Strategy 2: Picking Up the Pieces

“The musher’s motto has always been: Drive the dogs you have, not the dogs someone else has.”
— John Balzar, Yukon Alone: The World's Toughest Adventure Race

When life feels chaotic or uncertain, it’s tempting to look at others and wish you had what they do — more resources, better timing, a clearer path. But real progress begins when you stop comparing and start focusing on what’s right in front of you. Work with what you have. That’s the heart of the musher’s mindset.

Who Are Mushers?

Mushers are adventurers who lead dog sled teams across icy, unforgiving terrain — often through long-distance, high-stakes races. Their success doesn’t just come from grit and endurance. It comes from the trust, discipline, and deep relationship they build with their team. Mushers don’t get to swap dogs mid-race. They drive the team they’ve trained, bonded with, and come to know inside and out.

“Drive the Dogs You Have”

This simple but powerful idea reminds us to focus on our own unique tools, talents, and circumstances. It’s a call to stay grounded in the present and strengthen what we already possess — instead of wasting energy wishing for something different. Just like mushers rely on their own dogs, we’re best served by working with what we’ve got, even if it isn’t perfect.

“Not the Dogs Someone Else Has”

Comparison is a thief of progress. It distracts us from our own trail and drains our momentum. Someone else’s dogs — or their life, business, relationships, opportunities — aren’t yours to drive. You’ve got your own team. Your own mission. Your own path. And there’s power in fully owning that.