The trails of the world be countless, and most of the trails be tried;
You tread on the heels of the many ‘til you come where the ways divide’
And one lies safe in the sunlight, and the other is dreary and wan;
Yet you look aslant at the lone trail, and the lone trail lures you on.
Robert Service

Paths and trails are everywhere. They are also deeply rooted in symbolism and serve as a powerful image for "movement " toward something; there are many paths we could take; and thoughtfully and deliberately choosing one’s own path is not necessarily easy. Yet somehow many times in our life, we seem to intuitively perceive a path we must take, yearn to take, wanted and unwanted.
Leaders don’t all take the same path. Just as no two human beings are exactly the same, leaders, and the situations in which they find themselves, differ. You are unique in the way you are born to this time, in this culture, to your family of origin and in the circumstances of your upbringing and education. However, there are wonderful paths that we can, from time to time, share. In each of our lives there are crossroads where we join others and travel along the same path and then diverge onto yet another road. Crossroads provide us with an opportunity to learn from each other and to share stories and ideas. Ultimately however, we find ourselves on our own unique path where we travel alone.
Jung and Campbell, who were pioneers in defining the Hero’s journey, remind us that while we are on the journey there will be unforeseen events and obstacles to overcome along the way. Yet there will also be guides and mentors, insights to be gained, and newfound knowledge that one could not know was required before embarking on the journey. As you discover your personal territory, it can be better understood by the use of maps; people at the crossroads and guides waiting along the way to travel with you for awhile.

This is the work that I am privledged to engage in with others. This is the work of coaching. This is the work of discovery.