“Good morning, Earth.” For more than five months, those were the words Colonel Chris Hadfield used to greet the world via Twitter each day while orbiting our planet in the International Space Station (ISS). The first Canadian commander of the ISS, Hadfield became a part of the cultural lexicon by using social media in ways no human had before. His Tweets and YouTube videos from space became a worldwide sensation, sparking a sense of wonder in millions not felt since Neil Armstrong first set foot on the moon in 1969.
"Be fully prepared, but enjoy every moment along the way." - Chris Hadfield
Bringing Space Down to Earth
Hadfield officially became commander of the International Space Station in March of 2013. His Tweets, photos and videos throughout his time there have given the world unique glimpses into life as an astronaut. Hadfield used Skype video to answer questions such as, "How do you wash your hands in space?" "How do you wring out a washcloth in space?" and even insights into how to play a game of Scrabble in weightlessness. But Hadfield is perhaps best known in social media circles for singing and playing his guitar in space. He collaborated with the Canadian pop group The Barenaked Ladies to record a song that was sung by almost a million people all at once. His captivating swan song performance of David Bowie's "Space Oddity" just before turning over command of the ISS in May 2013 has been viewed well over 18 million times.
A Storied Past
Hadfield is the pride of Canada and has experienced many “firsts" throughout his career. In 1992, he was chosen by the Canadian Space Agency as Canada’s first fully-qualified Space Shuttle crew member, a NASA Mission Specialist. Just a few years later, he became the first Canadian to operate the Canadarm in space and board a Russian spacecraft, assisting in the building of “Mir.” Hadfield performed two spacewalks in 2001. Then in 2010, NASA and CSA announced the selection of Chris Hadfield as a forthcoming commander of the International Space Station.
Hadfield is a decorated astronaut, pilot and engineer, receiving awards such as the Meritorious Service Cross, the Order of Ontario, as well as the NASA Exceptional Service Medal. He has been inducted into Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame and was named Top Test Pilot in both the U.S. Navy and Air Force. Hadfield is now back on Earth for the foreseeable future, having announced his retirement from the CSA in July of 2013. However, he is already busy finding new ways to bring the glory of space travel, science and the things he's learned to humanity.
"Conventional thinking can sometimes actually get in the way of achievement and true happiness."
An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth
One of Hadfield's first post-space projects has been to write a book. Aptly titled, "An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth: What Going to Space Taught Me About Ingenuity, Determination, and Being Prepared for Anything," the book takes readers back to Hadfield's experiences during his training years, as well as to his adventures in space. Through compelling stories and anecdotes, Hadfield offers success principles rooted in his unique perspective, as well as inspiration in the art of making the impossible possible. Hadfield also explains how conventional thinking can sometimes actually get in the way of achievement and true happiness. Having logged nearly 4,000 hours in space and decades of training as an astronaut, the crux of Colonel Hadfield’s success is a philosophy he picked up during his time at NASA: be fully prepared, but enjoy every moment along the way.
Putting Relationships First and Enjoying the Journey
Hadfield calls his wife, Helene, his greatest mentor and places a strong emphasis on the significance and importance of family. He considers "tenacious patience" to be the character trait most critical to his success both professionally and while raising his three children. Hadfield believes that no matter how busy or successful you become, you should always make time to stay well-connected with friends and family. Fortunately, technologies such as the internet, social media and Skype are making this easier to do than in the past. When asked what advice he would offer business leaders looking to start using social media as a part of their communications strategy, Hadfield advised, "Be honest and insightful in your communications, and give the reins to someone much younger." Indeed, knowing the parameters of your capabilities (and what should be outsourced) is foundational to business success; Hadfield himself called upon his son Evan for help in getting up and running with Twitter.
Balance in Leadership
Hadfield believes that the key to effective leadership is the ability to truly listen to others while also holding onto your own core beliefs and values. To lead effectively, the viewpoints of your team should be considered as you come up with the best plan of action; from there, use all of your available skills and resources to influence the group in the direction of the highest good. Hadfield believes that everyone has a "best" they can aspire to, and "An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth" offers simple, powerful tools to help readers reach those heights. Patience is an indispensable virtue; while not always easy, it's something we can strive to cultivate whether we're the leader or part of the team. Lastly, even as we're focused on our goals, we should always strive to stay present and savor each and every moment of the voyage along the way. Hadfield's epic social media posts are a case in point. The clear, refreshing insights of Chris Hadfield can inspire anyone to "think like an astronaut" and bring out their very best while living life on Earth. The book "An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth" will be available in stores on October 29, 2013 in Canada, the U.S. and the UK.
Image Courtesy of GlobalNews.ca
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