Clearing
clear·ing
ˈkliriNG/
noun: clearing; plural noun: clearings
1. an open space in a forest, especially one cleared for cultivation.
There is a mediocre movie called The Astronaut Farmer that has a fantastic trailer. It is often part of the broad complement of media we employ at our LifePlan retreats. The trailer does a great job of telling the story, but the few lines it pulls from the movie are extraordinary.
The movie is based on the true story of a man in Texas who builds a rocket with his eyes set on launching himself into space. Everyone, of course, thinks he has lost his mind. Government officials express their concern and mobilize the appropriate forces to keep him on the ground, but Jon Farmer is undaunted.
Farmer shows us a beautiful example of living intentionally. So intentional in fact that he makes most people very uncomfortable, but also inspires his family in an incredible fashion in the process. He is focused and clear on his mission, despite the crowding chaos around him.
In the trailer Farmer says to a classroom of kids…
”You’d better know what you want to do, before someone else knows it for you.”
He also tells a panel of government officials,
“When I was a kid, they told me that I could be anything I wanted to be. No matter what. Somewhere along the line we stopped believing that we could do anything.”
And finallly, after watching Jon’s wife and children getting swept up into the adventure of the Farmer Space Program, Jon’s father says,
“You are one fabulous father. You’ve got your family dreaming together!”
I have yet to meet someone who didn’t want to be a good spouse, parent their kids well, or lead their employees and company effectively. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t want to inspire those they lead to greater things. It isn’t due to a lack of desire, but a lack of knowing how to get from where they are stuck to where they want to be.
From time to time, we all need someone who isn’t lost in the forest where we live, to help us locate where we really are and show us how to get to where we want to go. To elevate above the situation and bring some clarity and understanding.
What I love most about coaching the kind of incredible intentional leaders we get to work with, is that we…
- get to help them see the things they can’t see
- craft solutions to the problems they are painfully aware of
- dream of a future they quit believing was possible
- create a simple plan to make that a reality
Basically, we are helping them see past the tyranny of the urgent and helping them focus on the essential few things necessary to get them to a more inspired future. To rediscover the most noble and inspired version of themselves and locate a clearing among all those towering trees with a simple way through.
Consider
- How much clarity are you operating with right now?
- How overwhelming is the forest that is crowding around you?
- Do you have anyone who helps you get perspective, determines the right path forward, and then makes sure you get there?