Author: Jason Cox

“The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.” – Daniel J. Boorstin

Avianca Flight 011 took off from Paris on its way to Spain’s Madrid-Barajas International Airport.  It was a routine flight.  Upon reaching the Madrid airspace, the pilot asked and received landing clearance.  The pilot then unwittingly made a wrong turn on his approach vector.  As the aircraft dropped to 2248 feet, the ground-proximity warning systems started sounding.  “Terrain! Pull up!” filled the flight deck.  The pilot was sure they were on the right path and the altitude was appropriate for the descent to runway 33, so he ignored the warning system.  After all, the airport approach controller would surely inform them if they were on the wrong path.  Moments later, the outer starboard engine impacted the top of a hill at 163 mph causing the right wing to dig deep into the ground, pitching the plane into a “cartwheel”.  The entire airframe spun violently and disintegrated.  All 19 crew members and 162 of the 173 passengers perished. In addition to the negligence of the pilot to heed the warning systems, investigators showed that the airport failed to inform the crew that their radar service had been terminated and they were unable to monitor their craft.

This is a tragic story of the illusion of knowledge.  So strong was their illusion of what they thought was true that the flight crew dismissed the ground-proximity warning system that could have saved their lives.  We often see things like this and blame the pilot for irresponsibly ignoring the clear warning signal.  But how often are we guilty of the same thing?  There is a tendency for us all to elevate our own mental models to the point of silencing anything that contradicts.  Challenging our perceptions or established views is difficult and painful.  We like to form simple models for the world, our work and our systems to make our lives easier. With a model, you don’t need to think, you just act.  Like muscle memory, we fall into the lowest cognitive energy state.  That can be extremely helpful in allowing us to process vast amount of information every single day, but unfortunately, those models can be wrong.  And sometimes, those differences make all the difference in the world.

Last year, when we were able to travel, my family and I spent several days in London.  We traveled around the city using the Underground railway.  As you bounce between Waterloo, Jubilee and Bakerloo among the various cavernous stations, you often hear the public announcement system remind you to be observant and diligent about reporting anything unusual, “See it.  Say it.  Sorted.”   It is to raise awareness of the vital role we all play in keeping ourselves and others safe.  That isn’t just appropriate for riders of the London Tube, it applies to all of us, including our jobs.  

Seek the truth and strive to see problems clearly.  As engineers and scientists, we should always be in pursuit of evidence and truth.  When data presents itself, like an early warning system, don’t dismiss it, report it.  Investigate it.  Adapt to it. Be a warning signal to others.  Make it safe for others to approach you with truth.  Do you feel safe calling out problems or issues to your leaders and others?  Are you hesitant to report or responds to indicators that something may be wrong?  Don’t!  Truth is gold. Leaders need that insight.  Seeing clearly and embracing data, even if it is inconvenient or breaks our illusion, will help us all become better.  I challenge you this week, look for truth, honor the truth and speak the truth.

_{Note: Photo from Creative Commons (link).}

“One person can make a difference, and everyone should try.”

A man was walking along a deserted beach at sunset and saw a young girl in the distance.  The girl kept bending down, picking something up and throwing it into the water. Over and over she kept casting things into the ocean. As he approached, he was able to see that she was picking up starfish that had washed up on the beach.  One at a time, she threw them back into the water. The man asked what she was doing.  She replied, I’m throwing these starfish back into the ocean, or they will die.” The man laughed, “There are thousands on this beach, and many other beaches like this.  You can’t possibly make a difference.  You can’t possibly save them all.”  She smiled, bent down and picked up another starfish and replied as she threw it back into the surf, “I made a difference to that one.”

We have a big family.  I have four kids, a relatively higher than average size family.  But that is nothing compared to the 7.5 billion people in our human family across the world.  With such a huge number of kin, is it any surprise that we sometimes feel insignificant?  How can we possibly make a difference in such a huge ocean of humanity?  With coronavirus, we may feel even more distant and helpless.  Is there anything that we can do that can possibly matter? 

It turns out that we can indeed make a difference.  We don’t need to shift continents or singularly help millions of people.  By helping just one other person, we make a difference.  It can be as simple as a kind word.  Help someone carry their burden, show some compassion, bring some light.  One on one, a donation of time, care, resources or attention can change a person’s life.  If we all make that effort, it becomes even greater.  Collectively we are a formidable force of 7.5 billion points of light that can illuminate and change the world. 

Look for an opportunity to help someone this week.  Be encouraged.  You can make a difference, one person at a time.

“Always remember, your focus determines your reality.” – George Lucas

It is like static, a quiet noise, a low hum or a faint crackling sound.  That’s how some of us may describe 2020. It feels like someone pushed pause and we are all in time out.  We are caught in the current of the void, the stream of random indistinguishable flutters and rings.  

Back in the 1990’s, my dad decided to get a satellite TV dish.  Forever a can-do and frugal engineer, he signed up for the “self-installation” package.  Naturally, that translated to us being on the roof with a bag of bolts, parts and indecipherable instruction manuals. The kit included a simple compass and directions to mount and orient the dish toward the geosynchronous satellite.  A cable ran from the dish into the house to a receiver hooked to the television.  The setup screen displayed the signal strength with an audio signal that went from a low static hum to a solid high-pitched tone when the dish was correctly oriented.  Getting the dish oriented correctly before cell phones was an hour long comedy skit with my dad monitoring the TV yelling out the status to my sister in the yard who was yelling up to me on the roof.  I made slight adjustments left and right then up and down until we finally had a clear solid tone, indicating success.  We had the dish locked on to the satellite.

