Traveled Roads & Trusted Guides: Learning from Experience

Last week, I was reminded of one of my favourite words of wisdom: "To know the road ahead, ask those returning." This Chinese proverb eloquently reminds us that we can learn from those who have come before us. Those who have faced our challenges. We can learn from their mistakes, saving time, effort and resources.

The Myth of Uniqueness 

Whether you're scaling a startup or steering a $10M business through a new market, this hits home. It's easy to fall in love with the idea that your path is so unique, so different, that no one could possibly help. But the truth is, someone's likely been down a version of your road with similar terrain, potholes, and "What the hell are we doing?" moments.

In my experience, founders who consistently sought guidance from industry veterans reduced their product development cycles, avoided at least two major strategic missteps, and entered new markets by an average of four months sooner.

What Smart Leaders Do
Smart Leaders ask great questions. They learn. They borrow the map and/or hire a guide. Experience doesn't mean answers to every question. It means fewer surprises. It's not about skipping the hard stuff and avoiding the unnecessary stuff that slows you down.

Next time you're at a crossroads, don't try to whiteboard your way through it alone or struggle with your teammates experiencing things for the first time. Find someone who has done what you are trying to do,  buy them a coffee, and listen.

They might help you see around a corner you didn't even know was coming.