I heard a journalist once refer to the new Google business to tackle health issues and rid the world of cancer as, “Google’s new moon shot.” I thought, Wow what a great phrase.
Embedded in the psyche of the world, not just in America’s, is the moment that a human being landed on the moon. We made it a priority to figure out how to do that. It wasn’t by accident or happenstance. We had a vision that we were pursuing. We had no idea as a group of scientists, as a group of engineers, we had no idea how to achieve a moon landing but that was the vision.
I often tell leaders that they should not leave home without a moon shot. In terms of business, the moon shot might be more market share, a new product or an innovation that would cut production time. It could be anything that has the gravitas of a game changer for your business.
A moon shot is a qualitatively inspiring vision that gets the leader and everyone else out of bed in the morning.
There are things that keep you awake at night and things that get you out of bed in the morning. What keeps you awake at night are the problems and the barriers.
What gets you out of bed in the morning is the pursuit of a game changer.
There is no better fuel for a truly engaged Lead Positive culture than a moon shot. Every leader worth his or her salt knows that you’re not getting anywhere by yourself, so everybody on board needs to help that moon shot happen. Get everyone involved and motivated in figuring out how to get there, in knowing what that moon shot destination looks like and feels like, in painting the very detailed, sensory detailed picture of the future come true.
So what’s your moon shot? What is your game-changing vision for the future? Share it with your team and watch their excitement grow as they work together to figure out how to get there.
P.S. Here’s more from Google’s Larry Page on why moon shots matter.
Kathryn D. Cramer, PH.D.
Founder and Managing Partner, The Cramer Institute
