Unpredictable Trajectories

This past weekend I attended a conference with 400 other individuals. Over the course of 5 days, I was part of dozens of discussions around a wide range of topics. One panel discussion included several very high powered people from business, television broadcasting, aeronautics, technology, and philanthropy. Listening to the stories of these extraordinary people, I was struck how their most interesting stories were the ones that arose out of unpredictable circumstances. I asked the panel, “In your life, what has played a more important role: plans and goals, or unpredictability and spontaneity?”

Those who answered agreed that the latter, spontaneity, played a larger role in creating their greatest breakthroughs, successes, or fun experiences. One panelist said, “Goals are limiting. We are trying to define a target before we even have all of the data. The problem with goals is that you convince yourself that you know how to get from point A to point B. Even if it proves to be true, which often it isn’t, the really exciting things in life occur when you go from point A to anywhere other than point B. I prefer to participate in endeavors with an unpredictable trajectory.”

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