Here's a thought I've been entertaining lately: life becomes simpler when you visualize everything in terms of a funnel.
Each day, you're progressing things, or perhaps multiple things, down these metaphorical funnels.
As a startup leader, for instance, you're continually ushering potential customers down a customer acquisition funnel, and subsequently a customer retention funnel, ideally turning them into advocates who help recruit new customers.
If you're dating, you're likely moving potential partners through a romantic prospect funnel, hoping to find your future spouse. Similarly, in networking, if approached strategically, you're shifting individuals through various funnels, each pertaining to the different types of people you wish to meet, assessing numerous prospects before they prove themselves as potential collaborators.
Consider your personal life goals and ambitions. If you have a vision for your immediate future, with key milestones to achieve, envision yourself progressing through a funnel of personal growth and fulfillment.
The concept can also be applied to other vocations. A pastor, interested in aiding many in their spiritual journey, could see their role as moving followers through a spiritual development funnel.
Naturally, there are exceptions, but it's rare for someone to want to partake in something that doesn't facilitate growth. Therapists, for instance, shouldn't aim to make their clients perpetually reliant on them, but rather, guide them through a funnel towards independence. Similarly, a doctor's goal should be to transition patients through a healthcare funnel, leading them to a point where they're making good health choices independently and no longer require costly interventions.
Funnels, it seems, are omnipresent, particularly for those envisioning a future for themselves, others, or society at large. Once you recognize this, you'll gain clarity about your role within these processes.