In the world of geometry, a node is simple: it's the point where two line segments meet. Think of it like a corner or a joint — a place of connection.
Draw a triangle, and you’ll see three nodes where each side connects. Trace a zigzag line, and every place the line changes direction is a node. In polylines — those made from multiple connected line segments — every shift in direction, every intersection, every end or beginning is a node.
What if we looked at life the same way?
I’ve started thinking of nodes not just as mathematical points, but as defining moments in our personal journey — places where something connects or changes. Sometimes it’s an idea, a conversation, a book, a podcast, or even an accident. Sometimes it’s a moment of clarity. Other times, it’s crisis. But in each of these moments, a node is created.
And just like in geometry, that node changes the direction of the path.
When I interview entrepreneurs, I always ask: What has been a key moment in your journey? You’ll see that in every entrepreneur’s profile in our “Meet the Heroes” section. I think what I’m really asking is: What was a node for you? That point when things pivoted — when the rubber met the road. When it was crunch time. When it mattered most.
Because here’s the thing about nodes:
They don't let you stay the same. They ask for movement and force a choice.
You’re either going up or you’re going down. Growth or retreat. Courage or comfort. Creation or stagnation. And thank goodness for that; a life without nodes would be a life with no movement — a flatline.
So next time something disrupts your rhythm — a new thought, an unexpected event, or a meaningful conversation — pause for a moment. That’s a node.
And the best part?
You get to choose what kind of node it is.
An “up” node or a “down” node.
Either way, it’s proof that your story isn’t over. And you choose where this defining moment leads,