How often are you in a Tunnel?

My mum called me a couple of minutes ago.

“Where are you?” she asked.

“On a Train” I answered.

“Where abouts?” she queried.

“I don’t know.” I replied, “it’s dark outside”

“Maybe you’re in a tunnel.” She offered helpfully

I have bizarre conversations like this with my mum quite frequently. We can talk about random things for ages without getting bored.

This time though, we finished our conversation quickly as the Train Manager (whoever he is) started to bark over the intercom something about people leaving bikes in the aisles.

I sat and stared into the darkness out of my Virgin train window. As I sipped on my red wine and started to wonder…

How is it that I can not know where I am and feel really comfortable? I can sit at my laptop, working away, drinking wine without a care in the world and I don’t know where I am.

If I drive to London, I always know where I am and, if anything, I feel less comfortable, less relaxed and definitely less able to concentrate on work. Yet my Sat Nav can tell me to within 5 feet where in the world I am.

As I stared out of the window more, I realised. The reason I’m happy not knowing where I am is that somebody else is in control of where I’m going.

The train driver is focused on getting me there and I can just sit here, relaxed doing whatever I want – work, sleep, eat, read, talk on the phone….

On Instant Impact, we promote the notion of Measuring Performance - including knowing when the things you’re doing are the right things for you to be at your best.

So what has my mum just inadvertently taught me about Measuring Performance?

From time to time, let somebody else worry about where you’re going. You just worry about relaxing and doing whatever you need to do - be completely and unreservedly ‘in the moment’.

Maybe she’s right. Maybe I am in a Tunnel.

Maybe I should go into one more often.

Stuart Browne. Virgin Express. Somewhere between London and Glasgow.