Road Trip: Where Are You Starting?

Good Monday morning to you. I have finished up helping my mom in the Poconos and have started my motorcycle road trip home. So this week we are going to go with a road trip theme.

I’m sitting in Ohio tonight writing this blog, hanging out with some of my CouchSurfing friends. Today I traveled across the state of Pennsylvania on Interstate 80, a stretch that was once known as the worst highway in America. In fact, I believe since the ‘70s truckers in America have voted the highways and roads in Pennsylvania as the worst in the nation. From the time I could first drive a car, including when I drove truck for a living, I’ve driven this stretch of interstate at least 100 times. As I said, it was known as the worst road to travel and this is the first time I’ve ever driven it from state line to state line on a motorcycle. It’s also the first time I’ve done it in the rain.

This week’s theme will focus on how your life journey is like a road trip. As I am taking my road trip this week, I’ll be giving lessons on life from the road. Today, as I was traveling through the mountains of Pennsylvania, I was thinking about the bad reputation of this stretch of road. Maybe in your life you’re thinking that you are at the worst place you can possibly be, and asking “How can I change my life for the better?”

Any time you start out on a road trip you have to start from somewhere. If you feel you are at your worst, or if you feel you just want to do something better, either way you have to start from somewhere. At one time I thought I was going to spend my life driving a tractor trailer for a living. I felt it was what I was going to do for the rest of my life. Then there came a time that it was no longer possible.  I had to start over, and when that happened I felt like I was at my worst. I did not feel that I could improve anything, felt that it was beyond my ability to control. Now, 20 years later, after many changes and improvements, I feel that my road trip in life has given me better roads to ride on.

Before you will be able to change your life and make your journey a road trip to remember, you have to start – from somewhere. So my question is this: where are you? Have you started to move past the bumpy road and head towards smoother roads?

For me, traveling on bike, I am now looking for the fun roads. Last night before leaving the Poconos, I watched the movie called “The Bucket List.” It’s the story of two men suffering from a life-threatening illness who bond over the lists they’ve made of things they want to accomplish before the die – their bucket lists. If you’re looking for your chance in life to do something great, start with this: make a list of where you are going to go on your road trip called Life. After all, if you haven’t started the trip yet, it’s time to start living and get on the road.

So let’s take 3 quick ideas to get you started from where you are:

1.  Take a quiz. If your life were a road trip, before you can start, you need to really know where you are. There’s a nifty feature on most map functions on smart phones and GPS units that allows you to find “where you are.” There are a number of quizzes out there that can help you figure out where you are, whether it’s with respect to your career, your business, or your life. If you haven’t taken one of these, now’s a great time to do it.

2.  Figure out where you want to go. Get out the GPS for your life and set it now for your destination – which is your goal, your dream. You can go anywhere. Today while traveling, I noticed a sign on the highway that said “Buckle your seat belt for the next million miles.” I think that is a great forward-thinking idea to get people to think ahead in their life, going from where you know you are, and actually making a plan to go far.

3.  Don’t use the cruise control; enjoy the ride. As I was riding today across Pennsylvania, it was raining hard. I have cruise control on my bike, but did not use it today. First the roads are wet and I had to pay attention. I needed control of the bike all the time. But, even when the roads are clear and dry, when you get off the straight road and take up those winding switchback and forth roads you want to pay attention, turn off the cruise, and enjoy the ride.

So, as we go into this Road Trip week, I want you to think about where you are in life where you want to go from here, and what you have done to make sure you enjoy the trip itself, along with the destination.

Come back every day this week to read about a new road trip adventure. And sign up for our Road Trip workshop in September where you can ride your motorcycle with the Rocker Life Coach for four days devoted to learning your life purpose, establishing your dream and finishing with a plan to make it happen.

Tim Gillette is the Creator of The Rock’N’Roll Keys to Business Success, using music, motorcycles and mentorship to create Entrepreneurs who lead. To find out more about upcoming webinars sign up here .  Free Online Training that Rocks