The Power of vision
“I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been.”– Wayne Gretzky
I’m not a big ice hockey fan but I’m a big fan of great quotes. What makes this quote great? Firstly, it captures the motion within the sport and metaphorically captures the forward motion in life. It’s not where we have been that changes the game but where we are going to be.
Secondly, it captures the capacity to envision. Ice hockey as with many sports is largely dependent on talent and vision. Wayne Gretzky was one of the greatest ice hockey players of all time because he had talent and he combined it with great vision. Vision is an important ingredient in life and business because it shapes and influences the outcome of any action.
Finally, the quote captures a goal or an objective. To win a game of ice hockey one needs to be in possession and control of the puck so as to score a goal. Without the puck it is highly unlikely that a team will win the game.
So too in life, vision and motion need to be combined with objectives. If we are to truly encounter and enjoy greatness we must be able to focus on the things that will lead us down the path of greatness. So we must all skate to where the puck is going.