PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT “Everyone from that mission still talks daily — more than a month after the flight. It brought home the fact that all great things in life need a welltrained crew in sync with each other to succeed.” — DYLAN TAYLOR Was this the ultimate “big picture” experience, and what did you feel? Did it move you in any way? Yes, absolutely. This was a transformational experience. I would even call it transcendent. Seeing the Earth from space changes you. It has been said before, but the fragility of Earth is so apparent from space, not to mention the sheer beauty of our planet. I don’t think it’s possible to see the Earth from space and not be significantly impacted. Why should every CEO go to space? The industry needs pioneers who will show the path forward and take risks. Many CEOs embody that ethos, and inmany ways, it’s a leadership quality. In addition, the worldview you develop from getting out of the fishbowl can profoundly change you as a human being andmake you a more empathetic and humanistic person. Did any business opportunities come to mind during your preparation and the mission? One thing that came to mind is astronaut training as a business. I had so much fun training in the lead-up to the flight that I wouldmost certainly pay just to do that. The simulations are fun. You never know what you will get, so each simulation is like a puzzle to solve. They are all super interesting and enjoyable. What did you learn about teamwork and collaboration? We bonded very tightly as a crew. You are really in the trenches together and ultimately putting your life on the line. This environment brings everyone very close together. Everyone from that mission still talks daily —more than a month after the flight. It brought home the fact that all great things in life need a well-trained crew in sync with each other to succeed. Would you do it again, and why? I would go in a heartbeat. It was the most impactful experience of my life, and there hasn’t been a day since the flight that I haven’t missed that experience. I can’t wait to go again. n THOUGHTS FROM ABOVE DylanTaylor, the chairman and CEOof Voyager Space, recently tookflight into space. He shared his experiencewith Real Leaders . SUMMER 2022 / REAL-LEADERS.COM 35
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