There’s an electric fence around everything we do. Socially, culturally, physically, there are always unspoken rules of engagement for conducting ourselves. Knowing your own boundaries is a necessity. But do you know the boundaries of your field? Are you aware of the boundaries for your industry, your teammates, and your self-expression on the landscape on which you intend to build?

New leaders may think that being their own boss means doing whatever they want. This isn’t the case. Whether they’re leading a team of 50, 500, or a company of one, leadership requires a clear understanding and acceptance of the limitations.

There’s an episode of Jack Reacher where Reacher congratulates his friend’s wife on her ability to “accept reality on reality’s terms”. She’d just received some frustrating and disturbing news, and she immediately began preparing herself and her children to leave the house.

She didn’t whine, complain, or negotiate obvious details. There was simply a deep breath for her to digest the information, and another one to get going.

Are you willing to accept reality on reality’s terms? Yes, dream. Yes, have your vision, but integrate existing limitations into your planning too. Finding acceptance of what can and can’t be done is at the heart of clear thinking. Once you know where you can’t go, all kinds of possibilities can emerge.