What Lies Beyond “Where the Sidewalk Ends”?

July 25, 2024

by Mike Maher, CPP Director of Professional Services

I grew up in the city (Chicago, not NYC), and have many fond memories of my childhood. I was an ambitious kid; some would say a dreamer. I was constantly thinking about what I wanted to be when I grew up. What I would really enjoy, do well, and be an expert in. Something that could set me apart. The list was long: I dreamt of being a professional golfer, driving a race car, flying a fighter plane, playing in a rock band, being an astronaut… I could go on.

But where to begin? I didn’t know what I didn’t know, which — while important — was even less important than this: I didn’t know what questions to ask, where to start, or what path I might take.

How do I become a professional golfer, a race car driver, an astronaut, or a world-famous musician? Who do I even ask How do I know if someone is providing me with the right information? Are their answers rooted in experience or just conjecture and opinion?

I ended up finding my true calling in technology, something I’m happy to say I really enjoy, am considered an expert in, and something that has set me apart in my career. But those same questions still follow whenever I am pondering what may be possible.

We all know that feeling. The excitement of the seed of a great idea that starts to germinate in your head that could change the trajectory of your business, followed by a clear vision of what you think might be possible. Then, what quickly comes into focus is the stark and potentially frightening realization that you don’t even know where to begin.

And that’s the challenge with technology today. Can I solve this business problem with AI? Is the right approach an on-premises or hybrid cloud solution? What is the total cost of ownership of the solution I’m considering? What is the benefit if I do it this way, or that? What if I make a wrong choice – how do I fix that?

What. If.

These are important, serious questions. They can inspire hope, induce fear, and even lead to analysis paralysis. There’s a book of poems – one of my favorites – “Where The Sidewalk Ends,” by Shel Silverstein. The title poem of the book starts off with this:

There is a place where the sidewalk ends
And before the street begins,
And there the grass grows soft and white,
And there the sun burns crimson bright,
And there the moon-bird rests from his flight
To cool in the peppermint wind.

As a child this meant many different things to me, and even today, it evokes memories of lazy summer days, full of comfort, joy, and hope. I tended to gloss over the darker, scarier parts of the poem, pushing away anything that might appear dangerous.

Today, the innocence of my youth is replaced with the knowledge and power of accepting the wisdom of others so that I could navigate the unsafe, unknown, or even what I perceived to be something threatening, or even dangerous.

Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black
And the dark street winds and bends.
Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow
We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And watch where the chalk-white arrows go
To the place where the sidewalk ends.

Applying this Philosophy to Today’s Business Challenges

 

I frequently think of this when we start to solve complex challenges for our customers. For example:

  • What is the problem we’re trying to solve?
  • How is our lack of understanding clouding our view?
  • How do we navigate this space, and all that comes with it?
  • What are the risks, and how do we overcome them?
  • Do we have all the information to make a good, informed recommendation?

Isn’t that really what we’re after? Clearly identifying these problems? Taking away the mystery and yes, sometimes the fear, from what comes next? Removing as much risk as possible and executing as cleanly as we can?

Yes, we’ll walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And we’ll go where the chalk-white arrows go,
For the children, they mark, and the children, they know
The place where the sidewalk ends.

The subtle shift of perspective in the poem strikes me even more as an adult. Where we start is almost always a much different place than where we end up. As an IT consultant, I approach my client interactions with the following framework: “Where do our collective journeys and experiences intersect so we can offer you the most value, insight, and wisdom, and the best chance at success?”

We start by asking questions. If you don’t know them, that’s okay. We do.

Every day, our customers come to us with problems they need or want to solve, or even exciting new ideas they dream of executing. We help our customers anticipate what potential challenges lie ahead, as well as opportunities they may have not even thought of. We ask questions, but more importantly, we listen to the answers. We refine our approach and work collaboratively with our customers to come together and execute on the solution and strategy.

TOGETHER.

In his poems, Silverstein uses the sidewalk as a metaphor for what is known; what comes next is paved with dreams, creativity, imagination and of course, trust and hard work. We know where the sidewalk ends, and where the street begins. And we want to go on that journey with you. Call us to start the discussion.