“All of us get lost in the darkness, dreamers learn to steer by the stars.”
– Rush, “The Pass,” Presto (1989)
There’s a reason why sailors used the stars as their guide. Because of the immense distances between stars, they have no apparent “parallax” for earth-bound observers. Parallax is the measure of perspective change, and is best demonstrated by looking at the same object twice with a different eye closed.
For an object far enough away, the differences in the left eye and the right eye cancel. In fact, for the purposes of interstellar distances, you could have one “eye” on one side of the Earth and the other “eye” across the planet, and not get an appreciable difference. There are plans to put two telescopes into Earth’s solar orbit, on opposite sides. (Putting the two lenses 186 million miles apart would provide some true binocular perspective to some of the universe. But this isn’t an astrophysics discussion…)
Instead, I want you to think like a sailor. Steer by the things that are the most fixed and least changing. Steering by the stars kept the navigators from going off-course, where supplies of food or fresh water might not be at hand. Steering by the stars used to be a matter of survival.
I’ve had a habit over the last 12 years that I am proud of. Every year, I re-examine my 5, 10, and 15-year plans. Yes, they are different. I look at where I want to be in my life 15 years down the road, and that helps me set 5 and 10-year milestones that guide me in my decisions. Many times, I’ve altered those plans – I didn’t have a path to take me to my current job. It was an opportunity that fell well within the boundaries of my 15-year plan.
By steering by the stars, I found a different path – one that is more fulfilling then the one I originally charted. And by focusing only on the really important core values in the 15-year plan, I don’t get caught seeking the superficial.
Where do you want to be in 15 years? In five? Wouldn’t you like to know?
[tags]Ike Pigott, Occam’s RazR, planning, productivity, optics, Rush[/tags]
How did you start forming the habit to do this? Do you just carve out the time, say 3 a.m.? 😉
Seriously, it’s too easy to get caught up in the daily challenges of job survival…what are your other thoughts on staying grounded and finding the time to steer by the stars? For example, I love leaving the office behind when I go pick up my daughter.
You only have to do it once a year. The week before your birthday is always a good time, because it lets you get the heavy thinking out of the way so you can “enjoy” turning one year older.
“Steering by the stars” is easy. Always keep the goal in view. We don’t drive our cars looking down at the white lines – you’ll wreck for sure that way.
“Leaving the office behind” is a great expression of Steering by Stars. If you don’t leave “work” at Work, you won’t be focusing on the time with your little girl. If she is a priority to you (and I assume she is), then you want to live in that moment and make her understand just how important she is to you. I would guess part of your 15-year-plan is being the mother of a well-adjusted high school senior.
Thanks for adding to the conversation!
Who else is Steering by the Stars?