Drawing a Line in the Sand

When making a 'small' first move can lead to a 'big' difference

As we go into a new year, many will have spent time reflecting on the last twelve months. There will almost certainly have been a mix of good and bad times, but regardless of the experience, we usually try to figure out how we can improve.

We may also be familiar with survivor bias. It’s a tendency to make decisions based on factors or outcomes that were successful while often overlooking or underestimating ones that were not.

And when it comes to how we as a society look at success, there can be a false sense of security that we fall into when we celebrate our victors while we—knowingly or unknowingly—discount the hardship that they had to endure and overlook the trials and tribulations of countless others who never made it.

We may even think to ourselves, “Yeah, I could do that.”

This part of human nature can be a bit cruel, if you ask me.

For those who achieve “success” in the eyes of mainstream society, it can be a thin sheet of ice that can break at any time, especially if they get ahead of themselves. Yet there are always more who seek it, despite the potential baggage that can come with it.

The pursuit of success has contributed to the trending niche of “hustle culture.” If you’ve been on any form of social media that pushes out short-form content, you’ve probably heard of it.

From life hacks to growth hacks, if you’re not on the lookout for an edge or shortcut to the top, you’re missing out—apparently.

Now don’t get me wrong; I don’t think there’s anything inherently bad with “hustle culture.” If anything, there’s a certain kind of proactiveness and cunningness that I actually envy in those who do it legitimately.

And it goes without saying that we should be very cautious of anyone promoting anything that seems to be too good to be true.

But this trend is not for everyone, and the notion of doing “whatever it takes” doesn’t exclusively belong to someone who “hustles” to get ahead.

It all begins with a blank canvas

You hear it all the time. What people would give to be able to start with a clean slate. You know, hit that reset button and do it all again, but this time with hindsight!

What a difference that would make.

Now, I don’t think anyone can say for sure that you’d necessarily be any more successful. But it is easy to look back on something with 20/20 vision and see where you may have veered off in the wrong direction, wishing you could have another go.

But what if you could get that clean slate, a chance to start out with a blank canvas?

We’ve all likely been in situations with a group of people, whether in our personal lives or at work, that became awkward as no one appeared to know what to do next.

Or perhaps there were times when we saw a friend or colleague in need of a hand but felt it was not our place to intervene or that the timing was inconvenient.

While I am oversimplifying, I do want to point out that these are moments of blank canvases. They can be small but commonplace, like the ones above, or larger ones that occur occasionally but can make a world of difference for those involved.

The fallacy here is that we often want a clean slate on our terms: what it should look like, when we’re ready for it, and how we’d like to receive it.

And if it doesn’t show up that way, we may miss it or even pass on it. But life generally isn’t served on a platter; you get what you make out of it.

The reality is that blank canvases show up all the time, often not on your terms and sometimes at the worst possible times, and yet they’re really important if you want to develop and grow as an individual.

What does this have to do with drawing in the sand?

In case it isn’t clear, we’ve been talking about opportunity.

That’s what blank canvases are in this context—an opportunity to try something new or to do something different.

While they may present themselves in a way that isn’t to your preference or convenience, they’re still something that you can choose to take advantage of.

And the more often you do, the more practice you get, the more familiar and confident you become.

So when an opportunity that you’ve actually been waiting for finally passes by, you are not only more capable of capitalizing on it, there’s a good chance you may even see it coming.

Back when I first started working at a boutique consultancy before moving onto one of the “Big 4,” we were taught the concept of blank canvases and taking the initiative to “draw a line in the sand.”

But wait a minute, that sounds counterintuitive.

Yes, I know. Usually, when you think about drawing a line as a metaphor, it’s in reference to a point beyond which you don’t go any further; you’re setting a limit.

The contradiction is intentional. When looking at a blank canvas, instead of leaning into your limits, which is an instinctual thing to do, it may just be an opportunity to break through.

By drawing a line in the sand, you’re consciously taking the initiative to make a first move, and it doesn’t necessarily have to be in a group; it could even just be with yourself, to take advantage of an opportunity or to solve a problem.

It’s a fine balance between knowing your own limits and deciding whether you should break through or not. There are no shortcuts here; you have to learn through experience.

Tying this back to my time as a consultant, we were a smaller agency going up against giants. We had to put our best foot forward and work twice as hard to prove ourselves on any proposal or project; everyone had to chip in in more ways than one.

As a consultant, your number one priority is your client. And yes, it’s true, the client isn’t always right. But of course, you need to manage the relationship with care and find ways to get the project to the finish line.

One of the hardest things can be having a blank canvas and a client who doesn’t know what they want. More often than not, they definitely know what they don’t want, and you’ll be the first to know.

I can’t tell you how many times I just wanted to curl up and wither away, but if anything, it’s during times like these when you need to be resolute and push through.

This could be speaking up in a meeting or workshop with time running out and the so-called “next steps” and “actionable items” being unclear, or reaching out to stakeholders to try and influence them onto a path that would be better for the project despite knowing that they’re likely going to be against it.

Whenever you’re stuck on something, there’s usually a blank canvas if you look hard enough.

And yes, these instances can backfire; you could end up looking foolish or giving off the wrong impression. These reasons alone are enough to deter many people.

There’s also a good chance that those around you may feel the same way you do. There may even be a lingering frustration that has been there for some time, but the fear of stepping out of line or being embarrassed outweighed the decision to do something about it.

But if you don’t do anything, how can you expect to grow and stand out over time?

In my eyes, the biggest benefit of trying to break through your limits is that you’re signaling effort to everyone. This is key.

People will remember this. And even if it ends up being the wrong move, as long as your intentions were good, that initial boost can be enough to get everyone else moving as well.

Final thoughts

I’ll be honest; I never enjoy making the first move when trying to make the best of a situation that has gone wrong or jumping on an opportunity when everyone’s already slammed with work.

But I also don’t like awkward silences or looking back with regret.

I’m not embarrassed to share that in my experience, when trying to break through my limits and taking the initiative, they have usually ended up being wrong more often than right.

However, I signaled effort, and I believe I had good intentions, so people who knew more than me stepped in to help. And eventually we got to where we needed to be and often learned something about ourselves and each other.

Obviously, there will be some opportunities that you will have to pass up. Trying to take advantage of everything all the time can end up being counterproductive. You’re either spread too thin or it may take its toll on you down the line.

So don’t be afraid to step up and be the first to draw a line. Take your time and learn from it. Let that be your “hustle.”

At the very least, people will remember your effort and appreciate you for it. And that can be enough to make a difference, especially during uncertain times.

Happy New Year and see you in the next one!