The annually updated book “What Color Is Your Parachute” by the late Richard Bolles has been a
helpful life and career guide for multiple generations. The basic thrust of the book is one of personally
defining and designing … formulating and reformulating … a life path into which
we can direct our main focus and energy with a high degree of resolve and
purpose – thus creating our own unique “parachute” for our own Grand Leap into
life. [It’s available in most libraries,
and worth at least one thorough perusal.]
Using the parachute paradigm, we have multiple choices in how
we undertake the journey:
1)
Stay on the ground and never experience
“lift-off”;
2)
Allow ourselves to get lofted into the air by
whatever contrivances civilization offers (e.g., parents, schools, civic
organizations, etc.), then take a Grand Leap into our own life journey from
whatever altitude they have helped us attain;
3)
Never go above-and-beyond wherever find
ourselves in the moment, with or without a “lofting lift”, never take the Grand
Leap, and simply “hang on” to our comfort zone, living our lives vicariously
thorough others;
NOTE: The forces that initially launch us
will eventually run out and/or become redirected to other purposes, such that –
at some point – we will be left either to fall or “fly under our own
wind”. This change in conditions may not
be all that precipitous or obvious.
There may be no sudden “release of the reins” at the top. That’s the way it SHOULD be … permitting a
seamless transition from externally applied “lofting” power to internally
generated “lofting” power ... except that the latter has to be fully engaged … and not only wishfully,
wistfully, virtually or vicariously engaged!
4)
Take the Grand Leap without a properly prepared
parachute – or ANY parachute – and simply “wing it” all the way down. [NOTE: “Winging it” rarely gains
altitude!] If you’re really lucky, you
can latch onto someone else with a fully furled parachute and plenty of “wind
in their sails”. However, this is a
highly perilous proposition with an uncertain outcome not necessarily targeted
to optimize one’s personal preferences or potential. Creating stabilizing “ballast” for smoother
sailing is one thing, but becoming a “millstone” is quite another. “Millstones” sometimes need to be cut
loose.
The personalized “color” of the parachute bears some
relation to the preferred target upon which you’re intending to stake your
future claims in life.
It’s important to note that prevailing
winds are subject to change in both force and direction without notice. Thus, it helps not only to be able to “tack”
against the wind, when necessary, but also to have significant anchoring or stabilizing
ballast and to connect with significant others who can help catch the updrafts.
Properly “Packing” your parachute and having intact,
reliable panels – no matter what color they are – is really critical. Consider the case of Charlie Plumb:
And most of us don’t have the luxury of having someone ELSE
pack OUR parachute. Parents, teachers,
coaches, Scout Leaders, etc., all provide some of the raw material and heaps of
guidance, but it’s really up to US to pick the right colors, get the REST of
the material we need (mining the universe), fabricate the final product (masterful
tools and skills are really helpful here), and get it “packed” just right to
carry us through whatever “eventualities” we might encounter.
So how are you doing?
Are you prepared … or in the process of preparing … for the biggest JUMP
of your life – whatever that might be? Let’s
keep MINING for essential raw materials, MASTERING key tools and skills, and
PACKING for the long haul and for the highest altitude we can attain. I’ve gotta go now and work on MY next parachute. It’s gonna have to have heavy duty, high
altitude serviceability! Quartermaster
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