reinventing NASA
I was completely inspired this past weekend. I take personal development classes from a company called Landmark Education (www.landmarkeducation.com), and while I have gotten some really amazing stuff for my life out of those classes, what impressed me this weekend was the company’s approach to reinventing itself. I went to an event where we had a chance to see the process, and I thought it was awesome. There’s nothing wrong with the company – they’re doing well, and even had a vision for 2020 that they’ve been working towards. Yet, they were willing to take a real look at the products they were offering and whether or not there was something else that would really blow the roof off of what is possible for the company!
The company has spent several years now reinventing itself. They’ve gone through a process in which they’ve gone all the way back to nothing – where no one’s assumptions about what the company should or should not do influences the outcome. Then from nothing, they looked at the business they really wanted to be in, and how their current assets contribute to that future. They declared the 2020 vision complete and are moving forward with the results from this reinvention.
This subject is really intriguing to me on a personal level. In recent weeks, I’ve been thinking a lot about moving. I own a house in Columbia, MD, and so of course, there are all sorts of complications around what I would do with my current house, plus all of the usual conversation about where I would really want to live! So I started thinking about what it would mean to reinvent MYSELF… wow! I mean, what if I really started at nothing, from scratch, and looked at my life and my future from a whole new perspective. That’s when I start to think outside the box – after all, the reason I am working at Goddard is because I didn’t get a co-op position at Johnson or Kennedy. If I really start from a blank slate, it opens up a whole new trade space for my life!
So in thinking about this conversation, I’m now intrigued by what it would look like if NASA were to reinvent itself! I mean REALLY reinvent itself… as in start with no assumptions. What would we (nation, world) want for an organization that does space exploration in 2009? What would we look like? What would be our mission? How would we be organized? Then, once we reinvented a whole new organization, how would we use our current assets and knowledge to meet our needs in space in 2009? What an intriguing question!
6 Responses to “reinventing NASA”
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Anon on April 9th, 2009
I am glad that you feel inspired with ideas.
I am sad that such a smart person is taken in by a scam/pyramid scheme like Landmark Forum. I had a roommate that participated once. We were pestered by phone calls. They were insistent she bring guests (that would eventually be recruited to the paying events). Even basic cult-like activity – like being told she should “volunteer” for their call center to get the most of her experience (yeah, right, free help for a for-profit company!). As far as I can tell, the actual seminar practices basic forms of brainwashing – such as short, intense experiences accompanied by controlled breaks, food deprivation and lack of sleep.
There are other ways to change your life… just google “landmark forum scam” and see for yourself.
Rivers on April 9th, 2009
Anon – While I did not intend this post to be about Landmark Education, it seems appropriate to respond briefly to your comment.
I am really sorry that you have had such a negative experience (and I know that there’s lots of that type of info on the web.) I have had the opposite experience: I’ve had amazing results for my life out of the courses. Specifically, not too many years ago (just one example), I was kicked out of an organization at Goddard, basically for being a jerk. I deserved it – I didn’t respect the people in charge and thought that I was going to run the show. What I discovered through my courses was a new love for other people – a genuine interest in other people’s lives. Today, I am known as someone who is respectful and cooperative, and I am an associate branch head because of it. I wouldn’t be where I am today without what I’ve learned about myself.
I’d be happy to chat more about it over email, but let’s allow this post and its comments to be about NASA and the space program, since that’s the purpose of this website.
Santiago on April 9th, 2009
Interesting post Rivers!
I think starting with the name even is important– are we really about ‘aeronautics’ and ’space’? How ‘national’ focused should it be vs. leaning towards international cooperation (while still being the American space program)?
You actually do pose NASA as about ’space exploration’, which seems obvious to some, but there is serious consideration of NASA as more of a research (fundamental and applied) organization.
I personally would love for NASA to be an international leader for developing and coordinating space exploration activities (manned and unmanned). Could NASA even delve into the realms of what is not quite possible, like faster forms of space transportation?
Lofty goals such as science have in the past been an olive branch between disconnected parties. Space exploration can that, and NASA could reinvent itself to be part of that.
Rivers on April 10th, 2009
Santiago – yeah, your comment is a perfect example of what I mean. I used the term “space exploration” because that’s how I usually think of what NASA does. Yet, that doesn’t really necessarily address all of the aeronautics work at the agency, for example! It is amazing how difficult it is to get out of our own box on how we see things!
Tim Bailey on April 13th, 2009
Rivers-
First, thanks for bringing outside processes and experiences that you find effective into your work life at NASA!
I think you have hit on a MAJOR opportunity for NASA: find focus. The variety of programs and expectations from the organization seem confusing and even contradictory. While NASA is seen mainly as a “space” agency (even by you!), it does much more than that.
What would it look like if the US actually spent $18 billion on “space exploration” each year and not just on “NASA”? What would we miss if all of research, operations, and other functions were suddenly gone? Is there a way to describe what NASA does that fully expresses the range of activities that are being funded?
I propose a “NASA 2050″ team to look at the future of the agency and where it will be 40 years from now. We need a future in space that is bigger than one President, one mission, or one program.
What will be NASA’s role in a thriving space-faring civilization: regulation, research, exploration, science? Once you know the destination, the path will become clear and the agency as a whole can move forward with unified purpose.
krichon on April 17th, 2009
Good discussion. I was wondering this morning where I would be in 40 years, whether we would be using hovercraft vs cars & how we would have solved some of the environmental issues we face today. My vision for NASA includes space exploration but also making life on Earth better for all through developing new technologies & helping understand & control human impact on this fragile world. I want NASA to regain its cutting edge technology reputation, doing the impossible and inspiring people all over the world. Politics and budget issues seem to make this unlikely, but then again NASA was born out of space-race politics in the 50s/60s. I would love to participate in a blank slate exercise for NASA to find out what we can be!