The Map Is Not The Territory

11 replies
I was going to add this to a reply, but then realized it deserves a thread of its own. Haven't seen anyone talking about it AT ALL.

The Map Is Not The Territory.

What is meant by this, and why does it matter?

Say someone gives you a blueprint.

A business blueprint. Maybe you got it in a WSO. You're excited. You see all their logical steps. Everything looks like it will work nicely and bring you lots of money. You do what most IM wannabes never get around to doing, and implement.

And you fall flat on your face.

What happened?

You followed the steps laid out in the blueprint to the letter. Everything should have gone great! But what actually happened is that you ran into unexpected problems the blueprint didn't inform you of. Your map was incomplete. Didn't tell you about all the hazards in the territory.

Here's the thing: the map cannot tell you everything about the territory.

By definition a map is an abstraction, a symbolic representation of what's going on in the territory. It can't record and share everything that's in the territory; otherwise the map wouldn't fit in your pocket. A life-size, 1:1 ratio map is of no use to anyone...except as a computer simulation.

In the IM business, we don't have simulations. We have the options of doing nothing, or experiencing the full force impact of the real world.

There is no way out but through.

If you're going to implement, you're going to take risks. Acknowledged or unknown. The risks come from the fact that the map is not the territory. The map doesn't necessarily tell you about the crocodiles in the swamp. It doesn't indicate the presence of poisonous plants. It may not even tell you how high those mountains are...just point out that they are there.

To find out what's really going on, you have to get in there. Mix it up. Get into trouble. Find your way out of trouble. Eventually, if you get really good at understanding the world you're in, you may no longer need a map. You'll be able to handle being dropped right into the midst of a territory you've never been in, without a map, and start moving forward to a destination. Using your own skills, experience and gut feelings.

But for now, no matter how much a set of instructions or blueprint or WSO looks like a "can't lose" proposition, remember: the map is not the territory.
#map #territory
  • Profile picture of the author GT
    Excellent insight, Jason. Thanks for posting. All of success involves risk-taking and that requires overcoming fear and hesitation and taking action. Once on the trail, we need to have the goal firmly in mind, but must be prepared for unexpected twists and turns and possible course corections along the way.

    GT
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  • Profile picture of the author thetrusted1
    I totally agree, JT! (Thanks Jason!)

    I forgot where I read it, amidst the library of self-help, success, and mind science books that have come my way,...but I liked the message that hit me.....

    And it is the same message that I'm getting from this thread post...:

    In so many words or less,...basically....

    Part of enjoying and truly savoring the "success",....or the "Goal(s)" in mind, and on paper.....is to actually enjoy the "Now",....the actual path/road/process along the way!

    It's those itty-bitty...and seemingly at times, insurmountable blocks & challenges,....thaht we face,.....and...overcome,......that makes getting "there", all the more tasty and Better than you had expected!

    Enjoy the journey y'all,......The Best is yet to Come....

    Respect.

    -thetrusted1
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  • Profile picture of the author Will Edwards
    Good post and a nice reminder - thanks.

    Will
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  • Profile picture of the author AaronMorton
    Good post and goes along the similar line to a point I was making in a previous thread about the value of coaching. A person was saying that he wanted to find someone that had been there and done it so he could follow their model. Whilst I think this person doesn't actually know what coaching is and was looking more for a 'spoon feeding formula', It does highlight the fact that just because you have a successful model doesn't mean it will be YOUR successful model.

    I could have Richard Branson's blueprint for success, but that doesn't mean it is going to make me a billionaire else we would have millions of people who read his book and now are billionaires. YES, you can learn a sh@tload from successful people and how they were successful. But ultimately what is going to make you successful is spending the time to find your way; finding out WHAT map works for you in YOUR territory.

    How? By taking on board what @kaniganj said of getting in there and exploring what you do in situations, getting feedback, seeing if it was successful and evolving your map until your criteria of what success is matches what is happening in your reality.

    Aaron Morton
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Ten
    Nice. This seems true. Ultimately, everyone has to be their own best judge of what route, strategy, and tactics to take and use, it seems.
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  • Profile picture of the author Roan
    awesome post. definitely feel like I'm going through that phase of experiencing it out, getting out there, getting into trouble, getting of it. The whole wilderness
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  • Profile picture of the author buckeyes09
    Well said. That should, perhaps, be attached to the WSO forum.
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    Christian

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  • Profile picture of the author Nic Oliver
    I'd add to this that we each have our own map. As the map is not the territory and each person's map is different, we need to remember that one person cannot convince another that the other's map is wrong. Our map is our perception, our reality.

    You can't convince someone that their perception is wrong, even though wars have been fought for this reason. All we can do is give someone information so that they decide to amend their 'maps'.
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  • Profile picture of the author yorkjesse
    Banned
    [DELETED]
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    • Profile picture of the author Ltespd
      I agree with what you're saying. A map or blueprint can be very valuable and needed. But they don't guarantee success. It's just a tool we can use to reach a desired endpoint.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jason Kanigan
    After two years of participating on this forum, I feel compelled to write more about this idea with the experience of what I've seen.

    How many times have you seen someone ask, "How can I make money really quickly?"

    And if you're not a newbie, you know how unlikely it is that this person is actually going to be able to do that. EVEN IF you give them the map!

    The map is not the territory. The WSO you bought that makes everything sound so simple and straightforward is not going to prepare you for actually implementing the thing. There will be bumps in the road.

    After two years in IM, the biggest takeaway I have is not "you need to find the best method," but instead "what are you going to do when the unexpected happens?" How you react will determine your success or whether you're heading back to a j-o-b.

    How many people I've seen do that.
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  • Profile picture of the author cjagodka
    Thanks for the post. I have never really thought about going through my work day like this. It is a great perspective and way of thinking. I am going to try this out and see how it works when running my company.

    ...another thought to add to this would be having the right tools to read the map...

    again, thanks for the share!
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