“Set sail sailor – it’s time to find that ever elusive island.”

Christopher Columbus was lost. Really, really lost. He ended up in the wrong part of the world…God only knows how clueless he actually was…and has been deemed one of the greatest explorers of all time. I give Columbus credit for something completely different than most. I give him credit for actually having the stones to get lost in the first place. To let the wind into the sails and to cast off on a journey, unbeknownst at the time, that would change the world. And as I stare at the screen…I wonder…how the hell did I get on the topic of Christopher Columbus?

You have to have the courage to lose sight of the shore in order to accomplish a dream. Dreams aren’t in a safe place. They are never the Easter egg that is hidden 5 feet away from your feet. They’re that egg that is buried in the fire place…fire burning hot…and behind the grill. You have to learn how to put the flames out before you can accomplish something truly remarkable. It’s a right of passage. I am not sure there is one fictional tale of a treasure chest that is completely unguarded. Usually, the hero has to confront a vicious dragon, traps of all sorts, or a gatekeeper wielding only the finest of weapons. There is always a final war…but along the hero’s journey there are always battles to test his/her strength. Even before this though, there is a threshold that the hero must pass through in order to start his journey. The mentor inspires the trip…and off he/she goes into the wild.

Fear is always present, but excitement is at an all-time high. I have started many a journey and realized I didn’t have what it took to make it all the way. It wasn’t a lack of supplies –  manpower –  right materials – or the right ship that caused my failure. It was something far more powerful. I lacked the reasons for my adventure in the first place.

They say that if you can give yourself 5 reasons for accomplishing a  goal, you give yourself a much better chance of succeeding. Why? You know why you are doing it. Your heart burns hot because it has all the fuel it will ever need to achieve the unthinkable trials and tribulations that are bound to come. Without those reasons, you will always turn back to shore disappointed. Trust me, I’ve been there.

But now I have my reasons.

Do you?

Evan Sanders
The Better Man Project