Last night, I watched a fascinating, heart-warming movie based on a true story. Jose’ Hernandez was a child of migrant farm workers. He was smart, excellent in math, and committed to pursuing his dream of being an astronaut. People laughed at him. How could he possibly go from working in the fields all his young life to becoming an astronaut?
He proves that Tenacity is a Super Power. He becomes an engineer, surprising those at work with his intelligence. His wife’s question, “What do those who were accepted by NASA have that you don’t have?” drives him to keep developing himself. It took 11 years of applying before he was accepted for the space program.
In A Million Miles Away, his father tells him the “Five Ingredients in Life” that keep him going:
- Find Your Goal.
- Know how far you are.
- Draw a road map.
- If you don’t know how, learn.
- When you think you’ve made it, you probably have to work harder.
#5 is evident throughout Jose’s life. His wife’s support and belief in him are amazing. Talk about working harder. While raising their five children, she keeps her own dream alive, and eventually achieves it. (You’ll have to watch the movie or read the book.)
So, where are you with these five ingredients? Is your goal clear in your mind? Have you assessed what you have going for you that has put you where you are today? This is your jumping off point.
Create a road map to achieve your goal. You know what’s needed. If you don’t know, you can learn. Don’t be afraid to say, “I don’t know.” Those three words are the best eye openers and people developers. What you don’t know, you can learn. And what you don’t have, you can work toward achieving.
Importantly, as his father aid, “When you think you’ve made it, you probably have to work harder.” Don’t allow yourself to become stagnant. Nurture the passion that will pull you forward. There’s always more to learn. There’s always another perspective. Another possibility. Another opportunity to grow. If you seek it.
In 2009, Jose’ Hernandez became the first migrant farm worker to become a NASA astronaut. I recommend watching A Million Miles Away on Prime Video, based on his book, “Reaching for the Stars.”
