| Escape Velocity | 182 comments |
 8 Nov 2004 @ 19:23I've changed the title of this weblog to "Escape Velocity". It better represents what I'm trying to do here. Wikipedia says: In physics, for a given gravitational field and a given position, the escape velocity is the minimum speed an object without propulsion, at that position, needs to have to move away indefinitely from the source of the field, as opposed to falling back or staying in an orbit within a bounded distance from the source.If you shoot up a rocket, the escape velocity represents the energy needed to break free from the Earth's gravitational pull. If you don't have enough, you either fall back down, or you might manage to go into orbit, being captured in forever circling around the planet. This is an excellent metaphor for what it takes to be successful in business and to achieve personal freedom and independence. Most people don't really reach escape velocity in their lives. The majority of people are stuck in a job or a financial situation that keeps them forever trying to keep up, and sort of barely managing, at most. But never really succeeding in becoming independent and secure. And the thing is that it takes an extraordinary amount of energy to break free. You've gotta be pointed in the right direction, you need to have worked out a system of getting somewhere, and then, even with the best of ideas, it takes an extraordinary amount of focus and persistence and hard work to break free and make something actually work "on its own", without it instantly dropping to the ground, the moment you look the other way. You might arrive at a certain amount of comfort by achieving an orbit around a gravitational body. I.e. you might have gotten a good job, and as long as you stay where you are, you keep circling. That's better than falling, of course. But you're not free, and you're not in control. The company might go out of business, or your job might become irrelevant. And you'd fall again. There are many good activities one can involve oneself in, and which potentially could accomplish good things, and make you successful and independent. But just trying to do them doesn't do it. Doing them half-way might not get you anywhere. You might expend a lot of effort, but if it isn't enough, or it isn't in the right direction, you don't reach escape velocity, and you just fall to the earth again. One could say that a lot of things don't really matter unless they succeed. The best of intentions might be irrelevant if the result isn't attained. Building half a bridge is a waste of time, however many tons of concrete you used. Doesn't mean that everything you do must succeed. It will often take many failures to arrive at one success. You have to be willing to fail and keep going. You have to be willing to learn. But something must succeed. It is the stuff that gets off the ground that really will matter. Escape velocity might be attained by hard work, teamwork, excitement, inspiration, good timing, and many other things. There's no set formula. It takes what it takes. Using the available means to get off the ground. |