Just Keep Going: A Powerful Lesson from my 5 year old

Our oldest daughter was 5 years old when we came upon a grass fire that had gotten out of control. We were on a familiar road that we traveled almost daily. By the time we realized what was happening our vehicle was surrounded by smoke and flames. I still remember feeling the heat from the fire radiating from outside the vehicle.

The smoke had become so thick I couldn’t see the road in front of us. Should I go forward and risk the situation getting worse? Should I back up and risk running into an unsuspecting motorist coming up behind us? I was in a bit of a panic.

Then a small voice from the car seat in the back said “Daddy, just keep going.”

In that moment, my daughter’s 4 little words carried a powerful truth—sometimes, the only way out is through. We made it safely past the fire that day, and 25 years later, I still am reminded of that simple lesson.

Challenges, whether in life or business, can feel overwhelming, but staying stuck in fear or hesitation only makes things worse. When the path ahead is uncertain, and the heat is on, the best thing you can do is take a deep breath, trust your instincts, seek counsel from trusted advisors and just keep going.