Just finished watching the new Star Trek movie. Ten out of Ten. Great film that exceeded my expectations. Now I am not a crazed Star Trek fan. I couldn’t tell you who Kirk met on the planet Fffarrr in episode 23 but I have been around since it started or thereabouts.
It’s a lesson in many things. It’s a study of personality, which I will be going into in more detail in future posts but it is also a lesson in management. I am fortunate to be working with a small but dedicated team at PeopleMaps and I have to say I am inspired. And the similarities between what goes on on the USS Enterprise and the USS PeopleMaps are there.
We are a small team, sometimes fighting impossible odds. We clash against each other on occasion. We overcome our pettiness to rise to the bigger challenge. There’s a lot of love, there’s a lot of pressure. There are very diverse personality types and yet somehow against all logic, we pull through and live to fight another day.
I obviously identify with Kirk, partly because we have the same job role and partly because like him, I am not a specialist and therefore depend entirely upon my friends and colleagues who are. I don’t have Kirk’s charm or zest for thrills but I am happy to let him inspire me. I like that he didn’t believe in a “no-win” situation and that anything could be achieved, regardless of what the facts tell you; regardless of what’s logical. I liked his healthy disregard for rules and authority too. Is this not something all young companies need.
So I urge you to go see Star Trek and be inspired. Regardless of who you are you will find a character to identify with. See if you can make your working life as exciting and fulfilling as that on board the USS Enterprise.
Thanks Sam. It was a great movie and I am aware of the risk I run comparing myself to Kirk (I should be so lucky). Your points on entrepreneurship are well made. Big organisations don’t like the “Kirks” of this world, though not sure what to do about that.
It was a great film. I like how you make the comparison with Kirk and someone with a small business. At times you do have to do things that are sometimes considered non-traditional in order to standout and succeed. Kirk was defiant and never gave up. Entrepreneurs should mold their way of thinking a little like Kirk. I think you can stand a great chance of survival in your business.