Connect the Dots: Why Evolution Beats Revolution
I was at a bar a few days ago talking with John. During our conversation, John spoke about how he spent 15 years in New York City before returning home 7 years ago. He recently visited his daughter, who had moved back to New York. He was amazed at how much the city had changed since he left. He said it didn’t change that much when he lived there.
The Delusion of Evolution
O, the delusion of evolution.
Change is constant. Evolution is a gradual transformation so subtle that you hardly notice it as you experience life. In contrast, revolution is the experience of life at distinct points in time and space without perceiving the slow progression of evolution in between. Over time, the accumulation of evolutionary changes creates the illusion that a perceived revolution was more dramatic than it was.
Steve Jobs, Fonts, and the Future
In his Stanford Commencement Address, Steve Jobs spoke about connecting the dots—how seemingly unrelated experiences shape the future in unexpected ways. He shared how dropping into a calligraphy class after dropping out of college eventually led to Apple embedding fonts into the Mac. According to Jobs, this built-in typography became a key advantage in the early PC wars and was another in a long line of innovations Microsoft stole from Apple. While desktop publishing felt revolutionary at the time, it was actually the culmination of over a decade of evolution.
According to Jobs, “… you can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward. So, you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something – your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever.”
Trust in the Process of Becoming
For me, that trust lies in my vision—the belief that small, consistent changes over time – evolution – will ultimately shape my Future Self. As long as I stay committed to my purpose and aligned with my dreams, those dots will connect in ways I may not yet see but will one day understand. AND THAT EXCITES ME!
One Dot at a Time
I completed my first webinar walk-through for my “Service to your Future Self” workshop. Watching the video would be painful without the powerful lesson it taught. However, I need to become proficient in creating presentations, master my public speaking skills, and build out my back-office infrastructure.
I would be overwhelmed if I did not understand evolution and the power of connecting the dots.
Present Pain, Future Perspective
With my video, I have a distinct point in time and space. I look forward to future points in time and space when I can connect the dots and admire the evolution from where I started.
Too often, people give up on their dreams because they feel stuck, moving fast but going nowhere. Frustration builds as social media creates the illusion that everyone else is living their dream—except them. Over time, this fuels a limiting belief that dreams are only for others, leading them to give up.
Progress Starts with Perspective
If only they knew that genuinely understanding their Present Self starts with looking at where they came from and how they got here. Achieving their dreams isn’t about luck—it’s about having a vision, believing in the power of small, intentional changes over time, and recognizing that anyone can become an “overnight sensation” in ten years.
The Illusion of Instant Change
What seemed like a revolutionary change to John in New York City was simply the perspective of his Present Self—seeing the city as it was when he left and as it was upon his return, without the luxury of experiencing its gradual evolution.