#166 What Type of Mission Are You On?

Welcome back to On The Fly!

It is damn bittersweet that Prof will no longer be a part of OTF…

I will save you from the tears and the extended monologue of how I’m getting through this traumatic event, but before I get into this edition, I do have to express deep gratitude and appreciation for what he did to turn OTF into what it is today.

None of this would have been possible without the wisdom and expertise he bestowed onto the brand from Day 1.

Without him, I wouldn’t have become a writer.

Without him, there would be no OTF.

Without him, I wouldn’t be writing to you.

For that, thank YOU Prof Mike. You’re an absolute wizard when it comes to writing and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for you over the next couple of years. Go do BIG THINGS PROF!

Anyway, thanks for letting me take a moment to recognize a true craftsman.

Now, since I’m flying this plane solo-dolo for the foreseeable future…you’re in for one hell of a ride from here on out.

Buckle up…things are about to get interesting.

This Image is Inspiring AF 🧑‍🚀 

I’ve looked at this photo too many times now and I still can’t fathom what this could have felt like.

For anyone who doesn’t know, this shot is from one of the astronauts aboard Artemis II.

Four astronauts are on a mission, looping around the moon and back to Earth with a purpose to test the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft’s life-support and other systems with humans on board. This will pave the way for future missions that will land astronauts on the lunar surface! 🤯 

When I saw this photo, I couldn’t put my thoughts into words at first. I was in awe.

But eventually, I came to the following conclusion:

AI HUMANS do EPIC things.

Now, your mission doesn't have to involve a rocket or a trip around the moon. Most of the time, the missions that matter the most are the ones nobody else can see…the personal ones we wrestle with every single day.

Just like the team at Artemis II, we’re all on a mission towards something, but only you can determine the type of mission you’re on.

As I grow older, I’m learning the importance of having a mission. You know, like something to work towards. Whether it’s working toward my fitness goals, career goals or even relationship goals.

But, even when I’m working toward something…sometimes I don’t have a mission defined.

Like I'm moving, but I'm not locked in on where I'm going. And I think a lot of us live in that space without even realizing it.

For example, when it comes to health & fitness, I’m still trying to figure out what my mission is.

Like I don’t know if I want to lose weight, gain muscle or really push my body and train for something I’ve never done before…like a marathon.

What I do know is I’ve been lifting weights consistently for the last 2 years, typically 4-5x per week. I’ve gotten more and more active where I’ve built up a habit of walking or running a mile before I start any work out in the gym. It’s a non-negotiable at this point and I love it. I’m eating healthy as well and I’m taking pride in my body as I navigate my 30s.

So one could say my mission is to “get in better shape” or “to take better care of myself” and we call it a day.

But to me, it’s deeper than that. Maybe I’m working towards being extremely healthy now, so that when I become a father, I do everything in my power to remain as healthy as I can be.

And honestly, that's seems like a real mission not some number on a scale or a PR in the gym. It's about becoming the type of person who's ready when it matters most.

James Clear, the author of Atomic Habits, calls these identity-based habits, where you stop chasing a result and start building toward who you want to be.

I'm not there yet, but every small choice is a step closer to the man I'm trying to become.

While my mission is becoming clearer, I'm going to keep defining and refining it as I navigate some big changes coming up.

And as I sit with the extraordinary mission of Artemis II, it's pushing me to look inward, dig deep, and sharpen my own.

But instead of generic missions like “to eat healthier” or “work harder to get that promotion”, I’m looking to go on a mission to do something epic. To really prove myself wrong and crush all the self-doubt I have.

As humans, we’re all creative in our own right.

We’re all aspiring towards something great, whether big or small.

We’re all on a mission to do something EPIC.

So I'll leave you with a question I'd love for you to define for yourself

What mission are you on? 

Before You Go!

I’m forever grateful for your continued support. Thank you for taking time out of your day to read OTF. I hope you enjoyed this one.

A LOT more to come next week!!

Will miss ya Prof, but the show must go on.

Find me on LinkedIn

You are now On The Fly & In The Know.