Are you sure you’re still on the right road?

by Angela Darar

Two years ago our daughter Poppy had just passed her driving test and was off on the road with that heady mix of excitement and nerves. Two years later, she’s not only gained confidence and independence, but she’s managed to more than halve her insurance premiums, all thanks to safe driving, being conscientious, and doing things properly.

And now, it’s Jasmine’s turn. The L-plates are back, and we’re once again watching someone go through the stages of learning something completely new.

It’s reminded me of the Four Stages of Competence. It’s a learning model where you start with unconscious incompetence (you don’t know what you don’t know), then move through conscious incompetence (you realise what you’re missing), conscious competence (you know what you need to do and focus to do it), and finally unconscious competence (you do it instinctively, without thinking too hard).

Driving is a great example of this, because we’ve all been there. That sweaty-palmed feeling when you first approach a roundabout… all the way to cruising down the dual carriageway singing along to the radio without even thinking about which gear you’re in.

But what’s interesting is how this also shows up in business, where it’s very easy to fall into what we call unconscious incompetence. You’ve been doing something a certain way for so long that you assume it’s right, but the world’s moved on, and the results just aren’t quite what they used to be.

Maybe you’ve stopped paying attention to how you handle pricing.
Maybe your sales messages haven’t changed in years.
Maybe your team’s become efficient at doing the wrong things.

It’s like following a sat nav with old data, or worse, thinking you don’t need directions at all. A few small degrees off now might not feel like much, but over time, it can lead you miles away from where you meant to be.

It’s like Jas often says: if a space rocket headed for the moon is even a millimetre off at launch, it won’t get anywhere near its destination.

The rewards come from doing things properly.

Poppy’s reduced insurance renewal reminded us that doing things the right way, consistently, really does pay off. You don’t always see the benefits immediately, but over time, it adds up to better outcomes, better habits, and a greater sense of control.

In business, the same applies. The time you take to stop and check your direction, invest in learning, sharpen your skills and tweak your approach, it all compounds. Whether it’s better planning, clearer marketing, or more focus in your role as a leader… doing things properly brings better results.

So what about you? Are you still heading towards the destination you set out for?
Or is it time to take your hands off autopilot and double-check your route? If you’ve been running on instinct for a while, maybe now’s the right moment to get more intentional again. At REACH, we help business leaders step back, assess their direction, and build a plan that gets them where they really want to go.

Let’s help you do it properly, and get rewarded for it.