Stories Illustrating Why the Windshield is Larger than the Rear-View Mirror

 

Story 1: The Driver's New Journey

Jane had just lost her job at a company she’d worked at for a decade. Devastated, she spent weeks replaying her mistakes, fixating on what she could have done differently. One day, while driving through her small town, she kept glancing at her rear-view mirror, lost in thoughts of her past. She nearly missed a turn, swerving at the last moment. Her friend, sitting beside her, pointed to the windshield and said, “Jane”, the windshield is huge because that’s where you’re going. The rear-view mirror is tiny for a reason—check it, but don’t live there.” Inspired, Jane started focusing on new opportunities. She enrolled in a coding bootcamp, networked with local entrepreneurs, and soon landed a better job. By looking forward, she found a path that her past could never have shown her.

Lesson: The windshield is larger because your future holds more possibilities than your past. Glance back to learn but focus forward to grow.

Story 2: The Farmer’s Storm

Old man Jacob, a farmer, had lost half his crops to a brutal storm. For days, he sat on his porch, staring at the muddy fields, cursing the weather and his bad luck. His grandson, Eli, watched him stew in regret. One morning, Eli handed Jacob the keys to their old truck and said, “Let’s go to town for seeds.” As they drove, Jacob kept looking back through the rear-view mirror, muttering about the ruined fields. Eli gently turned his grandfather’s face toward the windshield. “Grandpa, the road ahead is where we plant again. The past is just a small mirror to remind us what we survived.” Jacob nodded, and they bought new seeds. That season, they planted a stronger crop, one that could withstand the next storm.

Lesson: The windshield is larger to keep your eyes on what you can build next, not on what’s already gone.

Story 3: The Runner’s Race

Lila was a talented runner who had come in second in a regional race, missing the championship by a fraction of a second. She obsessed over her misstep at the final turn, watching the race footage repeatedly. Her coach noticed her fixation and took her for a drive. As they cruised along, he asked, “Why do you think the windshield is so much bigger than the rear-view mirror?” Lila shrugged. Her coach explained, “Because where you’re headed matters more than where you’ve been. You can’t run a race looking backward.” Lila took it to heart. She trained harder, visualized the finish line, and focused on the next race. At the nationals, she won gold, her eyes fixed on the path ahead.

Lesson: The windshield is larger because success lies in focusing on your next step, not thinking about the ones you missed.

Story 4: The Artist’s Blank Canvas

Clara, a painter, had poured her heart into an exhibition, but the critics were harsh, calling her work uninspired. Crushed, she stopped painting, haunted by their words. One day, her brother took her for a drive to clear her mind. As she stared into the rear-view mirror, lost in her failure, she missed the vibrant sunset ahead. Her brother tapped the windshield and said, “Clara, this is your canvas—wide and full of possibilities. The rear-view mirror is just a tiny reminder of where you’ve been.” Moved, Clara returned to her studio, picked up her brush, and created a bold new series inspired by that sunset. Her next exhibition sold out, proving her future was brighter than her past.

Lesson: The windshield is larger because your next creation matters more than past critiques. Look forward to paint your future.

Story 5: The Entrepreneur’s Comeback

After his startup failed, Raj spent months replaying every wrong decision—bad hires, missed investments, and a product launch that flopped. Driving to meet a potential partner, he kept glancing at the rear-view mirror, lost in regret. His car veered slightly, and his friend in the passenger seat said, “Raj, the windshield’s big for a reason. It’s where your next idea lives.” Raj took the advice to heart, focusing on a new business plan during the meeting. He pitched a fresh idea, secured funding, and built a company that thrived. By looking ahead, he turned failure into a steppingstone.

Lesson: The windshield is larger because your future ventures outweigh past setbacks. Keep your eyes on what’s next.

Tom