Recalculating in the Modern Journey

In the old days a compass and a map with a bit of “brain power” gave you direction. The principle of the compass and the magnetic influences on a compass linked to map work and a basic knowledge of astrology still apply, but modern technology have integrated everything in Tom Tom’, Garmins and other GPS devices which we use nowadays. I can remember there were only a few privileged military units who in SA in the mid 1980’s used satellite navigation systems in armoured vehicles opposed to the compass.

The modern journey in 2013 is a technology driven journey – the Garmin, Tom Tom, Ipad, iphone, Blackberry and Galaxy all give directions, distances and detour information – the sceneries and places of interest are, as we were used to seeing on a map, all available with the touch of a button. Dangerous is outdated devices or flat batteries.

There is however one very important function which the compass could never give you as many would only at a very late stage find that he is lost or took the wrong route, and that function is the familiar sound of “Recalculating, recalculating…………..”.

How often do we hear that message on our wrong routes that we have taken where a system recalculate the new direction that we have to take. Isn’t that true in life that we constantly have to recalculate and change direction to achieve the ultimate objective where we want to be? Don’t we sometimes ignore that recalculation, carry on with the wrong route and eventually stop, study the tracking device and then carry on a new route again? How many times have the irritating recalculation sound been switched off thinking that on “gut feeling” I can reach the target or objective? How lucky are we to have a recalculation function which we never had in the compass and map era. May the device never be outdated or have a flat battery.

In the modern journey in business the leader is the Garmin and Tom Tom and the leader determine the call to recalculate. Are leaders equipped to make that call, do people have trust in the leader to make the call on their behalf, are the leaders  familiar enough with the business to make the call and would the leader be known to his people for them to trust the recalculation call? For the leader to be trusted to make that recalculation call he must be knowledgeable about his products, may never be leading with outdated ideas, must never run out of energy with a “flat battery”, know the environment, the competitors, clients and opportunities but most of all must he be a person that people are looking up to. Great leaders are Great Achievers and therefore trusted recalculation advisors!

But as individuals, as families, as communities and religious groupings we constantly have to make the recalculation call – our beliefs, our principles, cultures, values and whatever tools there are influences our decision to recalculate. Our analysis of the ”map of life” is a sole guiding force for us to recalculate the way we heading as individuals, families and communities.

My message is simple – recalculate at the earliest possible moment on the 2013 journey and don’t wait till you are almost at the end of the journey with your compass and your map to realize you have taken the wrong route, or when the system is outdated or the battery is flat.