Are you following a map or drawing one?

"We reward those who draw maps, not those who follow them."

—Seth Godin from Poke the Box

College is almost exclusively designed to train you how to follow a map to the best of your ability. As a result, it trains you to think like someone who is trying to follow a map better than everyone else.

The fact that our thinking was developed along these lines means it sticks with us well past college. We have thousands of hours behind the wheel as map followers. But there's a big problem.

If you're the only one with the treasure map, you should like your chances. But if literally thousands of people have the same treasure map, it's a math issue that you probably won't get there first.

SO DRAW YOUR OWN DAMN MAP!

Your first map is going to suck. So will your second map. Everyone's did. But you can't improve a map that doesn't exist. So draw your first map and get started.

What are you waiting for?