I’m struggling to find my footing in a society that distrusts excellence. I hunted excellence every day for 11 years. While the heat of my face still held its imprint on the pillow, I imagined ways to be better than yesterday. In minuscule moments of pause, I prepared myself for the next opportunity. As the dark defeated the sun, I analyzed the progress I had made and planned for tomorrow. The pursuit was always there. If anyone asked, I pointed to my high-stakes job as a Navy pilot. I never admitted that I loved the hunt. It gave my day meaning and purpose. It filled me with pride.
A dear friend of mine also spent his first career as a Navy pilot, flying jets from carriers, like you. Flight instructor, I believe. Now he flies widebody commercial, and is working on a very different third career. This helps me understand his earlier world. Bravo!
I see a little something hiding between your words on excellence... I'd say the reason it's ended up that we "should" distrust excellence is precisely because most jobs _are_ uninspiring, and excellence at something empty is empty itself—and so it's not just cheapened for the sake of marketing (although that is certainly true), but in that so much of our honest effort is put towards dishonest ends.
I found myself thinking about this piece for days after I first read it. The way you embrace excellence in service of something bigger than yourself is inspiring.
Great writing Latham. Also quite a fan of that set of neurochemicals. : ) When the kids were little and I was craving some excitement I bought a trailer bike I could plop them on and head out on the windy woodland trails near the house. They loved it and it got some of those juices flowing. Ok, not quite an aircraft carrier, but better than sitting around the house.
A dear friend of mine also spent his first career as a Navy pilot, flying jets from carriers, like you. Flight instructor, I believe. Now he flies widebody commercial, and is working on a very different third career. This helps me understand his earlier world. Bravo!
I see a little something hiding between your words on excellence... I'd say the reason it's ended up that we "should" distrust excellence is precisely because most jobs _are_ uninspiring, and excellence at something empty is empty itself—and so it's not just cheapened for the sake of marketing (although that is certainly true), but in that so much of our honest effort is put towards dishonest ends.
Excellent, excellent essay.
Dude. Yes. So pumped you wrote this. Really inspirational...
I found myself thinking about this piece for days after I first read it. The way you embrace excellence in service of something bigger than yourself is inspiring.
Great writing Latham. Also quite a fan of that set of neurochemicals. : ) When the kids were little and I was craving some excitement I bought a trailer bike I could plop them on and head out on the windy woodland trails near the house. They loved it and it got some of those juices flowing. Ok, not quite an aircraft carrier, but better than sitting around the house.
Wow. I get a hit of adrenaline reading this. But to live it, and know you have. Wow.
Mediocrity is for the birds. Excellence is the only way!
A Latham gem. Awesome piece my friend!
This newsletter is excellent!