Dear Leader,
I trust this meets you in pursuit of greatness.
There is one story I remember that always helps me set ambitious goals for myself.
It’s about John F. Kennedy, one of my favorite US Presidents.
In 1961, President John F. Kennedy stood before the United States Congress and declared a goal that, at that time, seemed almost impossible. What was the goal?
“To land a man on the Moon and return him safely to the Earth before the decade is over”
JFK announced to Americans that their country is pursuing a 10 year Big Hairy Ambitious Goal of sending a man to the moon and returning him safely to the earth. This was something that had never been done.
No roadmap existed. The technology had not yet been built. The risks were enormous. And yet, rather than shrink from the magnitude of the challenge, a nation – America rose to meet it.
Eight years later, in July 1969, the world stood still as Neil Armstrong stepped onto the surface of the Moon and uttered those unforgettable words: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”
Behind that moment were thousands of individuals, engineers, scientists, visionaries, and everyday people, who aligned themselves with a mission larger than any one person. They faced failure, tragedy, and doubt. Yet through focus, discipline, and belief, they achieved what many had thought unattainable.
This story is about the miraculous process of converting a dream into reality that began when one voice challenged the entire scientific community to do whatever was necessary to see to it that America “places a man on the moon by the end of this decade.” That challenge awakened the spirit of a nation by planting the seed of possible future achievement into the fertile soil of imagination.
With that one bold challenge, the impossible became a reality.
Why am I telling you this story?
The same principle can apply to us, and can apply to every other area of our life.
Just like what JFK did, a person can change the outcome of their lives, the outcome of a community, the outcome of a nation in 10 years. We overestimate what we can do in one year and underestimate what we can do in ten years.
The unique combination of desire, planning, effort and perseverance will always work its magic. The question is not whether the formula for success will work, but rather whether you will work the formula. That is the unknown variable. That is the challenge that confronts us all.
As a leader, you may not be aiming for the Moon like JFK, but you may be aiming to build a company, transform a community, influence a generation, or shape the future of a nation. The principle remains the same:
Set a goal that stretches you. Commit to the process. Surround yourself with the right people. And take one bold step after another.
We can all go from wherever we are to wherever we want to be. No dream is impossible provided we first have the courage to believe in it.
Every great achievement in history began with someone daring to say, “It is possible.” And so I challenge you this week and as we wind up the month of July, whatever stage of leadership journey you are in, do not be afraid of the size of your dreams. Do not be intimidated by the distance between where you are and where you want to be. You are more capable than you know.
Let the Moon landing story of JFK remind you: with vision, discipline, and faith, no dream is beyond reach.
The world is waiting for your bold steps.
What is your 10 year goal?
I’m rooting for you,
The Great Owete