5: Wax Wings and Digital Dreams - The Human Side of Pushing Boundaries

Welcome Aboard: A Journey Through Myth and Innovation

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Today we're taking a flight back in time to an ancient land filled with heroes and monsters and gods. So let your imagination soar.

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But our story begins when Daedalus finds himself in a bit of a pickle. He and his young son, Icarus, were trapped on tiny island by a powerful king who didn't want them to leave. But Daedalus, with his bright mind, had a plan. He said, Fear not, Icarus, for I will build us wings made of feathers and wax and I shall fly away like birds.

And so he did. Daedalus crafted two beautiful sets of wings, one for him and one for Icarus. Before they took off, Daedalus warned Icarus, Listen carefully, my son. We must not fly too low, or the dampness of the sea will weigh down our wings. And we must also not fly too high, or the sun's heat will melt our wax on our wings.

Icarus nodded, excited about their adventure. And so they spread their wings and leapt to the sky, flying over the ocean free as birds. It was very thrilling for Icarus, the cool breeze, the warm sun, and the endless blue sea. But, in his excitement, Icarus forgot his father's warning.

He soared higher and higher, chasing the sun,

unstoppable. Daedalus called out to him, Icarus, my son, come back down, but Icarus didn't listen. He flew too close to the sun, and the heat began to melt the wax on his wings. And then, with a heart full of fear and regret, Icarus fell from the sky, down into the sea below.

Daedalus flew down after him, but it was too late. Icarus had disappeared into the waves.

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Good question. First officer Taylor. This aviation story has a point and it's meant to teach us to help us grow wiser and stronger. I love this story because it's about learning new behaviors and challenging ourselves out in the open for others to see.

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leading to his fall into the sea and death. This vividly illustrates the dangers of hubris and being too proud and the importance of heeding wisdom and limitations, especially in the face of discoveries and challenges. It's a timeless reminder that learning and innovating come with risks.

sometimes public failure, and sometimes it can be tragic. And that's the part of pushing beyond the known boundaries, is being smart and also listening to those around you. Roger that, Transformation Tower. We're going to explore some very important aspects of human behavior and culture in order to reach our final destination safely.

What does the story of Icarus and the Dallas mean?

This idea of the human side of innovation and getting excited I've been there, I've certainly have been there and excited for the change for the experience and I've, I've personally been lost in that before.

And then I found myself my emotions. Got out of line and I showed up and not exactly the best way to the team because I was, I felt like I was seeing things that others were not. And I had a, bit of a falling out with some team members around that. And I flew too close to the sun.

And I left others behind in that and didn't bring them along. And I think that's a big thing that I've learned in digital work or just change in general, it's this idea of, bringing people along and everybody has their own thoughts and their own perspective in that,

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It's binary. There is no emotion and there's no feeling. And I think, I know certainly from my own past that, I believe that there was no real need to fully understand what people are going through because, we have a strong mission and a vision, but I learned that if they don't understand that vision, they won't have the resilience to push through.

You might have it, but you can't, be like Icarus and fly to the sun by yourself. You need that team, especially in the AI world. And the ever changing world. And I'd love to unpack this a little bit.

And I know in the last, 15, 20 years, there's really been a lot more understanding of The human element that, the brain science around this, you're mentioning the nervous systems response to these stresses, these changes.

And I think that, we're, we move away from the idea, of let's lay on the couch and tell me your feelings. To this concept that, as a human you are in an environment that, for millions of years, our fore, forefathers and ancestors were in. And that's this idea of understanding the environment and the stimulus of it.

And it's, how do you respond? And there's obviously the logic part, which, you know, as somebody in the IT space, I lean on a lot, but there's also this

this nervous

system response, which is one it's the central nervous system that you're talking about.

I know there's been a lot of advances there. And then there's the brain science piece, which is, how does the brain, as a living organism, how does it respond to learning and to challenges? And I think

there have been

a lot of advances in understanding the, repeatable patterns of people experiencing a change.

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It's the last 10 seconds and they're at the free throw line. I've always thought about putting myself into those shoes and I'm like, wow, the whole world's looking at me. I'm going to be out there for everybody to watch me shoot this thing, and they just nail it. And there, there's a lot going on in that that you're making me think of.

There's The fight or flight. There's the idea of having so much practice behind you. And then, like you said, the clear vision to win the game. And what do you think about, and what could be some of the biggest gaps between, that those people that are working on teams and individual, focus areas on an IT project, what are some of the things that maybe are a gap between what they're working on.

