"That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." – Neil Armstrong Those words by astronaut Neil Armstrong were spoken on July 20th, 1969. I remember that Sunday evening like it was yesterday. What I didn’t know was, that one small step taken 238,900 miles away changed the world. Think of it, the most significant step a man had ever taken in the history of the world, wasn’t even taken on earth! How fitting for it to happen as the 1960’s was drawing to a close. That was a decade of revolutionary transformation, a time when people were seeking change, dreaming big, exploring untapped potential, and entertaining visions of a future with limitless opportunities. Going Where No Man Has Gone Before “Innovation is the calling card of the future.”- Anna Eshoo It was on May 25th, 1961 that President John F. Kennedy planted the seed by casting an almost unbelievable vision before a joint session of Congress. He suggested a goal of "landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth" by the end of the decade. Those thirteen words defined a decade of change, giving the world a massive paradigm shift. One small step up to the podium and casting a vision, unleashed an almost unparalleled explosion of human potential pushed to limits unheard of before. On July 20th,1969 for the first time in human history, the entire world watched one man take one small step. Those pictures that returned to earth changed how humanity saw the world – literally. A Great Vision Always Challenges Leadership “Together we can face any challenges as deep as the ocean and as high as the sky.” -Sonia Gandhi Making a big vision and lofty dreams a reality has its challenges. The moon mission was no exception. The biggest challenge they faced was overcoming self-limiting beliefs. Thinking outside the box had to become the norm, and navigating the labyrinth of possibilities and impossibilities required a special breed of leaders. They had to rethink everything they understood about space travel. Generating and sustaining sufficient power, fuel economy and storage, sustainable life support systems, landing and lifting off from the lunar surface. Almost everything they were about to do had never been done before, and the technology that was nonexistent, it had to be invented, etc… All this was accomplished one step at a time in 98 months! All Great Visions are Accomplished One Step at a Time “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step” - Lao Tzu Your first small step toward your vision changes everything. Christopher Columbus stepped onto a ship and changed the face of maps and navigational charts forever. Steve Jobs step onto the scene and changed how the world communicates. Bill Gates stepped into garage and changed how we all acquire information. Don’t despise the day of small beginnings, just keep putting one foot in front of the other – nothing is impossible. “The sky is NOT the limit. Beyond the universe is.” - Suzy Kassem
What is your vision and why must you accomplish it?
Can you articulate your vision clearly enough to inspire others?
Has your experience adequately prepared you for the journey?
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Who will need to be on your team?
How does your vision differ from others with the same dream?
What resources will be required to accomplish your vision?
What resources are available to you now?
“If you take responsibility for yourself you will develop a hunger to accomplish your dreams.” - Les Brown
*** This article was authored by John Picarello, Chief Leadership Officer at Lions Pride Leadership Co.***