Fly Me To The Moon, … , And Let Me Dream ……

Have you ever been part of something really remarkable? I mean, something that changes you inside and out,  and makes such a difference that it becomes a big part of the tapestry of your life? Have you experienced it more than once, twice, more?  I can say that when you do, it is so exciting that it becomes humbling. I can think of at least three big ones for me, and I will share them over time. But we’ll get to one awesome example in a bit.

Some attributes that they all shared remind me of the verses from “The Impossible Dream”, a song from a musical based on Don Quixote de la Mancha, a character that remains uncomplimentary to some. Be that the case, to many is lost the sentiment that courage, honor, labor, and constancy of purpose are values that are always challenged and always require personal choice to execute. These remarkable events remind me of the song because all of these remarkable experiences were hard, full of obstacles, replete with naysayers, and required the best and the brightest to commit, work hard, think, fail, get back up, innovate, and carry each other sometimes.

These were all challenges. These were all launched because someone had vision and that vision was special. What was very special about that vision is that it generated very strong internal emotion and inspiration for a large number of people, sufficient to launch and sustainable to fuel through to success. There are countless reasons why big, remarkable successes happen. There are countless heroes in all endeavors that we remember and many heroes that executed and accomplished without recognition or attracting attention. You can add to the list many other reasons for these remarkable achievements, and they may all be true. There are certainly enough books available replete with elaborate points of view on the topic.

·       None happened without a first step in a chosen direction

·       None happened without a purpose that led to a vision

·       None happened without a leader who understood that purpose and had the conviction and courage to pursue it.

I remember the day I heard the following from President John F. Kennedy and then I lived to witness that vision’s realization.

There is no strife, no prejudice, no national conflict in outer space as yet. Its hazards are hostile to us all. Its conquest deserves the best of all mankind, and its opportunity for peaceful cooperation many never come again. But why, some say, the moon? Why choose this as our goal? And they may well ask why climb the highest mountain? Why, 35 years ago, fly the Atlantic? Why does Rice play Texas? We choose to go to 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, and the others, too. It is for these reasons that I regard the decision last year to shift our efforts in space from low to high gear as among the most important decisions that will be made during my incumbency in the office of the Presidency.

Today, we have an environment that truly creates opportunity for purpose to guide our decisions. Today, those who are privileged to lead must develop a vision that overwhelms and calls to arms those around us. Those fortunate to hear a leader and see his vision, have a chance to sign up for something special, without certainty of success, with certainty of risk, with certainty of sacrifice, with certainty of hard labor, and with a chance to weave a memorable panel into the tapestries of their lives.

Ships in harbor are safe, but that’s not what ships are built for- John Shedd. There is always opportunity in a storm, and our visions can become the beacon our teams will sail to.

So, pick a song we can listen to, “The Impossible Dream” or “Fly Me To The Moon.”