Imagine setting a goal of seeing the world in all its splendor.  You decide to climb a really tall mountain to get the best view. You know it’s going to be an arduous journey, but hey, you only live life once.

But how to get to the top?  There’s a tangle of paths before you, and signs pointing every which way, including opposite directions.

You don’t have much to go on, so you choose a path that looks well trekked and offers a gentle slope.  You see some people up ahead of you, smile and wave.  How exciting to finally be under way!

The hike isn’t always so happy-go-lucky.  Sometimes you stumble, and there are times you have your doubts.  People on other paths occasionally whiz past or laugh uproariously and give you a wink.  You wonder if you should switch paths and join them.

But you stick to the path you’re on, because you’re loyal and you’re already invested so much time and sweat.

And then you reach a plateau.

It’s not unpleasant really, it’s just a dead end.  You try to focus on the warmth of the rock, the pretty lichen growing between the cracks.  The view is … nice.

Still, it’s not where you wanted to go.  It’s not what you wanted to experience.

As you look over your shoulder to the paths behind you, so much becomes clear.  You’ve come a long way, yes.  But it’s obvious a little more scouting at the base could have helped a lot.  You didn’t have to go far to see that many of the paths combine, and more than a few lead right off the edge of a cliff.

The peak is still somewhere above you, beyond a layer of fog. There’s no guarantee that any of the other paths will take you there.  There’s not even a guarantee of a better view if you arrive.

You have a choice.

I’m currently experiencing a lot of changes in my life: leaving the military, selling my beloved house, moving to another state, and looking for new job.  Needless to say, life is hectic.  It feels like one big to-do list, and few of the tasks are real pleasures.

Even outside that kind of change, modern life seems obsessed with project management and getting things done.  Consider blogs such as Stepcase Lifehack and Simple Productivity.  Amazon offers scads of books on everything from getting organized to overcoming procrastination.

So when I got the following “letter turned guest post” from Everyday Bright reader and fellow Brazen Careerist Sadya Siddiqui, I knew I had to share it.  In my opinion, it’s nothing short of brilliant.