Directions tell us how to get from point A to point B. But they don’t tell us how to discover new worlds.

Directions tell us how to make the perfect bookshelf, but they don’t tell us how to write the great American novel.

Directions tell us how to bake a cake, but they don’t tell us how to sing Happy Birthday to someone we love.

Directions rob us of our ability to be responsible for something; they rob us of our ability to fail and learn. When something goes wrong, it’s much easier to blame the directions.

But they serve a purpose. They get us started. They build trust. They reduce risk.

Directions are training wheels for the uninitiated.

If you want to make the best bookshelf possible, follow the directions. If you want to do something new, get lost, dweeb.