I have started building the Ship "The Endurance" since the past few weeks. I had seen this forum before I started building the ship and I thought that I would write as I started building it. I saw so many blogs from people who shared their experience, their techniques, their pictures and just what they learnt while doing this.. I thought of posting pictures and writing together as I started building but nothing motivated me until today.
First of all, why "The Endurance" and not any simpler model just to learn. The ship and the journey has a special place in my heart. About 12 years ago I made friends with a set of extraordinary individuals. We all met as part of working on a common project. As is with most IT projects that are messed up, ours was too. But even in that mess of many threads, we were able to disentangle some threads and still enjoy the feeling of that one achievement. While we were together, our "Boss" introduced us to the story of Sir Ernest Shackleton and his extraordinary voyage to the Antarctic. Sir Ernest journey was great, not because of its achievements but because what he was able to pull us in those circumstances. While reflecting on Sir Ernest's story, I have often thought, What did he really achieve? He was not first at anything, he failed most expeditions he undertook. Then why is he still remembered and why is he still an inspiration. Its not for the achievements but because how he shaped the journey he was on. In most leadership lessons, we are taught about a few successful people who did something great. But we never learn about someone else who tried do do something exactly in the same manner but still failed. Its what you make of something that makes the journey so great. The destination really does not matter.
The ship that I build now is an inspiration from that journey that I have had over these years. I have found many near and dear ones and lost many near and dear ones in the course of the journey. But the journey still goes on. We stop for a few moments to reflect on the past and remember the lost, but its the journey that the mission. The "Endurance" that we exhibit during this journey is what makes it special. Yes, it may not be fast, yes it may be painful, yes you will have to go a long path back just to take the right path again, yes you will have to pause in between and fix your ship and yes, you may lose the ship mid journey. But its the journey that has to continue...
I am Paritosh Raut and I am writing this as I embark on this renewed journey..
First of all, why "The Endurance" and not any simpler model just to learn. The ship and the journey has a special place in my heart. About 12 years ago I made friends with a set of extraordinary individuals. We all met as part of working on a common project. As is with most IT projects that are messed up, ours was too. But even in that mess of many threads, we were able to disentangle some threads and still enjoy the feeling of that one achievement. While we were together, our "Boss" introduced us to the story of Sir Ernest Shackleton and his extraordinary voyage to the Antarctic. Sir Ernest journey was great, not because of its achievements but because what he was able to pull us in those circumstances. While reflecting on Sir Ernest's story, I have often thought, What did he really achieve? He was not first at anything, he failed most expeditions he undertook. Then why is he still remembered and why is he still an inspiration. Its not for the achievements but because how he shaped the journey he was on. In most leadership lessons, we are taught about a few successful people who did something great. But we never learn about someone else who tried do do something exactly in the same manner but still failed. Its what you make of something that makes the journey so great. The destination really does not matter.
The ship that I build now is an inspiration from that journey that I have had over these years. I have found many near and dear ones and lost many near and dear ones in the course of the journey. But the journey still goes on. We stop for a few moments to reflect on the past and remember the lost, but its the journey that the mission. The "Endurance" that we exhibit during this journey is what makes it special. Yes, it may not be fast, yes it may be painful, yes you will have to go a long path back just to take the right path again, yes you will have to pause in between and fix your ship and yes, you may lose the ship mid journey. But its the journey that has to continue...
I am Paritosh Raut and I am writing this as I embark on this renewed journey..
