Finding Your North Star

When the future is unclear, and the present is constantly changing, we need a beacon to guide our way. Wayfinding is that North Star.

What is Wayfinding?

Wayfinding is a process for gaining clarity to get us from where we are to where we want to be. It is the basis for current GPS technology, demonstrating its relevant and effective application in today's world. 

Ancient Wayfinders were like our modern-day astronauts —their sea, our space, their canoes, our capsules.

More than ever, the world needs each of us to become Wayfinders.

How to use Wayfinding

Wayfinding is transformational. It involves heightened awareness, pattern recognition, synthesizing information, then finding the still point between the longitude of the mind/reason and the latitude of the heart/intuition.

Over decades, I've developed a method of applying Wayfinding principles to help leaders and organizations achieve clarity and navigate complexity.

I want to share these tools with you on a simple step-by-step basis in the upcoming WAYFINDERS Newsletter.

My mentor, Pius "Mau" Piailug, was a renowned Grandmaster Navigator and one of our greatest Wayfinders. He would often remind me, "Don't be afraid of the storms...lean into them. They will make you strong." There is a resilience that grows in each of us as a result of facing challenges with courage. Wayfinding helps define that path.

My Wayfinding Heritage

I am a descendant of Polynesian seafarers.

For a decade, I experienced the life-changing principles of Wayfinding while studying with my mentor Mau and receiving my Ph.D. in Anthropology.

Today, as a National Geographic Explorer, I practice my commitment to protecting indigenous wisdom. This focuses on wayfinding traditions worldwide and is exemplified by Chi Kung Grandmasters, Queros elders, and Indian sages.

Modern-day Wayfinders

Emily Chang is the personification of a modern-day Wayfinder. In the premiere episode of our series THE WAYFINDERS, she shares her voyage from being raised in the U.S. by Chinese immigrants to becoming a humanitarian and a global visionary leader as the CEO of McCann Worldgroup China. 

“There are times when I didn't know what to do. And I would just look around and try and figure out who seemed the most adept at what I was not good at and just reach out and say Hey, can I buy you a coffee? Can you teach me? I think people are more willing to help than we expect. I think people want to see us as successful. The only thing that can get in our way is ego or pride or wanting to look smarter or more accomplished. But if we're willing to just say I don't know I think people are very willing to come alongside and help and once I started benefiting from some amazing people who came alongside and lifted me up. Then I started realizing sometimes they'll come alongside and see your potential and lift you up when you haven't asked what you need. And then you start realizing I need to intentionally foster mentorship or advocacy so that there are people who can help me whether I know I need the help right now or not.” ~ Emily Chang

Becoming a Wayfinder is transformational. Join me on this life-changing adventure!