What Are You Really Building? How to Measure Progress When the Path Isn’t Clear

Every moment, every decision, every conversation—whether we realize it or not—is adding up. It's easy to let life slip by in a haze of obligations, distractions, or endless to-do lists. But there's power in the pause.

Power in the question:

"Is this accomplishing my goals?"

We often think our goals must be perfectly refined—written on vision boards or carved into quarterly plans. But clarity isn’t always a prerequisite for progress. What matters most is your direction, your intentionality, and your ability to respond to life in real time. Whether you’re leading a team, a company, or your own path of personal growth, the decisions you make now shape what’s coming next.

So ask yourself again:

“Is this leading me—and those I influence—toward the life we intend to create?”

This isn’t about pressure. It’s about presence. You can’t change the past. But you can learn from it. And you can impact the present.

The Past Doesn’t Define You, But It Does Inform You

We often look backward with either nostalgia or regret, but our greatest asset isn’t perfection—it’s perspective. Where you've been, what you’ve done, and especially what you’ve learned is a unique set of tools no one else has. That’s value. That's leverage.

Historical Example: Nelson Mandela’s 27 Years in Prison

When Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for nearly three decades under apartheid, he didn’t know with certainty what the future would hold. But he used those years to reflect, to study, to grow. He didn’t waste time wondering if each passing year was “perfectly aligned” with his goals. Instead, he focused on what he could control—his mindset, his preparation, his inner world.

Upon release, he didn’t just return to his old life. He led a nation into healing. The lesson? He couldn’t control the circumstances, but he could control whether his time was used purposefully.

You don’t need a perfect plan to make progress. You need purpose in the present.

You Can Influence the Equation

Everything adds up. Your diet. Your sleep. Your conversations. Your actions—or your inactions. You are part of an equation whether you’re conscious of it or not. The good news? You get to influence that equation, every day.

Current Example: Patagonia’s Business Legacy

In 2022, Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia, gave away his $3 billion company—not to cash out, but to protect the planet. All future profits (estimated at $100 million a year) now go to fighting climate change. This wasn’t an impulsive decision; it was the result of a lifetime of aligning business with purpose.

Lesson? You don’t need everything figured out to take decisive, legacy-defining action. You just need to stay aligned with your values—and keep asking the hard questions.

Goals Evolve. Actions Still Matter.

Some people delay action until every variable is known. But life rarely works that way. Your goals can evolve—and they should. What matters is that you act in alignment with what matters most right now.

The Team Question: Are We Moving Forward Together?

This question—"Is this helping lead my team toward our goals?"—is crucial in every organization, every family, every movement. Great leaders don’t always know the full road ahead, but they do know if the current effort is meaningful.

Business Example: Elon Musk and SpaceX

When Musk and his team launched SpaceX, the early failures were spectacular—and expensive. Rockets exploded. Critics mocked. But Musk kept asking the core question: Are these failures helping us progress toward our goal of reusable space travel?

By focusing on learning from action, rather than demanding perfection from the start, SpaceX revolutionized the aerospace industry. Today, they routinely land rockets vertically—something NASA never achieved in its prime.

You Don’t Need Perfect Clarity—You Need Present-Minded Power

Many people get stuck trying to “figure everything out” before they move. But clarity often comes from motion, not the other way around.

You know where you’ve been.

You have a sense of what matters.

So don’t wait for the stars to align. Ask:

• Is this helping me become who I want to be?

• Is this creating momentum or dragging me down?

• Is this making a difference for those around me?

Your Life Is A Series of Decisions—Make Them Count

The world doesn’t stop turning. Time moves forward whether we show up or not. Whether we lead or fall back. Whether we LIVE BIG—or live small.

So whatever you’re doing today—writing a blog post, leading a meeting, starting a business, recovering from loss, training your body, parenting your kids—ask the question that matters:

Is this accomplishing my goals?

And if not: What will?

Final Thoughts: LIVEBIG 🌍

You don’t need a grand master plan. You need a willing heart, a curious mind, and a commitment to meaningful action.

Your life is already a story in motion.

Make it count.

LIVEBIG 🌍 Let’s Make It Happen