Your First Akron Flux Vantage Point

Your First Akron Flux Vantage Point

Akron Flux

Sep 9, 2025

Imagine you’re at a crossroads. The path ahead is crowded - everyone is heading in the same direction, following the same rules, chasing the same goals. But something feels off. You pause, look around, and notice a faint, less-travelled trail veering into the unknown. That moment of pause? That’s your first Akron Flux Vantage Point.

It is a moment of clarity where you realise you have a choice: to follow the herd or to forge your own path. This post will help readers recognise these moments in their own lives. These choices can be applied universally, and present themselves both in personal and professional life. They can be applied in various contexts, for example, your own career choices, business undertaking, personal projects and more.

Akron Flux Vantage Point is a moment of awareness where you recognise that the status quo isn’t the only option. It’s where you stop, assess, and consciously choose a direction that aligns with your values, goals, and the greater good - even if it’s unconventional. It’s not about rebellion for its own sake, but it is about intentionality and agency.

Recognise Your First Akron Flux Vantage Point

Like standing at the base of a mountain, you can see multiple routes to the top. Some are crowded, some are steep, and some are barely visible - but they’re all choices.

Sometimes you will spot the signs that you are at Akron Flux Vantage Point. One way to tell is to follow with a series of questions you can ask yourself, but sometimes it will be your instinct and some vague thoughts that something might be off.

The Discomfort Signal

You feel a growing sense of dissonance between what you’re doing and what you believe in. For example, you’re in a high-paying job that conflicts with your environmental values. You notice yourself justifying your actions more than usual, like in this example: “I know this industry is harmful, but it’s just how things are.”

The “What If?” Moment

You catch yourself asking:

“What if I tried a different approach?”
“What if I walked away from this?”
“What if there’s a better way?”

These questions are flashes of clarity - hold on to them and look for answers; it could be your subconscious signalling that an Akron Flux Vantage Point is near.

The Herd Mentality Check

You realise you’re doing something just because everyone else is. One example could be about pursuing a traditional career path because it’s “what’s expected,” not what you truly want. This is when you can ask yourself: “Would I still choose this if no one else were watching?”

The Values Misalignment

Your actions no longer align with your core values, e.g., integrity, sustainability, creativity. Sometimes you might find out that you’re working for a company whose ethics clash with your own, but you stay for the money and benefits. And yet, the nagging questions keep coming back, and you feel out of place.

The Fear of Rocking the Boat

You hesitate to speak up or make a change because you’re afraid of pushback, failure, or isolation. You may have tried suggesting new ideas (but it was shot down soon after), or you know how to improve your team’s workflow, but you stay silent because “that’s not how we do things here.”

The External Wake-Up Call

Sometimes things outside (external factors, incidents, accidents, a crisis, failure, or external events) force you to re-evaluate everything. One example could be a layoff, a health scare, or a global event (like a pandemic) - these events often make you question your priorities (but also, the priorities of others).

Where to Look for Akron Flux Vantage Points

Our lives are full of opportunities, and moments often appear out of the blue. One environment - a real-world context, where you will recognise this - is your workplace. It is when you’re following a career path that doesn’t excite or fulfil you. You could be in a toxic work environment but stay there out of fear or inertia. You’re passed over for a promotion that would require compromising your ethics. This is tough, but it is worth pausing and asking the following questions:

“Does this job align with who I am and who I aspire to be?”
“What would I do if I weren’t afraid of failing?”

Another environment could be your personal life. You could be stuck in a routine that no longer serves you. You’re ignoring a passion or curiosity because it’s “impractical”. Again, ask yourself:

“What would my ideal day look like, and how far am I from it?”
“What’s one minor change I can make today to move closer to that vision?”

Since we’re living in a society and are part of various systems, we should dig deeper. You’re perhaps taking part (knowingly or not) in systems, e.g., consumerism, corporate culture, that harm others or the planet. You’re complacent about injustice because “it’s not my problem”. Here are some questions to ask:

“How am I contributing to the problem, and how can I be part of the solution?”
“What’s one action I can take to challenge the status quo?”

The first, often a very tough step, is realising and asking these questions - a very clear marker that you have arrived at an important point (we call this the Akron Flux Vantage Point, remember?). You’re looking for some answers. Every time you ask these questions, you have a choice: act or not - either of which is a choice. Since you’re already asking questions, it is a conscious choice, and you might need to decide: act or not.

How to Act at Akron Flux Vantage Point

First, you realise you have a choice to make.

Step 1: Pause and Reflect

Stop moving on autopilot. Carve out time for self-reflection.

Step 2: Clarify Your Goals and Values

List your top 3-5 values, e.g., freedom, sustainability, creativity. Ask yourself: “Does my current path honour these values?”

Step 3: Explore the “What Ifs”

Brainstorm alternative paths. No idea is too wild. For example, if you’re unhappy in your corporate job, explore freelancing, starting a business, or switching industries. Research and talk to people who’ve taken unconventional routes.

Step 4: Test the Waters

You don’t have to quit your job or upend your life overnight. Start small. Take a course in a new field. Volunteer for a cause you care about. Have a conversation with someone who’s done what you’re considering.

Step 5: Embrace the Uncertainty

Accepting not knowing the outcome is part of the process. Remind yourself that the well-trodden path isn’t guaranteed to be safe or fulfilling - it’s just familiar. Equipped with this mindset, it will be easier to make necessary decisions as you go along and see fit. While the outcomes and goals are never guaranteed, your mindset and fearless and relentless commitment to acting when necessary will help you converge to the objectives you want to achieve.

Step 6: Make the Leap

Once you have decided to take the first step, commit to one action, no matter how small. For example, update your resume, have a tough conversation, or sign up for a workshop. Once you have done this, while observing the results of your decision, remember to celebrate the act of choosing - that’s the Akron Flux Vantage Point in action.

Overcoming Common Barriers

Deciding can be daunting. We may fear that failures will have irreversible consequences, but with small steps, actions, and observation, we can turn this around and learn from feedback. Instead of fearing failure, we assume things can (and sometimes will) go wrong. This is an opportunity to learn from observation. Every misstep can be a valuable lesson.

What can be helpful here is a simple reframing exercise. Instead of framing a choice as “What if I fail?” into “What if I don’t do it and regret it later?” or even, “What new opportunities can present themselves, even if things don’t go according to the plan?” will do two things: it will make you take the first step and act, and subsequently will help you watch and assess the results and adjust what’s necessary to stay on track.

Another reason some of us are reluctant to choose and decide can come from fear of judgment. It is natural that people will question your choices, but you can prepare a simple response and act with conviction: “This is what’s right for me.”

Anecdotal evidence suggests that criticism can come from those who wish they had your courage, knowledge (or other resources) to act with conviction.

Changes will sometimes involve letting go of security, status, or relationships. It’s worth pondering on questions, such as “What will I gain that’s more valuable than what I’m leaving behind?” - and remember that by being open to being proactive, more often that not, you will correct the course of actions if things take an unexpected (or undesirable) turn. You don’t need all the answers to start. Clarity comes from action, not overthinking. Taking the first step and acting provides experience. This invaluable feedback will help you keep going.