There are many
important and valuable life lessons that we can gather from the adventurous
life of one of history’s most famous pioneers. Christopher Columbus had many
ups and downs in his life, but he never let that stop him from what he wanted
to achieve. I think we can learn most from Christopher Columbus strong and
brilliant character. We can learn from his innovative thinking, persistence,
and his mental strength. Columbus was definitely a man to be admired and
deserves all the credit and glory he receives in our country and around the
world.
Christopher
Columbus demonstrated several remarkable traits that are just as applicable
today as lessons in as they were more than five centuries ago.
1.
Have
Big Bold, Passionate Purpose and Don’t Be Afraid to Be Different
The initial
purpose of the expedition organized by Columbus was to find a shorter way to
China and India to stop Muslim domination of the trade routes through the
Middle East. He did have a personal interest in this event, of course. However,
the success of this expedition would impact not only him and his country but
also all of Europe.
In his day ship
captains kept in sight of the shore, ensuring they would not fall of the edge
of the Earth or be consumed by sea monsters. Columbus understood that if he
continued to do the same thing everyone else was doing, he would at best
continue to get the same results as everyone else. If you want to achieve
something great it is going to have to be by doing something different than
what everyone else is doing.
2.
Believe
in Yourself, Even if No One Else Does
Everywhere
Christopher Columbus went people laughed at him for his idea that the Earth was
round as he traveled Europe looking for support. He was sent away time after
time. His peers and colleagues in the sail industry thought him to be a mad man
for making such suggestions. Everywhere he went sharing his idea he was
dismissed, ridiculed and marginalized. It is very easy to stat to listen to the
voices of the naysayers. They will always be around. Leaders who believe in
their mission will ignore the naysayers and continue moving forward.
3.
Be
Passionate About What You Do
Christopher
Columbus first sailed as a teen. He never considered any other activity, even
when one of his voyages nearly cost him life in 1476. One of his quotes
perfectly describes his passion:
“I went
to sea from the most tender age and have continued in a sea life to this day.
Whoever gives himself up to this art wants to know the secrets of Nature hear
below. It is more than forty years that I have been thus engaged. Wherever anyone
has sailed, there I have sailed”.
It’s not enough
to have passion. You need to share it with your investors, partners, employees,
and customers. That’s how they know that your products and services are
perfected, and your business will survive hard times as well.
4.
Find
People Who Believe In You
Columbus had big
bold purpose, self-confidence, and passion – but no one would take a risk of
financing his expedition if it weren’t for his professionalism. Columbus was a
great sailor. He made four transatlantic voyages and even survived a shipwreck.
On his first
voyage into the Atlantic Ocean, the commercial fleet he was sailing with was
attacked by French privateers off the coast of Portugal. His ship was burned,
and Columbus had to swim to the Portuguese shore. In addition, after
participating in several other expeditions to Africa, Columbus gained knowledge
of the Atlantic currents flowing east and west from the Canary Islands.
His views,
ideas, passion, and experience convinced Ferdinand II and Isabella I of Spain
to finance his expedition.
Leaders know
they cannot be successful alone. They need the support of people who believe in
them. Even if those people are uncertain themselves, they believe enough to put
themselves on the line and be part of your team. Queen Isabella and King
Ferdinand of Spain were the first. And then there were the people on his crew.
Each of his supporters may have had different goals and objectives than
Columbus, but they were all aligned in supporting him in his efforts.
Undoubtedly some were less supportive than others. It doesn’t matter. Great
leaders use this support, whatever the level, to move forward.
5.
Stick
To Your Goals
And last, but not
least…we know that Ferdinand II and Isabella I of Spain supported the initial
expedition, but Columbus had a hard time making this happen. In fact, he
proposed a three-ship voyage of discovery across the Atlantic first to the
Portuguese king, then to Genoa and finally to Venice. He was rejected each
time.
Later in 1486,
he went to the Spanish monarchy of Queen Isabella, and Ferdinand II, whose
nautical experts were skeptical, so they initially rejected Christopher
Columbus. However, the monarchs were intrigued by the idea and kept Columbus on
a retainer. In 1492 they agreed to finance his expedition. That’s how
Christopher Columbus discovered America.
The world
could’ve seen much more brilliant ideas if only their creators kept going, even
after initial rejection. And the truth is most of the time you don’t need
massive efforts to make something happen.
While we may
not be as adventurous as Columbus, we can draw a lesson or two from his
perseverance to realize his vision. In order to realize our life goals, we need
to do what it takes to achieve it, even in the face of repeated failures.
Failures are what we steer away from, but it’s failures that will ultimately
lead us to success. Such an irony!
As an important
historical character, we remember Columbus this day on our calendar, but we can
also learn about life, leadership, good and evil, our humanity, and character
which glorifies God or character that brings Him disgrace. The challenge for all business entrepreneurs,
developers and leaders is to learn from history; even from the story of
Christopher Columbus.
