – your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. Because believing that the dots will connect down the road will give you the confidence to follow your heart even when it leads you off the well-worn path, and that will make all the difference.” I often imagine the students who listened to these remarks in person and I hope it stirred them like they continue to stir me. I have listened to variations of that Jobs’ commencement speech upwards of fifty times, each time is still as powerful as the first.

Earlier this year, I was at a conference in Atlanta, GA. The sequence of events that led me to the conference was by no means a coincidence. I had attended a ribbon cutting for a Hope Inside location at Mutual of Omaha. Hope Inside is a nonprofit that was started by John Hope Bryant. I arrived a little late to the presentation and heard this gentleman speaking. He was sharing a story about spending time homeless and starting the silver rights movement. I found his remarks personally touching and I said to myself, I need to meet him. Naively enough I went up and introduced myself, and that is how I met John Hope Bryant. I was telling Mr. Bryant about how I was working to instill hope into the homeless we served at our shelter using concepts of positive psychology. The brief exchange allowed me to get John’s contact information. I followed up and was able to get on the phone with John’s Executive Assistant. Through this exchange, his assistant picked up on my passion and invited me to attend the 2017 Hope Global Forums. I made travel arrangements and was able to attend the forum. The opening remarks of the forum were delivered by Chris Gardner, the same Chris Gardner played by Will Smith in the Pursuit of Happyness. The remarks were amazing, and I knew if nothing else came out of the conference the trip was already worth it. I didn’t arrive in time to eat dinner so after the remarks I went up to my hotel room and changed into some jeans and set out to find a late-night dinner. On my way, out of the hotel, I looked over to see Mr. Gardner and some of his entourage. As you can see the dots were still connecting. I took the opportunity to go up to Mr. Gardner who was sitting waiting for his transportation. I put out my hand and said Mr. Gardner as a formerly homeless kid who is now running a homeless shelter your remarks were inspiring and exactly what I needed to hear. I can still see the look in his eyes as he rose to his feet, gave me a giant bear hug, and said god bless you. From attending the ribbon cutting, making it to Atlanta, and meeting Chris Gardner and about 20 other amazing people the dots all aligned. I could only see that as I reflected on the whole chain of events. I often share this story during Transformation Thursday, as I relate the story of Chris Gardner and the difficulty of his journey.

Personally, the last year has delivered quite a few positives and some massive unexpected life changes. It is amid these “massive life changes”, where we must recall that this change will shape the next great thing in our life, and as we move forward and reflect, the dots will become apparent. I know it is difficult to trust that these experiences, often hardships, are going to lead to positive life experiences, but we must do exactly that. Whether that change is a failed relationship, a personal mistake, or a career misstep there is growth and learning in those experiences, if you believe that the dots will connect. This belief will give you the confidence to navigate that life change in a tactful and positive way. Willie Jolley said, “A setback is a setup for a comeback.” This is one of my go-to quotes as I go about my work at the shelter.  If you’ve experienced a setback, start to plan for your comeback. Get out that journal and plot out some goals and make the next year one for the record books. If you’ve started the new year with a goal and have already strayed off track, it’s never too late to get back on track. Life is all about adjusting to get to that better version of yourself, and realizing that you never arrive, adjustments need to be made each day because each day you are learning and becoming better.