Some info for your memory bank Lawrence and future career life insurance.
IMHO...If you are flying a 767 in heading mode and atc clear you direct to a waypoint, after selecting and executing the fmc box, please do not forget to then select Lnav and observe the aircraft and hsi active route (unbroken magenta line) is doing and showing what your atc clearance wanted.
Then recheck all your active (green) modes on your adi.
A go direct is a mechanical pilot thought/action/check procedure, and of several stages to keep it safe.
You also live and die by your adi and that includes the active (green)/ inactive modes(white)!
So scan your adi modes and check it shows the greens (active) modes you want.
Good luck with the career and never forget... also maintain a scan out of the window as the fmc box is addictive to both pilots and sucks them into getting their heads down inside the cockpit.
As you can see,it also helps if you are not colour blind!