On May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy challenged NASA to safely send an American to the moon within a decade. It was an ambitious goal considering the technological limitations and the multitude of obstacles that had to be overcome.
Although the President’s agenda was to stay ahead of the Soviets, the Apollo program united the nation towards one giant goal. The goal to go where no one else has gone before. With the collective wisdom of the nation, the unfathomable journey to the moon was made a reality in relatively short amount of time.
Apart from pride and the sense of accomplishment, humanity gained very little by having a man walk on the moon. However, the process, the journey to moon, is what moved humanity forward and continues to do so.
“We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept…” President Kennedy
Apollo mission wasn’t just a race, it was a challenge to advance and inspire humanity. The nation and the rest of the world gained tremendous amount of knowledge that changed the course of history. Many industries such as the aerospace, communications, medical, security, transportation, energy, and the atmospheric sciences continue to benefit from the research done for the Apollo project.
How does the Apollo project relate to us on a personal level?
On January of 2017, I set a goal for my wife and I to have a net worth of $1 million dollars by 2027. It was, and still remains, an ambitious goal. We were starting with debt which included student loans, a car loan, and credit card debt. In total, we had about $60,000 worth of debt. With that being said, $1 million net worth in 10 years was a crazy idea. But why not us? Why give up before we try?
I know the goal is ridiculous; but I prefer to remain optimistic. The end goal is not the money. Money is just a measure of our progress. Whether we reach our goal or not, we will not be where we started. This is about the journey, the new experiences, new challenges, and the possibilities that awaits. I have already gotten my shoes dirty. And so far, I have realized some of the following benefits:
- Financially literacy: Since 2017, I have read books, articles, and listened to various podcast and watched videos to learn about money management. There is a lot to learn and after 2 years, I have just scratched the surface.
- Structure or roadmap: When in school, we have a program to follow. As a freshman, we are given a roadmap to guide us to our goal of graduating in 4 years. In life, we lack that structure and most people get lost and never make any significant progress. By having such a big goal, I have a sense of direction. I know when I’m moving forward, when I’m stagnant, and when I’m loosing ground.
- Feeling in control: Life is full of surprises – some are fair and others not so much. But instead of feeling hopeless when bad luck comes my way, I prefer to look at it as a challenge. Our response matters when it comes to life’s unexpected moments. By taking care of my finances, I will be facing most of the life’s challenges from a position of strength. I want to give myself a fighting chance.
- Freedom: Financial independence (FI) is something that we should all struggle to attain. When you have reached FI, money is no longer the driving factor. That means, you can jump on opportunities that are rich in experience even if they have less monetary value. We also gain the freedom of mind. By eliminating stress caused by lack of money, we can think freely and more creatively.
If you feel lost or not in control of your situation, try setting a goal that motivates you. A goal that makes you excited about life and the possibilities that lie ahead. A goal that gets you out of your comfort zone. Maybe you’re a pessimist by nature, and believe the future is doomed, but you owe it to yourself to practice some optimism.
A big goal might seem unreasonable, but it allows us to be creative, to be open minded, to be collaborative, to have hope, and to have a sense of purpose. It ignites imagination, the desire to be more, to do more and to inspire others.
Thank you for reading
