This weekend I have been in the beautiful state of Montana, and, since it’s February, there is snow.  And I mean SNOW.  

The world here is beautiful and snow covered and there are tall, tall piles of it on the side of the roads.  All the roads. 

And so, snow plows are a necessary part of life here. 

According to SnowStakes.com, “at the heart of every snow plow is its blade – the primary weapon against snow accumulation. Blades come in various shapes and sizes, from straight edges to V-shaped configurations. The choice of blade depends on the intended use and the type of snow expected in the region.

When a snow plow is in action, the blade is lowered to the ground and angled to push snow to the side of the road. This process requires precision and control, which modern snow plows achieve through hydraulic systems. These hydraulics allow operators to adjust the angle and height of the blade, ensuring efficient snow removal without damaging the pavement beneath.”

But you know what gets in the way of snow plows? Parked cars. If a car is parked on the road, the snow plow can’t make a clean line and, instead, has to plow around it. They block an otherwise efficient system of snow removal. 

Watching the plows work this weekend, I started thinking. 

What are our “parked cars”? What are the things getting in the way of us clearing our own paths? 

Here are 10 of the biggest ones.

1. Old Narratives & Labels – “I’ve always been this way” or “I’m just not good at that.” These fixed beliefs block growth and keep things stuck.
2. Fear of Discomfort – Avoiding hard conversations, tough decisions, or taking action because it feels uncomfortable.
3. Perfectionism – Getting caught up in making the “right” choice instead of making any choice, which slows forward motion.
4. Overcommitment – Taking on too much and then feeling paralyzed, unable to move in any one direction.
5. Seeking Constant Validation – Waiting for external approval before believing in ourselves or making a decision.
6. Carrying Past Failures Forward – Using past mistakes as reasons not to try again, rather than as learning experiences.
7. Trying to Control Everything – Wasting energy on things outside our control instead of focusing on what we can change.
8. Comparison – Measuring our progress against someone else’s journey instead of focusing on our own lane.
9. All-or-Nothing Thinking – Believing that if we can’t do it perfectly, it’s not worth doing at all.
10. Unexamined Expectations – Holding ourselves to a standard we never actually chose, but feel pressured to meet.

Look over that list. Is there one you’d like to move first? 

I can’t wait to hear about it. And if you help with it, I’ll be back from Montana – and I’ve got a good shovel.  

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