Success is Found Through a Series of Imperfect Steps

My personal email signature has been the same for as long as I can remember. It’s a quote from vaudeville star, Will Rogers.

Too many people think success is about having a perfect plan. But real progress comes from moving forward—even if the steps aren’t perfect. 

🔴 Drifters – Passive, waiting for direction, hoping things work out.
→ Homer Simpson coasts through life, reacting instead of acting. Just another day at Moe’s.

🟡 Idealists – Brilliant thinkers who struggle to move forward.
→ Ted Kaczynski saw a future he wanted to avoid and retreated into isolation.

🟠 Grinders – Workhorses who execute relentlessly but may not push boundaries.
→ Tim Cook sacrificed product innovation while perfecting Apple’s supply chain.

🔵 Trailblazers – Dream big, take action, and bring others along.
→ Oprah Winfrey built a media empire and reshaped culture.

The most effective leaders adapt.

If you’re drifting, start moving.
If you’re dreaming, take action.
If you’re grinding, zoom out.
If you’re trailblazing, keep going.

Success isn’t about having a perfect plan. It’s about taking imperfect steps—again and again—until the future bends in your direction.