Ready. Fire. Aim.

“Ready. Fire. Aim.”

Those were the words from an organizational coach I am working with as I discern what structure will best serve the vision of my Pedal Pilgrim work. It was our second meeting and he listened patiently to me as I gave him a step by step description of the what’s and the how’s of what I was dreaming of.

Finally, he spoke up. “Brian, it sounds like you are approaching this with a “ready, fire, aim” strategy.” I wasn’t sure what he meant. “Think about it, Brian,” he said. Finally, I stated the obvious. “Oh, you mean I am firing at my target before I really know what my target is.” He smiled and said, “Bingo.”

He was right. I am working on a tight financial timeline anticipating that I only have about six months or so to take this dream from an idea floating in my head to a fully funded project. The pressure of that nudged me toward “pulling the trigger” before I really knew what I was aiming at.

Our conversation is paying rich dividends. In the past few weeks I have taken the pressure off myself to meet an self-imposed deadline for a fully developed funding model capable of providing both the livelihood and the resources to pull this project off.

As I have written before, pilgrimages start the day you decide, not the day you take your first step. That continues to be true (I still plan to walk the Camino in September). I don’t know what this is going to look like in a few months, but I can give you a taste of my most recent discoveries as we follow the breadcrumbs of this journey together.

Discovery Number One:

As I was reflecting on the “ready, fire, aim” comment I started separating out my deepest gifts from the financial needs of this visionary work. Originally, I anticipated that I would personally put some of the infrastructure in place along two of America’s finest routes—the Oregon Coast Trail and the Lewis and Clark Trail. My premature “fire” plan was to build a couple of models that could then be copied on other routes and trails across America. I noticed the language I was using:  “I am willing to build a couple of models in order to set me up to promote the vision nationwide.

That word willing was the clue. I didn’t really WANT to put two full non-profit structures in place (one on each route), especially as I am nearing that magic Beatles age of “When I’m 64.” As I wrote in my journal these words emerged, “I write. I experience. I interpret.” That is the core of what I do and what I have become known for over the last decade or so. I don’t know exactly what all of this means right now, but it has something to do with “I will be the holder of the vision. Others will need to create the structures.”

The vision is nothing less than the building of a pilgrimage culture in America. Just casting the vision and promoting it nationwide is a big enough challenge in itself. I will dream and invite. But others will need to build. That’s why I think of this more like a movement than a plan.

Discovery Number Two:

“Artistic expression cannot be compromised.” I found myself making the commitment, “Make money to support your art and vision. But don’t let the need for money compromise your vision.” I may need to drive for UberEats or DoorDash to support this vision, but compromising on the vision itself is not an option. This revelation has given me great freedom. “Aim first, fire later.”

Discovery Number Three:

I didn’t realize it, but not only was I getting ahead of the “aiming” part of the equation, but I also was not acknowledging the “ready” stage. I am one of those lucky people who also has an executive coach. Over dinner recently I was checking out with her if I was losing my usual driving motivation. Now that I am not employed in an actual salaried position I was noticing that I was not really getting into the “doing” part of the day until 11:00 a.m. or noon on many days.

I am so used to driving myself that its absence signaled that maybe something was wrong with me. “Was I getting depressed?” “Was I losing hope in the future?” “Was I just basically lazy?” My coach asked me what I did with that time. “I am spending an incredible time just feeling and processing. I journal for close to two hours, read and meditate on the writings of the mystics, commit one full hour for my physical therapy exercises and run through my morning ritual of word games.”

Interestingly enough, the timing of my question fit the timing of her research for a series she is teaching on the need for “sabbath, rest and reflection.” She confirmed that before I “fire” I first need to recover from the trauma of leading a large religious organization through a pandemic. She reminded me to stay away from “shoulds” and to focus on “wants.” I feel like I should get my butt in gear. But what I really want to do is write, play music, change the oil in the car, pull weeds, organize my files, attend to my injured leg, and play with my grandchildren.

What I want is to attend to my soul and put some order in my life before it is finally time to “fire.”

My posts up to this point have been focused more on what I am going to do—the “firing” stage of this equation. I think you can expect more posts about getting ready and aiming in coming weeks.

Of course, there is the tiny matter of how I will fund all this. But no sense in firing at the wrong target!

Brian Heron

Religious Innovator and Spiritual Pilgrim