A book Review “an Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth” by Chris Hadfield.
This is a truly remarkable story, the fact that Chris is a Canadian and what he has accomplished as an astronaut is remarkable. The reason I am saying this is when a person thinks of Canada it is not a country recognized for its contribution to space exploration. So, it would seem like Chris started with a handicap just being Canadian in pursuing a career as an astronaut. With that, it is clear in the book and I would agree with the fact that when we put our minds to something we can achieve a great deal which is one of the reasons I am reviewing this book. The other is for career development. The book is full of good suggestions for anybody that is starting in a career or is considering a career change. So, in this blog, I am passing on some of the key points from the book I think that others may find helpful regarding career development.
Enjoy the journey and do not look at a career as a means to an end. There are many steps to becoming an astronaut. The application process is extensive and competitive. It is a demanding job both physically and mentally so they want to ensure that the selected candidates are of sound body and mind. And when a person is selected as in Chris’s case then the learning and training begin. And this is how the book starts as well which indicates that the beginning of an astronaut career or any other career is a journey of learning and training. In essence, many of us make the mistake that when we get accepted into a university program or when we get that job that we can celebrate. The fact is, this is when the work starts. And Chris points this out throughout the entire book. If a person is only thinking about the end, it will be a hard life. Enjoying what a person does every day is what it’s all about.
My interview with Chef Paul Rogalski https://the-career-guy.simplecast.com/episodes/a-chef-that-is-continually-re-inventing-himself echoes this as being a chef and owning a restaurant is hard work but he loves what he does so it does not feel like work. A good lesson is you have to like what you are doing. If you are only focused on the result, you may be disappointed. As in Chris’s case, he also states that even when he was accepted into the space program there was no guarantee that he would fly into space. Just being part of the program should be enough.
Preparing and practicing is what enables astronauts to sleep at night and to be able to handle adversity when it arises. They learn that they need to plan and they will leave nothing to chance. Alistair Bentley talks about this in his interview. https://www.thecareerguy.ca/episodes/what-a-person-can-do-with-a-math-degree When doing his undergrad, he wanted to pursue a career in economics. Most people do not realize a career in this field will require strong math skills, he did. So, he worked on his math skills, even though it was not easy for him. He ended up doing a major in math which later helped him get into a master of economics program.
Therefore, understanding what we want to do and what skills are needed in any career path will help anyone succeed as Lou Rosenfeld points out in his interview. https://www.thecareerguy.ca/episodes/engineering-for-ski-performance Find the experts or people that have done well in whatever area you may want to pursue. Ask questions and learn from them and above all find common talents amongst all of them and practice those skills.
Learn to work well with others and keep humility as a key character trait. As Chris points out in the book there is an array of people (technicians, engineers, scientists, other astronauts, doctors, and administrators) involved in any space mission. These people that work behind the scenes will also have input on who gets accepted into the program. In essence, teamwork is huge. In the book, there are many examples of the ripple effect, on how Chris has made decisions and the effects it has on others. So, understanding how you can affect others is important and that is true teamwork.
My interview with Tyler Williams https://www.thecareerguy.ca/episodes/the-life-of-a-musician demonstrates this. He makes a point in that he has to be able to get along with other musicians as he plays in a variety of ensembles. In his life, he will move from orchestras to other bands and of course a studio as well. No matter how good he is if he does not get along with other musicians, they may not invite him back, which can limit his career. This is one of the key takeaways from his interview and Chris’s book - to be able to get along with others.
Leadership as Chris puts it is about putting other people’s needs ahead of your own. And more importantly, is being able to recognize that your way may not be the right way to do things. He has some good examples of this in the book. In addition, as I read the book there are many exercises, where they have been tested mentally and physically. This of course enables his true character to flourish, which is just as important as the technical abilities and a person’s credentials as well. As in space and life, things can and will go wrong and it is learning to deal with adversities when they arise. As Chris emphasizes attitude is everything.
My interview with Paul McNeil https://the-career-guy.simplecast.com/episodes/a-passion-for-geoscience-working-as-a-paleontologist stresses that keeping an open mind is what has helped him in his career but also conducting his research as well when he was doing his graduate work. Understanding that there is more than one way to address a problem. It is just learning to evaluate which way or method is better is a takeaway from his interview.
Family is the last section of this blog that I will talk about. In reading this book it is clear that Chris had the support of his family (wife and kids) throughout his journey as an astronaut. Near the beginning of the book, Chris does mention that he almost quit this dream of becoming an astronaut but his wife encouraged him to pursue it. In addition, the lifestyle of an astronaut is intense and there are many days when he was not at home but traveling and of course in space as well which all puts a strain on family life. In addition, knowing and understanding the risks of space travel also warrants a certain level of appreciation for your family members. My interview with Megan Burns the life of a social worker talks about https://www.thecareerguy.ca/episodes/an-inside-look-at-social-work how understanding how important our families are to us instills a level of gratitude into us, it keeps us humble.
With that, I do recommend this book even if a person does not want to be an astronaut as it is full of good tips and advice just for general life and career development. However, if a person does want to be an astronaut or is considering a career in this area it is a must-read for sure. Thanks for reading this blog and I hope it helps.