To answer this question we first have to understand what we mean by linear.
Linear = in a straight line or straightforward.
If you check the dictionary for straightforward, you find synonyms such as: straight ahead, direct, but also uncomplicated or easy to accomplish.
In the context of geometry, a straight line is the path of shortest distance between two points -let's call them point A and point B, or in more human terms, where you are and where you want to be.
In a nutshell, what people expect is that you set a goal, a vision or a project; you come up with a plan and a strategy; you follow the steps or the process, and then: tadaaaa -you achieve it. And whenever reality deviates from their expectations, they wonder what the hell went wrong, or in more polite terms: "why progress is not linear".
One of the reasons is because our plans to execute and walk the talk, are not based on reality itself, but on our representations of it -and that's a very big difference because the map is not the territory.
Often times the difference between what we think reality is and what reality actually is, accounts for much of the expectations vs. reality gap problem.
In fact when it comes to your goals the territory is nothing like the map, actually you could say you don't even have a map.
So, in this context, progress is not linear because you never know what you will get, obstacles are going to arise, problems will pop up -the unexpected is the only reasonable thing to expect.
And so, progress is not linear because reality is a never ending surprise.
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Alin.