Book notes: Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth

Astronauts – the epitomy of the iceberg principle. We never stop and think how these little marshmallowy rocketeers ended up being strapped to 423 tons of thrust.

The media is obsessed with the destination and not the journey, which is exactly why Chris Hadfield’s 304 page “Astronauts Guide to Life On Earth”‎ was just a joy to read. It focuses on how Commander Hadfield made his way up from a farm in rural Canada to the stars.

Hadfield's book with Queenstown in the background

Book notes:

The skill set for being an astronaut in space is actually quite simple. It’s nothing you couldn’t do like fixing toilets or packing. The challenge is becoming a jack of all trades in language, psychology, rocket science, piloting, mechanics and so much more.

Hadfield formula for success (revolves around the journey becoming more important the the destination)

Learn all necessary skills for the challenge
Pictures the most demanding challenge
Visualize how to realize the challenge
Practice that challenge until you become comfortable

Don’t go into work thinking you’re a good astronaut. Go into work thinking you’re good astronaut material. Embrace an “always learning” work ethic.

You’re always getting ahead if you are learning. Even if you stay on the same “rung” (title, salary range etc). Job titles are purely for administration purposes.

Fear is simply a synonym for “without knowledge”. If you understand the problem high-stress situations will evaporate. Look at how intimidating it was to open an online store for the first time, now it’s a piece of cake.

Early success is a bad teacher. You’re being rewarded for lack of prep. That’s why it’s so dangerous to think just because you’re an early Shopify employee you are somehow “special”.

Hadfield is a living legend. The guy did a spacewalk while blinded by detergent, passed out for 16 seconds while flying a jet fighter, and even had a live bee stuck in his visor when in formation with 3 other planes.

NASA evaluate an astronaut’s behaviour and social skills by asking people that don’t “work” with them. Relying on the opinions of facility staff like nurses. Shopify does this occasionally with guru interviews.

No question is stupid. He once poured liquid down a seemingly normal sink only to wreck havoc on the entire buildings plumbing system. Send Tobi, Adam, etc a quick email before you make a seemingly simple routine, but impactful decision.

Great framework for categorizing people. You’re either a -1, 0, or +1. People that are +1s don’t tell people they’re plus one. Aim to be a zero, until you naturally become a +1.

Don’t sail into a situation and make your presence known. Ingress without causing a ripple. Aim for a neutral impact. Aiming to be a zero is always an easy goal.

Seek to learn not to impress.

Rating 4/5 | ★★★★☆

15 December 2013 Book notes

High Park Toad

Came across this little chap during a slack stroll in Toronto’s High Park. I actually remembered to bring my extensions tubes which lets you get in super close with the bovine 70-200mm VR II 2.8 (w/12mm toobz). Watch out though, extension tubes give the autofocus motor the attention span of a kitten on pixie sticks, manual focus is a must.

29 September 2013 Photography

Using a windshield

One of my favourite tips, from Daniel Coyle’s “The Little Book of Talent”, is the concept of “staring at who you want to become”. He believes that successful people use a metaphorical windshield that we view our role models with. These ideas and wisdom viewed through your windshield will shape your future being.

Coyle says that if you’re told that you have the same birthday as a mathematician you’re more likely to put 62% more effort into hard math problems. He argues that the “closer” you are to your mentors the more likely you will be subconsciously motivated.

This “windshield” can manifest itself though a variety of ways. It could be watching your hero give an interview or merely looking at an image of them that sends your prefrontal cortex into a neuronic fevor.

Without doubt the most effective windshield is social media. Bite size packets from your role models served up on your phone. But it’s only effective if you take the time to curate and mold a rigid framework for each – or they’ll become unwieldy. Only follow your mentors on twitter, connoisseurs of life on instagram, and relegate everyone else to Facebook. Social media should be a clear reflection of your future self.

Whatever mediums comprise your windshield just remember that inspiration is a fuel for your mind and pointless if you don’t use it as a catalyst to achieve something. Next time you read, write your thoughts down. Next time you listen to your favourite song, run faster.

26 August 2013 Uncategorized