We Choose To Go To The Moon: Moonshots Thinking
Why Do We Climb The Highest Mountain
In his speech, Kennedy characterized space as a new frontier, invoking the pioneer spirit that dominated American folklore.
He infused the speech with a sense of urgency and destiny and emphasized the freedom enjoyed by Americans to choose their destiny rather than have it chosen for them.
“We set sail on this new sea because there is new knowledge to be gained, and new rights to be won, and they must be won and used for the progress of all people. For space science, like nuclear science and all technology, has no conscience of its own. Whether it will become a force for good or ill depends on man”.John F. Kennedy
Kennedy addresses that space exploration is hard and costly. The hazards of space “are hostile to us all.” It will be an ultimate test of American skill, expertise, and talent.
In face of all this, perhaps the challenge is too insurmountable, too dangerous to pursue. Yet, Kennedy rhetorically asks the audience, “why do we climb the highest mountain? Why fly the Atlantic?” Injecting some humour into the speech, which resonated with his audience said, “why does Rice play Texas?”.
It is not because it is easy, it is not because it is quickly achievable, but rather because it is challenging. “We go to the moon in this decade,” says Kennedy “not because it is easy, but because it is hard… because the goal organizes and measures the best of American energy and skill.”
Moonshot Thinking
a type of thinking that aims to achieve something that is generally believed to be impossibleMoonshot thinking motivates people and teams to think big by framing problems as solvable and encouraging “anything is possible” dialogues around how to solve the challenge.
During President John F. Kennedy’s first visit to NASA’s headquarters back in 1961, as the story goes, President John F. Kennedy noticed a janitor carrying a broom.
He interrupted his tour, walked over to the man, and asked: “What are you doing?” “Well, Mr President,” the janitor responded, “I’m helping to put a man on the moon.”
Seeing a bigger purpose for one’s work other than just the tasks at hand can make us feel more engaged and satisfied in our work and serve both our personal and organizational goals. Indeed, research has linked experiencing work as “meaningful” to individual outcomes, such as work engagement, job satisfaction and motivation, and to organizational outcomes, such as performance.
Meaningful work and a purpose are believed to be integral to well-being and a flourishing life. Flourishing refers to the experience of a sense of ‘happiness’.
It is no surprise that meaningful work is receiving increasing attention from researchers, writers, as well as practitioners.
The Traveler’s Journey
In times of uncertainty, it's helpful to take a step back and reflect on what is important in our lives and how we show up for ourselves and others. The individual leadership we each demonstrate during times of uncertainty.
We believe in the traveller's journey to finding your purpose, passion and motivation. Use habit building to develop your moonshot mindset to flourish and be the best version of yourself.
Not because it is easy, because it will be 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.
Our Top Ten Moonshot Thinkers
We Choose To Go To The Moon
The idea of a ‘Moonshot’ was based on the JFK speech in 1962 that launched an ambitious space program. Today it has become so much more.
A moonshot today is a bold and ambitious plan: almost an impossible mission. Going hand in hand is the idea of Moonshot thinking. This type of thinking aims to make a product or service that is at least ten times better than anything offered today. Moonshot thinking often requires exponential technology that is used in a radical and innovative way.
In 1962, when John F. Kennedy spoke at Rice University on the nation’s space effort, he famously said, “We choose to go to the moon, not because it is easy, but because it is hard… because the goal organizes and measures the best of American energy and skill.”
“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.”
John F. Kennedy