Are We There Yet? The Road Map to Sustainable Growth

Anyone who has ever taken a road trip with young children knows how this goes. You’re barely out of the driveway when a little voice from the back seat asks, “Are we there yet?” Never mind that you’ve only been driving for 15 minutes and nobody has even needed a potty break yet!

As funny as that question sounds coming from the back seat, I’ve discovered it shows up in boardrooms and corner offices just as often.

Are we there yet?

Have we reached our revenue goal yet?

Have we grown enough?

Have we hired enough people?

Have we become successful yet?

Behind those questions is often a deeper challenge. Many business owners aren’t struggling with effort. They’re struggling with clarity and patience.

Just like the folks sitting in the back seat of the family station wagon, too many business owners don’t really know where “there” is. They might have vague hopes, dreams, and ambitions but no clear destination. It’s a little like climbing into the car, pointing it down the highway, and telling everyone you’ll know you’re there when you get there.

Even when business owners do know where they’re going, some never check the map. They don’t track financial performance. They don’t measure progress. They don’t review key numbers. They simply hit the accelerator and hope things work out. Unfortunately, hope has never been much of a business strategy.

Then there are the impatient owners. They glance at the dashboard every five minutes and wonder why a three-year journey isn’t finished within three short months. Sometimes the problem isn’t being lost. It’s being in a hurry.

Good businesses don’t arrive by accident. They define where “there” is. They build a plan for getting there. They establish milestones along the route. And they pay attention to the gauges along the way. They understand that worthwhile destinations usually take longer than expected and that detours are inevitable. That’s why successful businesses operate from a thoughtful business plan rather than wishful thinking.

Savvy business owners clearly define where they’re going, outline how they’ll get there, and share that vision with the people helping them to make it happen.

So, the next time you’re tempted to ask, “Are we there yet?” instead ask better questions: Do we know where “there” is? Does everyone who can help get us there understand the destination? Do they know the role they play? And are we measuring our progress along the way? These are questions worth repeating for the entire trip, no matter how long it takes to make it.

 The destination still matters. But knowing where we’re headed, helping others see it, and having the patience to stay the course usually matter even more. The journey may take longer than expected, but that’s often true of the destinations worth reaching.