Getting a good signal during this pandemic has been difficult.  About the time we adjust to the new rhythm, the timing changes.  Some news we didn’t want to hear arrives.  Projects change to match new business conditions. Pandemic tidal forces ebb and flow.  All the while, we keep working and living life remotely with facemasks and limited interactions to keep everyone safe.  A low hum, a static, a faint noise.

Tune in. I don’t know about you, but I’m looking for a clear signal.  It’s time to focus and lock in.  This past week and this weekend reminded me of how important it is to have solid structure, rhythm, traditions and habits. I’m convinced that those are important geosynchronous targets that we can launch to help orient our days, even during this pandemic.  It could be something as simple as events on the calendar, a checklist of to-dos religiously made and cleared, or a purposeful goal with clear directionality.  

This week, I challenge you to a tune-up.  Examine the structures of your week and life.  Do you need to add some framing?  Give yourself the edifice of a clear target.  Focus on clear steps and proceed forward purposefully.  Yes, these are challenging times, but our focus can shape our reality.  It can help us manage and thrive during difficult times.  Focus, lock in and win! 

Photo: Antenna of NASA’s Near Earth Network at the Alaska Satellite Facility

“You will do something outside yourself, something to repair tears in your community, something to make life a little better for people less fortunate than you. That’s what I think a meaningful life is. One lives not just for oneself, but for one’s community.” – Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Fall begins tomorrow. There are just 66 days until Thanksgiving and 95 days until Christmas!  Can you believe it?  As I thought about it, I felt a sense of joy.  I love the holidays!  I’m looking forward to the festive fall decorations, family gatherings, seasonal food, menorah lighting and Christmas lights.  It is a time when the world turns from its selfish bent to a time of giving and giving thanks.  It is a time of joy and a time of hope.  It is a hope that we as a people can be better, be just and kind, truthful and compassionate, strong and loving, cheerful and optimistic.  It reminds me of a community, a world that “can be”. It is a hope.

Hope.  It is a powerful thing that is often underestimated, undervalued and underused.  Hope powers us to go beyond ourselves, shatter artificial ceilings, endure painful hurdles to reach the finish line and wake up each day renewed to go on.  Hope is transformational fuel.  Fixing our mind on hope literally changes us.  Our outlook, efforts and character are changed when we hope.  The science behind hope is real. Hope causes the brain to release neurochemicals called endorphins and enkephalins. These chemicals allow the brain to overcome barriers, manage pain, accelerate healing and bring happiness.  Hope is nitrous oxide for our brains!  

Do you want to see a change in yourself or the world?  Unleash some hope. But what do you hope for?  Have you thought about it?  By faith we can believe there can be a better tomorrow.  Take a moment today and think about what could be, what should be.  Can you believe it?  If not, there is no hope.  Hope requires faith and step by step perseverance.  It knows the road ahead is challenging but the destination is real. When we believe, we can make a difference. Everything we do can be transformed by hope: our projects, our businesses, our families, our world and ourselves.  Apply your mind to hope.  Plug in and feel the power surge propel you forward.

It’s coming! The future is ahead and tomorrow is one more step towards our dreams.  Take hope!

_{* Image Note: This painting is “Light in the Darkness” by the incredibly talented Julia R. Cox.}

“Hear me well on this day… when you are deciding on next jobs, next steps, careers, further education, you would rather find purpose than a job or a career. Purpose crosses disciplines. Purpose is an essential element of you. It is the reason you are on the planet at this particular time in history. Your very existence is wrapped up in the things you are here to fulfill.”  – Chadwick Boseman

A wealthy man in the neighborhood passed away. He was known for his business prowess, cunning frugality and perpetual seclusion.  His neighbors assembled at the funeral, more out of curiosity than acquaintance.  Many were discussing his shrewd business dealings and began to speculate among themselves on the accumulation of his wealth.  Finally, one neighbor approached the minister and asked, “Do you know how much he left?”  The minister looked up at the gathering, smiled sadly and said, “All of it.”

Our book began with our first breath and it will close with our last. What happens between those first and last chapters defines what we leave behind: the epilogue.  It is the sum of what we have done in this life and the mark we have made upon the shelves of history.  So much of life can seem like inconsequential progressions of putting one foot in front of the other.  We are surviving, following and reacting to external forces.  Those narratives leave no permanet mark in our story or on those around us.  What story do we want to leave behind?

What is your mission?   What is your purpose?  I remember being asked those questions many years ago and frankly, I struggled with the answer.  I had fallen into the mechanics of living, breathing, moving, and working, but it was without direction or purpose.  My friend challenged me, write down the statement of your purpose and define your mission.  It was transforming.  I suddenly had a compass and a light to guide my path.  I was writing the script instead of letting the script author me.  Meaning and clarity brought gifts of peace, passion and proactive planning. I knew where I was going and how I could shape the epilogue of my life.

What is your purpose? What do you want to leave behind?  What is the reason you get up each day?  If you haven’t done so already, I challenge you this week to write down your purpose and mission. Make it aspirational. Like mine (see here) it won’t  be perfect and you will tune it over time.  But from your purpose, you will develop your mission and steps that will guide you in your work, family, community, career, faith and leisure.  We don’t get to write our own epilogue but we can shape it.  Invest in eternity, starting today, by pouring yourself into your purpose and be the person you were always meant to be.