It was an adrenaline rush. A game with high stakes. Mental and physical agility were essential. Those from small suburban areas, like me, found themselves in unfamiliar territory. It happened fast and those who were decisive and fast won the entry. It was my first experience riding the Metro in Europe. A trip will teach you everything you need to know about planning and decision making. The doors open and close quickly. Your window of opportunity to get on board is short. If you haven’t made a definite decision to go up or down, you’ll be left behind, unapologetic, ruthless.
Traveling on the Metro is similar to traveling on the train of life. To be successful you have to make decisions and stick to them.
Some keys I learned about making decisions when riding the Metro:
1. You must know where you are going. If you don’t know where you are going, any train will take you there. Riding the subway all day is no way to live. Living your life in circles is not a way to live either. Once you know where you are going, decision making becomes easier and faster. If you want to go west, you’re not going to take a train to the east. Your destiny is your filter. If a course of action doesn’t get you closer to your destination, quickly decide otherwise.
2. Find out where you are and make a plan to close the gap. One key to getting where you are going is to know your starting point. The first time we used the map on the Paris Metro, it didn’t have the big bold circle that says “you are here.” That really confused us. The map might as well have been blank so as not to have our point location noted. In life, you must have an accurate assessment of where you are today in order to determine how to get to the future you want. Where is your location point?
3. Once you make a decision, stick with it. In Europe, they have places like Plaza de España where people hang out. They intend to spend time with friends and family, enjoying each other’s company. But when it comes to the Metro, it’s a completely different story. You are on/off or crushed. The decision must be made in advance that when those doors open for that fraction of a second, you are on the move. You also can’t jump off the Subway halfway. You must stay until the next stop. Once you have made a decision, you must follow it. The same is true in life. The years go by at full speed. Time waits for no one. You must decide what you want and move on. Make a decision and stick with it.
Indecision is the same is a perpetual trip on the Metro. You must know where you are going, make a plan to get there, and follow it.