Congratulations to Sir Richard Branson on his exhilarating trip to the edge of space last weekend.
I’m excited by Branson’s successful flight for two reasons. First, as industry analyst Caleb Williams put it, “we are democratizing access [to space]. This is a coming of age moment.” It’s hard to believe that space tourism is now a real thing — and a market that’s expected to be worth at least $3 billion by 2030, according to UBS.
Second, and more immediately, it touches on a theme that has long driven my personal and professional lives: possibility.
Just look at what Branson said during the mission: “To all you kids down there, I was once a child with a dream looking up to the stars. Now I’m an adult in a spaceship with lots of other wonderful adults looking down to our beautiful, beautiful Earth. If we can do this, just imagine what you can do.”
I’m going to take this one step further — forget the kids, let’s talk about you for a minute! What’s your dream? What possibility do you imagine for yourself when you close your eyes? What’s your version of Branson’s suborbital space shot?
And no, it doesn’t have to involve you building your own vehicle and taking it somewhere no civilian has gone before. But it’s got to be more than a pandemic pastime like making your own sourdough. Do you want to finally make that career switch you’ve been talking about for years now? Start a new business? Start a family? Dedicate yourself to an athletic or artistic endeavor that seems far-fetched?
Don’t tell me you’re too old for chasing a big dream — Richard Branson turns 71 this week! What’s more, I truly believe this level of passionate pursuit generates energy and vigor that actually add years to your life. At the very least, you’ll have a great story to tell — and zero regrets to dwell on.
So here’s to Sir Richard and to you. Let’s get ready for lift-off!