I was on a hike here in Las Vegas recently, and I’ve got to be honest—it was a struggle.

This wasn’t some massive mountain expedition. It was a smaller mountain overlooking the city, but don’t let the size fool you. The climb at times was steep, and with every step, and my legs were reminding me that I don’t do this every day. But the view? Absolutely worth it.

As I was hiking, something really stood out to me. There wasn’t just one path to the top. There were several.

At one point, I got a little winded and realized I had choices. The people ahead of me were taking a more direct, steeper route. I looked at that path, took a breath, and decided to do something different.

I chose the switchback.

You know the one—less steep, longer, not as glamorous, but far more manageable in that moment. It took more time. It wasn’t flashy. But eventually… I made it to the top. And when I did, the view was spectacular. Standing there, overlooking all of Las Vegas, I had one of those moments where nature teaches you something if you’re paying attention.

Everyone Is On Their Own Path

That hike reminded me so much of life, business, and success. We all want to get to the summit. We all have goals. We all have visions of what “the top” or our own “front-row” looks like for us—professionally, personally, financially, emotionally. But the mistake we make is assuming there’s only one way to get there.

There isn’t.

Some people take a more direct route. Others take switchbacks. Some sprint. Some walk. Some have to stop, catch their breath, and keep going. Some people unfortunately, stop trying.

And here’s the interesting thing: on that mountain, I wasn’t comparing myself to anyone else. I wasn’t judging my hiking ability against the people ahead of me. I wasn’t embarrassed that I chose a different path.

But in business? In life?

We compare everything.
We compare timelines.
We compare revenue.
We compare titles.
We compare how fast someone else seems to be moving versus how long it’s taking us.

And I’ll tell you this clearly: comparison doesn’t serve you. On my way down the mountain, I saw a guy pass me who was literally jogging up the same mountain I had struggled to climb. I wasn’t jealous, I was impressed and inspired!

I thought, Way to go.

That guy was dedicated. He was in shape. He had clearly put in the work. And rather than letting that moment discourage me, I let it inspire me. That’s the shift. When you see someone ahead of you, don’t let it diminish your progress. Let it expand your belief in what’s possible. Their path doesn’t invalidate yours—it simply shows another version of the journey.

Here’s the takeaway I want to leave you with this Front-Row Friday: •

You are on your own path.
You are allowed to take the switchbacks.
Progress doesn’t have to be steep to be significant.
The only thing that truly matters is that you keep moving forward.

Keep the summit in mind as your ultimate goal. Adjust your pace when you need to. Choose the path that allows you to stay in the game—not burn out, quit, or compare yourself out of confidence. And most importantly, celebrate your wins along the way. Because whether you took ten switchbacks or a straight shot, it’s the courage to continue the journey that counts.

Happy Front-Row Friday.