Be the Captain of Your Own Ship

We held our annual Georgetown Prep Alumni Golf Tournament this past weekend.  As usual, it was a festive affair that started early and rolled a little too late into the evening.  When I arrived home, I flipped on the television and surfed through the mindless wasteland of late-night programming available on cable.  Out of approximately 700 channels, I somehow settled on an old re-run of “The Love Boat”.  American culture at its finest!  Anyway, as I watched Captain Stubing deftly dish out his no-nonsense advice with customary aplomb, two burning questions raced through my mind:

1. Why was I wasting my time with this kitschy drivel instead of eating a pizza?
2. Are we the captain of our own ship or merely a passenger drifting through this life?

In our work lives, we need to play an active role in our own development.  We are in charge of our own career path.  We are in charge of our own ideas.  We are in charge of making the environment positive and healthy.  We are the captains of our own success!  It is too convenient to take on the role of the passenger and let the ship take you from port to port.  In this passive role, it becomes easier to complain about the direction of the ship without taking any responsibility for the destination.  Negative thoughts abound:

“We are failing because management is clueless.”

“The office atmosphere is dreary and dull.”

“All the good people have left.”

“Our competitors are eating our lunch.”

None of these thoughts are productive and none lead to a happy, resilient life!  YOU are still there, and YOU can make a difference!  Even if you are in the rank and file of the company, you still must assume responsibility as captain of your own ship.  You can positively contribute to the work environment and turn things around with your sheer passion and positive energy.  You can study the competition and take back market share one client and one account at a time.   You can actively contribute your ideas and present your case for moving the company forward.  You have too much talent and charisma to let someone else dictate your fate.  Seize the wheel and steer the ship into calmer waters!

It is even more important to stay actively engaged in our personal lives.  In a group setting, it is tempting to go along for the ride rather than take a stand and be your own person:

“Everyone else is taking shortcuts at school, so why shouldn’t I?”

“Everyone else is re-doing their kitchen, so why shouldn’t I?”

“Everyone else is sending their children to private schools, so why shouldn’t I?”

“All my friends are staying out late, so why shouldn’t I?”

You are not “everyone else”!  You are the captain of your own ship.   Stand up for your beliefs!  Have faith and stay true to your own morals!  Be mindful of your own financial situation!  Resist the temptation to join the group if you sense it will take you in a dangerous direction.  Sometimes, it is better to steer your ship into lonely waters than to let someone else guide you into troubled waters.

But what happens if we take control of the ship and we steer ourselves into an iceberg?  Just because we are in control doesn’t mean we will always make the right choices.  Your instincts could fail you at work.  You could fold under the pressure of a deadline or commitment.   You could disappoint a loved one through your negative actions.  Your ship could get pounded against the rocks.  It is in these times when you need to stay the most active.  You cannot change the past.  You cannot curl into a ball and give up.  You are not a victim.  No one is going to ride you out of the storm.  You must take responsibility and take charge of the direction of the ship.  You got yourself into this mess.  You can turn the ship around and steer it right back into beautiful, calm waters.

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. –Dr. Seuss

You are not a passenger on the cruise ship of life.  You need to play an active role in determining your ultimate destination.  In doing so, you need to take an active role in your career. You need to take an active role in your choices.   You need to take an active role in building your relationships.  You won’t always be able to steer clear of danger.  That is part of your journey.  That is part of growing up.  But you will learn from your mistakes and come back stronger and more confident than ever.   You are the captain of your own ship.  And you are destined to sail into greatness.

Until next week, keep smiling!