And the idea of the vision, as it relates to their own performance. I

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makes me think about is like a real life example of today, I'm thinking and what this conversation makes me realize and think about is pushing the limits trying to find this fine line between reaching for the stars and flying too close to the sun and keeping my, my centered, thoughts and also being aware of what's happening around it.

And I actually think of somebody. Who's not mythical at all. He's a real world visionary and that's Elon Musk and his work with space X. Look at, 20 years ago, I remember him getting called to the U S house representatives and basically had to testify on, public space flight is a good thing.

And our legacy heroes of the United States are our astronauts were there. Saying it was the dumbest thing they've ever heard of and it's there's no way a private company Should be flying and there was an interview that Elon Musk did where he said, you know It's really tough to hear where these guys that I idolized as a child Are telling me that this is the dumbest thing ever and that it will never work.

I'm really disappointed that, that happened, but you know what I'm still going to do it. I'm going to come, I'm going to push and lean in and revolutionize space travel. I'm going to talk about enabling, life on other planets and becoming, as he calls it a multi planet, species.

And, I think of him as a fearless leader. He has a vision and, and sometimes he might be a little difficult to work for. And, but he's a bit like Dali crafting wings and feathers of wax. And, but he's also, there's another interview where he's walking around this the space flight area out in the looking at rockets and somebody's interviewing him.

And the interviewer says that's interesting Elon, that on this spacecraft, you've done this. How come you didn't do that with this spacecraft over here? I'm just curious about that. And Elon thinks for a minute and he goes, you know what, that's a great question. We're going to change that. And they just kept going with the interview and he had the team, fix it based on the interview.

The trials, the tribulations, and they're public too. There's videos on YouTube, like they're blowing stuff up left and right. Just here goes another one, boom. Here goes another one. Explosion. Explosion. And he's yeah, that happens when you're moving fast, innovating.

And but he learned from every single one of those. And, I think. These things obviously now today are like, Oh, this is great. This is, the Falcon one is the best rocket ever. It's got 20 engines. It's amazing. But I think, it's easy to forget the journey and how public.

It was, and how much challenge it was to take on a whole institution, everybody's beliefs, everybody's, perspectives and then this belief that there's no way that Elon Musk can pull this off, and it's almost like you get this feeling that people wanted him to fail. They were all lining up to, to have him publicly fail and say, I told you I told you that was gonna happen see, it happened again, he blew up another one, I told you, and I think there's a human nature element to the, to watching the explosions happening and feeling like I told you but there's also this human element that you're bringing up, which is the opposite, saying, I don't care what they think, I'm on, I have a vision, And you know what?

I told them that we're going to blow up a bunch of rockets along the way. It's not like I didn't tell them. And you know what? We're learning from every one of them. This is what success looks like is, blowing up a bunch of rockets along the way. So I'm comfortable with that.

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It's like some sort of secret thing. And then, whatever the newscaster says. Is what we learned about but here with space X, they've got cameras everywhere. It's on every person. You're listening to all the radio calls. They're having like play by play announcements. Like you're invited into this experience.

And I thought it was genius because, you can see the technology. You can see the screens, you can see the telemetry, you can hear the radio, and then you can hear how everybody works together to innovate and, make the, make this thing work. It's the culmination of. Of these practices, this idea of learning from each attempt, blowing up rockets along the way.

Now it's becoming almost routine to see this skyscraper of a rocket take off and, you're invited into that. And I think this idea of space exploration is perfect for our episode on the human aspect of exploration.

So let's recap a little bit, so as digital pilots we're talking about Icarus and Daedalus and, this idea of balancing innovation with managing the risk. And then we're looking at, the idea of Elon Musk as he embraced this journey his ambitious journey to innovate, and there's this You know playing out of this tension between innovate, push the limits, head for the sun.

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And I think this makes us unique as a species, obviously it's what gets us through, that's why we're still here. We didn't get eaten by all the saber toothed tigers is because we stuck together and when you think about synthesizing that into our flight plan as digital pilots, we've uncovered this path that digital transformation is really, paved with clear ambitious goals.

It's a vision that you have, but also this idea of embracing innovation, learning from failure. And being data driven. And so the big takeaway for me on all of this, if I synthesize it into a big takeaway for our listeners is, balance your ambition. With risk management, understand that your ambition is going to push the envelope and understand that you will be outside your comfort zone and that the team will be stretched at the same time.

