What Does Your Sailboat Look Like?
A popular metaphor for life struggle and achievement is that of the mountain. If you read any personal-development or self-improvement blog, odds are the header image is a thin 20-something facing a view atop a mountain. I’m a 20-something who does a lot of hiking and even I tire of this image.
The mountain metaphor works, kind of. For one, it’s nice to go ahead and assume that life will be a struggle of varying steepness but that there is a goal and payoff at some point. (A view with a snack. Ahhhh.) Growing up, I loved sayings such as “God give us mountains, and the strength to climb them” and “Ask not for a lighter load, but a stronger back”. Inspiring stuff. (Thanks, Camp Ridgecrest)
While the point of metaphors is to reduce complicated things into digestible and actionable comparisons, this one is too simple. When you dig a little deeper it doesn’t hold up. Mountains usually come with maps and trails. Life is lacking anything like a defined path that is plug-n-play. It doesn’t quite account for setbacks. When you climb a mountain, once you’ve cleared a hill that’s it. On to the next hill, no sliding back (well, usually). Oh, if that was only the case in reality. It also implies that once your summit has been reached, that’s it. Next mountain or nowhere higher to go. Inaccurate again.
Here’s a better metaphor that I’m stealing from Scott Kaufman’s new book. The sailboat, which is so much better in helping us visualize ourselves, our lives, and making the most of both.
A sailboat needs a lot to function. It has to be well built, or it won’t fare well for long. This is your mental and physical health, which (annoyingly, I know) requires careful attention and upkeep. Let one go and the other will suffer, and either force you to return to port or be rescued. There’s no shame in being rescued. Sometimes there are things out of your control like an unforeseen storm or a ripped sail that will make you reliant on others. It’s better to call in help when you need it than be lost or worse.
Sailboats have many parts, like you. One especially neglected part can come back to bite you later.
Speaking of ports, let us go ahead and get that kitschy old saying out of the way, “A ship in harbor is safe — but that is not what ships are built for.” Yes, your sailboat is meant to sail as well. Like the mountain, it helps to have a destination in mind. Unlike the mountain, there is no one path to take, there are many. If the winds change, adjust your sails, and keep heading towards your destination. Stopping, going backward, and changing port as conditions change are all appropriate. You may have to sail the same waters twice. That’s fine.
Sailing takes skill and knowledge, just like life. The more you do, the better you get.
Sail different waters, and learn from each of them as you go. (Don’t stay in your comfort zone)
Upgrade your boat, is there a skill you can learn that will make your sailing easier? Can you save up to add big things like new sails (degrees or compounding skills).
Learn from others, and buy maps when it makes sense. Sometimes you don’t have to do the hard part over again if someone else has sailed where you want to go, follow their course. (Books, and informational interviews)
Balance risk and reward by exploring waters unknown. If you think there’s a big enough reward at the end, cast off into places where you think you have an advantage to find what others have not. (Start a new business, book, blog, whatever)
The mountain metaphor is too linear, it can be inspiring but it doesn’t account for all the complexities of life. The sailboat update is a nice update that is a more meaningful full picture of what it takes to thrive in life.
Metaphors are nice because they reduce a complicated concept into something more relatable and hopefully actionable. What’s more complicated than life? That complication can freeze us into inaction because of all of the uncertainty. This straightforward approach may help you see where you can take action, and what the impact might be.
So, what does your sailboat look like? Does it have all the parts? Is it sailing towards something? Where can you go for help to improve your boat? Do you have a safe port to return to?
Happy sailing.
