Flying High: The Straight Line Myth

I recently made an interesting discovery about air travel that directly relates to the growth path we follow as entrepreneurs.

What I learned is that airplane flights do not follow a straight line when they fly around the world. Instead, they follow a curved path that adapts to the curvature of the planet itself.

Cool, right?

According to National Geographic, "In geometry, we learn that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, but this principle applies only to flat surfaces, like a sheet of paper.

Instead of flying in a 'straight line' as it appears on a flat map, airplanes follow a curved trajectory that is, in three-dimensional reality, the shortest path."

As business owners, our growth path is rarely a straight line either. We follow the curve of market trends, cash flow and financial challenges, personal obstacles and even health struggles.

Our path is far from straight -- but that doesn't mean we're off course.

If you're looking back on the highs and lows of 2024, be grateful for the zig zagging path that led you here to the place you're in today.

A non-linear business path can feel frustrating in the short term, but it can ultimately lead to greater growth, including increased adaptability and resilience, opportunities for innovation and better future decision-making and risk management.

So let's embrace our curvy business path.

After all, it's the journey that matters most, and not the final destination.