I’m driving through Italy right now—somewhere between Rome and the Ligurian coast.
An hour ago, I picked a random lunch spot on Google Maps. Never been and barely checked it. But the moment it was in the GPS, I felt secure. I had a destination. A plan.
That’s when I realized: even a completely arbitrary destination can give us feelings of progress or productivity. Even purpose.
Now consider goals that we choose very carefully, pursue for years, and build identities around. When these goals get set, it seems impossible to change course.
Why? Because our goals can become our security blanket. Comforting us simply because they’re there, not because they’re still our best destination.
We rarely pause to ask:
Is this still the right target?
Why am I pursuing this in the first place?
Who is this goal really for?
High performers always want a destination, but struggle to change course once they’re fully invested… especially when their goals are validated by peers and family.
What’s one goal you haven’t questioned lately?
—Navin
PS. If you want to pause, I’m hosting two mindset resets in NYC this fall.
PPS. That’s my friends’ place in Tuscany. Clearly, they know how to pause!!