We have probably heard that most accidents occur as a result of drivers' error. It's a fact. And it's also true about sailing. The vast majority of marine accidents happen because of mistakes made by captain and crew.And it's no different in our quest for success.
Certainly there are times when things outside of our control cause us problems and even result in failure. But most of these can be overcome with greater knowledge and better skills.You see, piloting a boat is not really very difficult. Getting from point A to point B under fair skies and friendly winds is something most anyone with a modicum oftraining can do. But what we prepare for, what we really need to study, is how to handle things when circumstances are less than ideal. When the weather deteriorates, when equipment breaks, when things start to unravel, THAT'S when your competence becomes critical. That's when our ability, our knowledge and our experience can make the difference between people living and dying.
Our preparedness--or un-preparedness--for our personal and professional success may not seem quite so critical. It's not a matter of life and death, but it's important nonetheless.In order for us to fulfill our potential, we owe it to ourselves as well as those we care about and those we serve to be constantly improving our skills. We must always be learning. We must be preparing for unexpected economic squalls. We should consistently be honing our abilities.In doing so, we bring out the best that's in us and we raise the expectations of those around us. Our confidence begets more confidence. It attracts people to us. Every crew member wants to be part of a competent team with a skilled captain.
Our industry is worthy of our study. Enhancing our skills makes our job easier and makes us more valuable in the marketplace. Knowing enough to get by just won't cut it. We must challenge ourselves. It makes our life more fun and more interesting. And it can make all the difference in not only the quality of the journey but the wealth of the destinations.
Question to Ponder: What skills, knowledge and experience do we need to develop?In addition to setting goals about what we want to achieve, we should also set goals as to what we want to learn. What skills do we want to acquire in the next three months? What bodies of knowledge do we want to master? What do we want to add to our experience? What courses will we take? Who will we study under? What books will we read? How much will we invest in our quest for competence?
Certainly there are times when things outside of our control cause us problems and even result in failure. But most of these can be overcome with greater knowledge and better skills.You see, piloting a boat is not really very difficult. Getting from point A to point B under fair skies and friendly winds is something most anyone with a modicum oftraining can do. But what we prepare for, what we really need to study, is how to handle things when circumstances are less than ideal. When the weather deteriorates, when equipment breaks, when things start to unravel, THAT'S when your competence becomes critical. That's when our ability, our knowledge and our experience can make the difference between people living and dying.
Our preparedness--or un-preparedness--for our personal and professional success may not seem quite so critical. It's not a matter of life and death, but it's important nonetheless.In order for us to fulfill our potential, we owe it to ourselves as well as those we care about and those we serve to be constantly improving our skills. We must always be learning. We must be preparing for unexpected economic squalls. We should consistently be honing our abilities.In doing so, we bring out the best that's in us and we raise the expectations of those around us. Our confidence begets more confidence. It attracts people to us. Every crew member wants to be part of a competent team with a skilled captain.
Our industry is worthy of our study. Enhancing our skills makes our job easier and makes us more valuable in the marketplace. Knowing enough to get by just won't cut it. We must challenge ourselves. It makes our life more fun and more interesting. And it can make all the difference in not only the quality of the journey but the wealth of the destinations.
Question to Ponder: What skills, knowledge and experience do we need to develop?In addition to setting goals about what we want to achieve, we should also set goals as to what we want to learn. What skills do we want to acquire in the next three months? What bodies of knowledge do we want to master? What do we want to add to our experience? What courses will we take? Who will we study under? What books will we read? How much will we invest in our quest for competence?
Because EVERYTHING COUNTS !
