By Alana M. Hill, PMP, CSP
We all know that feeling—after a long road trip, your GPS proudly declares, “You’ve arrived. Your destination is on the left.” Those words are music to any traveler’s ears, especially after navigating countless miles, detours, and delays.
In many ways, that’s exactly what life and leadership feel like. We spend years pursuing goals, promotions, and personal milestones—each one a waypoint on the journey to “arriving.” But before we ever hear that comforting voice of completion, we have to endure plenty of twists, turns, and unexpected U-turns.
And just like on the road, those detours aren’t always setbacks. Often, they’re the very experiences that shape our resilience, refine our purpose, and strengthen our ability to lead ourselves and others through change.
So how do you know if those twists are helping you grow—or holding you back? Here are a few strategies to help you discern whether you’re still on the right path or it’s time to recalculate your route.
1. Pay Attention to How You Feel After a Detour
When you take a new turn—whether that’s a project, relationship, or opportunity—check your emotional dashboard.
If you feel energized, curious, or proud, chances are you’re still traveling in alignment with your purpose. But if the lingering feelings are guilt, disappointment, or frustration, it might be a signal that this turn wasn’t your best one.
This doesn’t mean you failed—it means you learned. Just as a wrong turn helps you better understand the map, a misstep in your career helps you navigate future decisions with greater wisdom.
2. Separate Pressure from Purpose
Sometimes the roads we travel aren’t our own—they’re built by others’ expectations. Whether it’s family, colleagues, or societal norms, external pressure can easily reroute us away from our authentic destination.
Ask yourself: Am I doing this because it fulfills me, or because it fulfills someone else’s plan for me?
Purpose-driven choices often feel lighter, even when the work is hard. Pressure-driven choices, on the other hand, feel heavy no matter how much you accomplish.
When you find yourself at a crossroads, pause long enough to align your next step with what truly matters to you. Remember: you can’t lead others effectively if you’ve lost sight of your own direction.
3. Reframe Detours as Development
Every twist, turn, and temporary delay can serve a purpose if you approach it with curiosity. Maybe the “wrong” opportunity introduced you to the mentor who changed your path. Maybe the layoff led to your new passion project.
Reframing your detours helps you stay in growth mode instead of guilt mode. In The Ms. Engineer Way®, I call this the “Review” stage—where you pause to reflect, extract lessons, and reset your GPS for what’s next. The more often you review, the more confidently you can accelerate toward your true destination.
4. Celebrate Progress, Not Just Arrival
In our productivity-obsessed world, we often treat “arrival” as the only measure of success. But the truth is, your journey is filled with milestones worth celebrating.
Each time you navigate uncertainty, bounce back from a setback, or take a courageous new step, you’ve made progress. That’s worth acknowledging—and sharing. Whether you’re mentoring a new engineer, leading a team through change, or simply making it through a tough week, don’t wait for the GPS to say “you’ve arrived.” Say it to yourself for every small victory along the way.
Your Turn to Reflect
As you look at the road ahead, ask yourself:
- What detour taught me the most about myself?
- Where might I be holding onto guilt instead of growth?
- What “arrival” am I actually working toward right now?
Your journey doesn’t need to be perfect—it just needs to be purposeful. And when you lead your life and career The Ms. Engineer Way®, every twist and turn can move you closer to the leader you’re meant to become.
