SHARE THE JOURNEY
On Oct. 4, 2004, millions followed the progress of SpaceShipOne, Virgin Galactic’s prototype, private space vessel as it soared into sub-orbital flight to claim the Ansari X-Prize — a $10 million (US) prize given to the first commercial enterprise to make it into space in a private craft twice within a two-week period.
SpaceShipOne made three such flights by the 4th of October. Crowds gathered in the bleak California desert to watch the brilliant launch and return flight. Thanks to global communication and online access, millions followed the progress of the oddly-shaped craft as it carried the dreams of every would-be civilian astronaut into the stratosphere and beyond.
Why did so many take such in interest in the historic flight? We all wanted to share the journey. As if by some kind of evolutionary switch, we realized this was some kind of great leap forward in our civilization’s progress. We were infected with a feverish desire to follow the heart of poet John Gillespie who wrote in his master work High Flight: “I have slipped the surly bonds of earth/And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings.”
Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson and his partners showed the world the power of sharing a positive attitude. Catapulted by SpaceShipOne’s success, Virgin announced its intention to offer the same sub-orbital flights to consumers with the construction of SpaceShipTwo. Indeed, the infectious enthusiasm for manned space flight became even more evident on April 30, 2007, when the Sydney Morning Herald announced that a Brisbane woman, Glenys Ambe, had become the first traveler to book a flight on Virgin Galactic. Ambe paid about $242,000 (AUD) for the chance to follow her dream and obtain the official title of “astronaut.”
Without a strong dose of positive attitude, Virgin’s quest for commercial space flight would have surely fizzled on the launching pad. Branson’s obvious love for space flight is evident — the result of a “True North” attitude: “[It’s] just the start of what we believe will be a new era in the history of mankind, one day making the affordable exploration of space by human beings a real possibility.”[1]
What about your attitude? Are you spreading joy, enthusiasm and hope among your coworkers, colleagues, family and friends or are you infecting everyone you meet with the chronic malady of bitterness, rage and non-responsibility.
At this point, I hope you have agreed to at least try to make adjustments to your Life Compass by trying on a positive attitude. If you have, now is the perfect time to brainstorm new ways to spread the wealth that you’ve claimed. Here is one suggestion to start you on the path.  This and the activities you will find in the exercises at the module’s end, will not only help spread a winning attitude within your community, but they will also help reinforce the habits of excellence you need every day.
