It’s a question that comes back to haunt all of us at different stages of life, career, or business:

Sometimes it whispers. Sometimes it screams. And often, it creates unnecessary anxiety because somewhere deep inside, we’ve been conditioned to believe that the right path is a single, straight, unchanging road.

But what if that belief itself is flawed?

The Myth of the Fixed Path

We live in a world that idolises clear roadmaps.

• Start here.
• Do X.
• Accomplish Y.
• Reach Z.

Certainty is comforting. Predictability feels safe. But the reality of life, leadership, and enterprise rarely works this way.

Paths are not railway tracks.
They are more like rivers ; meandering, adaptive, shaped by the terrain they flow through.

Rigid attachment to a fixed path often leads to frustration when life throws up unforeseen bends. Industries evolve. Technologies disrupt. Personal priorities shift. Global events reshape the playing field. The destination you had in mind at the start might no longer even exist by the time you’re halfway there.

The path is simply how you’re trying to get there. And that can, and often should, change.

• A business model might need pivoting.
• A career trajectory may demand reinvention.
• A product may evolve into a service.
• A personal ambition may mature into something deeper.

Staying rigid on the path often closes doors that may actually be better suited to fulfilling your original desire.

Flexibility Is Not Failure

Too many people confuse flexibility with weakness.

They say:
“But if I change course, does it mean I failed?”

Not at all. Flexibility is a sign of intelligence. It reflects awareness, adaptability, and an ability to navigate reality rather than fight it.

In my own journey; whether building businesses, guiding leaders, holding public office or growing intellectually , I’ve seen that my intent stays largely consistent, but my methods evolve continuously.

• The brands I build today are different from what I envisioned years ago.
• The frameworks (PIFFLE®, Intentonomics ®, Route to Shopper ®, K.SA.R™) emerged as my understanding deepened.
• The markets I serve expanded as opportunities unfolded.
• Even my personal priorities shifted as life progressed.

The desire to build excellence, create impact, and help others strengthen their choices remains intact. But how I do it? That’s fluid by design.

The Real Danger: Quitting vs. Adapting

Let’s make one distinction very clear:

• Changing direction is adaptation.
• Giving up entirely is abandonment.

The danger isn’t that you’ll change direction ; the danger is that fear or pride will make you stop moving altogether.

Keep moving. Keep recalibrating. Hold the intent tightly, but hold the method lightly.

Excellence is not found in perfect plans.
Excellence is found in the intent to continue, adapt, and grow.

– Ankur Shiv Bhandari (ASB)