Mission: Shoot For The Moon
“We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win”
John F. Kennedy - September 12th 1962
Next time you have a dream or an idea, but hesitate; when you think it just might be “too hard”. If you have a goal, especially one that seems a little too far out there, remember there were men on the moon 44 years ago . Before the net, before cell phones, cable TV and the infomercial, there were men on the moon. They wore short sleeve shirts with ties, used punch cards to program a computer and slide rulers and pencils for complex calculations. All this while smoking in the office. It was done in less than 8 years with literally the whole world watching.
They had barely even had a human safely orbit the earth a year earlier, and yet there it was, a very public goal of putting a man on the moon. Viable is hardly the word one would use in such a situation. Ludicrous would be more fitting. In our just in time, 24 hour news cycle world, where an attention span is measured in nano-seconds, setting major life goals has become a lost art. Lose 10 pounds, run a 10k, leave the office before 6, spend more time with the family, get the reports in on time – child’s play. We are talking about full on, life altering, making a change goal setting and achievement – shooting for the moon.
How was it done – planning, vision, and above all else breaking the main goal into small, achievable, manageable, realistic parts. A step by step process was designed and adhered to in which progress was measured, positive momentum built, lessons learned, confidence gained. It was an overarching commitment to the mission.
The goal was clearly defined, it was stated publicly, and everyone was held accountable.
Achievement was paramount.
Be it fitness, life, relationships, or in business, any goal one sets can be attained. Yes, it takes unwavering commitment, absolute focus, relentless drive and determination, a ton of sweat equity, but above all it takes a plan. An achievable, step by step plan of benchmarks, of realistic goals that one can build upon on the march to the ultimate objective.
It takes courage; courage to dream it, to say it, to pursue. The courage to commit, to stumble, to fail and to learn; to adjust, to grind, and above all to persevere. Big goals can and will be achieved – it takes a plan and commitment. The question is do you have the vision and courage to go for it; will you shoot for the moon?
"Lean into it!"
Steve Jones
