Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
How many of us actually dare to tread off the beaten track and step into the unknown? Unfortunately, not many. And it is not necessarily a negative thing. Humans are, like any other creature, known to be generally unwilling to step out of their comfort zone. However, this definitely doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t.
As tempting as it may seem to follow in the footsteps of others, this doesn’t always have to be the case. While walking down a tried-and-tested path significantly boosts the chances of success, it also means that you wouldn’t be the only one to do so. In other words, you end up missing out on realizing your true, unique self.
Obviously, it takes a lot of confidence in one’s abilities to dare to do things differently. While this may reduce your chances of succeeding at your endeavors, it also increases the rewards in case you do. After all, who do people remember: the men behind some of the world’s greatest inventions, or the ones who simply mass-produced those inventions to make money? That is why it is paramount for you to be fearless in the pursuit of your goals and to put your unique ideas into action.
Instead of walking down pre-established paths, you should focus on charting one for the generations to come. Even if such attempts result in failure, you can give it another shot with the precious lessons you learned from those fiascos. There may be times when there will be seemingly no way through, but remember, luck always favors the brave. Just keeping moving ahead, and before you know it, you will have come farther than anybody else.
Ralph Waldo Emerson was one of the most prominent figures of the nineteenth century. The American poet and philosopher once said: “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”