Be prudent about that. The overarching lesson from. SpaceX in the Icarus story to me is there is this balancing act and it really requires digital pilots to understand the vision that stretches and also that they have to be rooted in the past lessons, understanding that they have to have a clear understanding of those risks involved, right?

So that's a key thing that I think we are taking away is this idea of ambition with risk ,

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Embrace your horizon. This is a great call out for us digital pilots because it's not just about looking to the future. It's about moving us towards that future and creating that future with courage, with innovation, and with the right mindset to truly embody that purpose. perspective and pursue that horizon.

We have to know what that horizon is. That's the thing about flying. You don't just go in the airplane and start flying around and then at the end, wonder why you haven't got there to the destination, right? You have to have that flight plan that knows what your destination is to have that vision and how that vision can move us forward and propel us.

And once you have that end goal or that vision in mind, You can break down the barriers of the flight. And the thing about flying is this digital pilot is, it's multi dimensional. It's not linear. And that's why I love the idea of the agile mindset and growth mindset. As long as you're clear on the vision, you may be moving around to dodge the weather patterns, or you may be You know, having to go at higher altitudes and lower altitudes in order to get there.

But when you embrace your horizon, it means being open to the lessons of flight and learning from those that have experienced this before. And then, modeling what, what's happening from a groundbreaking perspective like SpaceX. As you navigate your path, embrace your horizon, be a guiding light.

Light cultivate a mindset that marries bold ambition with the prudence of a seasoned traveler Seek out innovation, foster resilience, and then be ready to learn from both those triumphs and those setbacks. Your horizon is not just a destination, but consider it a journey of growth, a journey of discovery and a journey to excellence.

And I want you to let this pioneering perspective light your way as you plan your flight through the digital skies. So one of the things. That embracing the horizon does it creates this value for you as a professional and also for your

That's right. And as we journey through those skies and we embrace our horizon, here's your call to action pilots. First, find a way to challenge the status quo, challenge the status quo, just like the Daedalus crafted wings of wax and feathers. I encourage you to challenge existing conventions in your organization.

Remember, innovation starts where your comfort zone ends. The second thing that you can do to take away and put into action immediately is to think about every attempt, every initiative, every project as an opportunity to learn. That means you have to pay attention and measure what's happening. But also be aware that evolution happens in the micro moments in the day to day, just like SpaceX with every launch, it was a step closer to their horizon.

And then the third thing is, and I think it's really important not only to have that vision and to set your eyes on the horizon, what, share that vision, share the vision just as a story of Icarus has been told for generations. Share your vision with those around you. Inspire your team. Ask them what they think.

Imagine them to picture a world where this innovation is reality. And that's the moment that you're in as a digital pilot. When you embrace your horizon, it's more than a motto. It's a compass that will guide your ventures. As digital pilots in the realm of endless possibilities, the time to act is now.

Chart your course, spread your wings, and soar towards the horizon. And that's the key, is that shaping tomorrow starts with what you decide to do today. Lean in, understand who you are, understand what's happening, and don't be afraid of the human element. There's a lot of science to that will help you be successful.

As we navigate the ever changing skies of digital transformation, your insights and your experiences are invaluable to us. And that's why I want your feedback, to ensure that this journey is relevant and engaging.

So keep the feedback coming, keep the ideas coming. They are essential for shaping future episodes, ensuring that each episode meets your needs.

And as we depart today's digital flight, it's time for us to take that first step and cultivate that environment where innovation happens. Remember, every significant digital transformation starts with someone daring to try something new. Be a pioneer, embrace your horizon.

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Throttle up and the digital flight throttle up is how we end our podcast. It's our call to action. It's our spark to ignite. Remember the journey ahead is not just about reaching the destination. It's about the lives we touch. So as a digital pilot, remember to be precise, understanding the digital environment.

Then be proactive. Remember to anticipate what's happening and push to horizon and don't forget to be pioneering. Embrace the change. So be precise, be proactive, be pioneering, stay brave, stay curious, and above all, stay pioneering. We'll see you next time. Wheels up.

Thanks for joining us to become a digital pilot and accelerate your journey. Make sure you've subscribed to our show and your favorite podcast player. If you have an idea of what you want to hear in a future show or have a story to share, you can email us at Digital Flight podcast@gmail.com. You can also connect with us by going to Digital Flight Pro or by sending Brian Lambert a LinkedIn connection request.

Thank you for flying with us. We'll see you next time.