When I Give a Talk to An Empty Room, It's Frustrating, and Even Embarrassing. But Here's What It Means If Your Career Isn't 'There Yet.' The real problem isn't the empty rooms.

You're trying to get somewhere. But you're not there yet.

That is frustrating. And worse, it's embarrassing. You've worked hard. You've traveled far. And you think: I should be there by now — so why am I not?

I feel this too, and I've concluded that it isn't just about anxiety or impatience. It's about something more fundamental: This is what happens when we are on a path, and what's ahead is unseeable.