Man has a dream, and that’s the start.

He follows his dream with mind and heart.

And when it becomes a reality,It’s a dream come true for you and me. 

(Sherman & Sherman, 1964)

Progress is more like an exciting, potentially fear-inducing roller coaster filled with twists and turns, and peaks and valleys, than the gentle carousel that produces the lyrics above.  

I will soon embark on the time traveling journey back to the turn of the century and be pleasantly guided into the year 2000. While aboard the slow turning presentation of the technology, innovation and dream work that has allowed for the progress we enjoy today, I will be a bit nostalgic for decades gone by, yet still amazed that the creations that have come to fruition.  

Other than the opportunity for a much needed break in an air conditioned chamber, and twenty-one minutes off of my feet, I will embrace taking a look back in time. Often we focus on where we are headed, without recognizing the steps we took to get here. 

You can’t know where to go, if you don’t know where you’ve been. 

Looking back at the way things were done previously is not simply just a trip down memory lane. As we reflect on our successes it is common to consider only the fast moving take off, the tracks that led us to the peak, and the sign of relief when we finally were able to stop and admire the work that was done.

There is value in remembering the twists and the turns, the dips and the loopity loos that made us queasy. We learn not from just the wins, but from flying totally off track as well. 

Progress isn’t progress if it doesn’t deliver innovation.

There is nothing more disappointing than being promised a thrilling adventure that you waited for what seems like days in anticipation to board. You get strapped in and ready for launch, just to be told something is delaying take off. Or even worse, the ride doesn’t live up to the hype. You hop on board, twirl around, and end up with only a dizzying headache, two feet from where you left. 

When promoting and working towards change it is imperative that the benefits of such actually have a positive impact that can be either seen, felt, or at least explained. 

Going backwards isn’t failure.

Hurtling forward at mach speeds sure is fun, the wind in your hair, the blood curdling screams, the pure terror of what comes next. Then when you least expect it, the mangled rail appears in front of you and you are flung backwards. Rarely, if ever has that track led me to where I began, instead, there was a slight pivot, and minor switch in the track that took me back to the light and revealed a smooth, yet invigorating path forward. 

As progressive leaders and thinkers, taking a step back isn’t always failure. Maybe the adjustments made initially were top notch at the time but people, organizations, and perceptions continue to alter as we focus on reaching the station. Returning to a place that had proven success, allows us a break in the chaos of change. It allows us to evaluate the steps we took forward, and gives us the knowledge to start the progress again, but with a strong structure to build from. 

Innovation and progress are necessary for the success of our businesses, relationships, and on a larger scale, humanity as a whole. As we look towards the future, we can not dismiss the places we have been, the lessons we have learned, and the loopity loos that left us feeling as if we were flying out of our seats. 

Take the time to look back, draw up your blueprints and ensure your elements promise not simply the illusion of progress, but actual sustainable improvements. 

Think big, build what withstands the test time, and always dream for a better tomorrow.  

There’s a great big beautiful tomorrow

Shining at the end of every day.

There’s a great big beautiful tomorrow,

And tomorrow is just a dream away. 

(Sherman & Sherman, 1964)