Steady Does It

San Miguel de Allende is the kind of place that stops you mid-step. Every corner hums with color, music, and movement.

When I visited during Día de los Muertos, the city was alive in a way that words can barely hold. Marigold petals carpeted the doorways, guiding spirits home. Paper banners rippled across narrow alleys. Candlelight flickered from doorways, dancing across centuries-old stone. The air carried the warmth of both memory and celebration, past and present intertwined.

My friend Liz, who lives there, led me through the cobblestone streets as dusk settled in. We walked slowly, soaking in the sounds of laughter, the strum of guitars, the scent of pan de muerto drifting from a bakery nearby.

And then, I stumbled.

One uneven stone. One distracted step. That’s all it took to remind me that the beauty of San Miguel isn’t just above you, it’s beneath you.

The cobblestones there are ancient and uneven. They demand attention. You can’t look too far ahead or you’ll miss what’s right underfoot.

That’s when I laughed and said to Liz, “Next time, I’m wearing the right shoes.”

And it stuck with me. Not just for walking those streets, but for how I approach my work.

Because in our careers, the cobblestones are everywhere. The unexpected challenges. The shifting priorities. The small details that can trip us up if we aren’t careful. They pull at our attention and tempt us to look anywhere but where our feet actually are.

And that’s where the tension begins. We talk a lot about being visionary and forward-looking, and we should. Ambition and foresight help us grow, adapt, and stay ahead. But just like in San Miguel, it’s not enough to see where you’re going. You have to stay grounded in where you are.

That means being fully present in the project in front of you. Giving your energy, creativity, and focus to what’s underfoot before sprinting toward what’s next.

Because when we’re constantly racing ahead, we risk losing the quality and care that make the next step possible. The project we rush to finish may be the very foundation that determines how well we navigate the one that follows.

I’ve learned this the hard way. The big new initiative steals the spotlight while the current project quietly loses steam. The brainstorming for what’s next begins before the last deliverable is fully polished. We move forward, but not always with our best footing.

It’s not just about preparation, it’s about presence. It’s knowing that steady progress and sharp focus aren’t opposites, they’re partners. You can look ahead while staying grounded. You can dream big and still mind the step right in front of you.

In San Miguel, those cobblestone streets won’t let you move carelessly. They ask you to slow down, to notice, to balance. Every step becomes intentional. Every movement, deliberate.

What if we treated our work the same way?

If we stayed focused enough to finish strong, not just move on. If we gave each effort our full attention, even when the next opportunity sparkles in the distance. If we approached our careers like those streets, with care, curiosity, and a little humility.

Momentum isn’t about speed, it’s about steadiness. It’s built step by step, on attention and intention.

So as you navigate your own uneven, unpredictable, and sometimes beautiful path...

Look up to dream. Look ahead to plan. But look down just enough to stay steady on the path you’re on.

And whatever comes next, steady does it.

Because the best journeys, and the best careers, are built one solid step at a time.