Keeping Right

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You’ve seen it. You’re driving down the interstate, paying attention to everything but the road just so you can stay awake. Then, there it is. Another inanimate object giving you an unsolicited piece of advice.

“Keep Right Except To Pass.”

It’s a message that has been ingrained. Trust me. I didn’t even have to consult Google to ensure I had the correct wording. The message is so ingrained that I can’t help but wonder if it hasn’t transcended driving safety to become a subconscious part of our personal and professional lives.

How often do we choose to keep right in any given opportunity? For most of us, it’s more often than we think. As for me, I’m simply no longer content to memorize license plates. Been there. Done that.

Honestly, sitting in quiet reflection leaves me in awe of how I ever achieved anything by choosing to follow, choosing to keep right. Wait a sec. Did I achieve anything by making that choice? When I think back on the things I should have done differently in my life (I’m supposed to say, “without regret,” right? Not gonna happen, but I’m not gonna dwell on it either), it all comes back to omitting the last three words of that unsolicited piece of advice.

The truly great things in our lives were not made possible by keeping right. Those things were made possible because we chose to pass.

When you introduced yourself to that person who makes your voice shake, you chose to pass. When you decided to quit that plush bed of a job you had for the past ten years to follow your dreams, you chose to pass. And yes, even when you blindly dove head first into social media without being able to see the bottom, you chose to pass.

Businesses are not excluded from the phenomenon of keeping right. So many have made tailgating a regular practice. By the way, their bottom line is located at the next exit and the innovators are usually waving at them from the left lane as they pass. The innovators have taken a look outside the confines of their mission statements, they have discovered talent they didn’t know they had, and they have made their way to some of the few places where excitement grows exponentially with each passing day.

Is there value to be found in choosing to keep right? Yes. But, only to a certain extent.

The amount of that certain extent is left up to the people (or cars, for fans of the metaphor) you choose to follow. Really, you’re just doing everything they do while achieving basically the same results. That’s not working very well in today’s environment, personally or professionally.

There’s a time for everything. Timing is everything. And, as for when it’s time to pass, only you can make that decision. Only you. If that doesn’t make you feel empowered then go ahead, say it out loud. “Only I can make that decision.” And when you do…

Floor it.

Tags: achievement, advice, chris, empowered, innovators, media, mission, reed, social, statement

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Comment by Kacy Oden on October 16, 2009 at 4:04pm: Wonderful post....it really hit home for me. Your writing style is something to admire and I consider myself lucky to have met you in person. I look forward to the next one, Chris.

My friends would say I floor it all the time behind the wheel of a car - lol - obviously need to translate that to other aspects of my life. Take care and see you soon!

Comment by Logan Maienschein on April 29, 2009 at 11:45am: Chris, this is an awesome post. I am also new to the group here, and feel like it has arrived at a great TIME in my life. Changes abound, decisions to make...looking for the big boot to help me "Floor it" better! Look forward to hearing more!

Comment by Leigh Caraccioli on April 28, 2009 at 5:57pm: Chris, Once again your metaphorical & honest. LOVE it. Brilliantly written.

And when you do...floor it....just make sure their are no officers of the law in view!

Comment by Beverly Ann Vowels on April 28, 2009 at 9:32am: Chris,
Not to sound like a cliche, I love it. You are right, timing is everything and everything happens for a reason. You have to take the wheel, take control of your life, your destiny. Well done. We miss you.
Ann V.

Comment by Bill Campion on April 28, 2009 at 9:27am: One more thought - I believe the right lane is filled with potholes - especially in this day and age. It used to be the comfortable way to go but today there is no comfortable way.

Comment by Bill Campion on April 28, 2009 at 9:26am: Great metaphor Chris. I watched the movie Frost Nixon last night and I was amazed at how David Frost stayed in the left lane while everyone else thought he was crazy. While often times it's riskier in the left lane, it's the best alternative when it comes to following our passion. I find it interesting as I get older (I can't believe I admitted that) how many of my peers choose to stay in the right lane. Your blog has given me further inspiration to stay in the left lane and put the pedal to the metal. Thanks my man. Enthusiastically Yours, BC

Comment by Chris Reed on April 24, 2009 at 8:48am: @Mark...thanks so much for that amazing compliment. Truly appreciative.

@Dana...Thank you...so appreciative of your comments! I would love to hear more about your own experiences. Truly.

Comment by Dana Jones Addis on April 23, 2009 at 10:27pm: great post and it hits me as I am contemplating many things in my own career and the roads I've taken...Like Mark above, I felt as if you were talking to me (a newbie here!) I can't wait to read more from you!

Comment by Mark Hagan on April 23, 2009 at 3:24pm: Chris, you have just blown my mind again. Dude I could hear you saying these things as I read it (like in the movies when they are reading a note from someone else, and you can hear that persons voice as they read). I felt as if you were talking to me! Very well done my friend, very well indeed.

Comment by Chris Reed on April 23, 2009 at 1:50pm: @sexythinker...sounds like the makings of a tweet.

@Nicole...so glad you enjoyed it! And, I know you are...

@MissIve...thanks so much for the kind comments. Have a feeling the timing bit is going to be working itself out for you very soon.

@Kami...Thank you. Truly. But, just a driving tailgater, right? Football tailgaters are just fine in my book.

@Shawna...You flatter. Thank you. As always.

@Matt...So true. Thanks!

@Joni (aka @luckypenny and @peoplereport)...Thank YOU. It appears we're on the same page, and I'm grateful to be in that company.