Early in my sea going career one of the Senior Officers aboard the ship (I was on) introduced me to his wife and teenage son and daughter when we stopped at a coastal US city to load some cargo. This was where they all lived. They all met up and were going out to dinner before we set out on our two month trip to Central and South America. The ship we were on was commonly called a ‘stick’ ship. This was because it had booms and hatches carrying break bulk cargo of all different types. Due to … [Read more...]
Where is Your Safe Place?
Ships at sea are witnesses to the art of nature. The beauty of a sunset as the red, orange and purple colors bring a close to the day. The wonder of a sunrise as the light from the sun seems to come right out of the ocean on the horizon. There are the dangers brought from nature as well. Ships are exposed to all of the elements of nature. The fury of a storm with strong winds and heavy seas tossing a ship about like a mere cork floating in the open ocean. For years if the storm was … [Read more...]
Does Your Wheelhouse Keep You In A Bubble?
I’m in total agreement that your specialty, when you’re in your wheelhouse it’s a special thing. An expertise of great value. Who said ‘knows a lot about everything, is a master of none!’ – being in your wheelhouse is just the opposite. What does Malcolm Gladwell say ‘to be an expert do something for 10,000 hours?’ The wheelhouse aboard an oceangoing ship can be a lonely place. You really don’t want there to be any distractions. So generally people have to stay clear. This means for … [Read more...]
Where’s Your Wheelhouse?
This month the nautical theme is the wheelhouse. Typically called the bridge. This subject will then be tied into a topic, a teaching, something that may be utilized by you in your business, career path and personal development. The wheelhouse was a small enclosure around the ship's wheel on the quarter deck of sailing ships years ago. On ships today, the wheelhouse refers to the bridge of smaller motor vessels, such as tugs. Orders to the helmsman are passed to an enclosed wheel house, … [Read more...]
Can You Be Replaced By Automation?
Lighthouses have been the theme for this month. One of the topics within this theme has been the central figure all the way through history providing open fires, controlled wax burning frames, oil or coal based fires and ultimately electrical light. The central figure was the involvement of humans to control the light. Today, virtually all lighthouses are run by machines and remote monitoring. There are automatic sensors deciding if there is extra moisture in the air requiring the fog … [Read more...]
What Is The Purpose?
When you decide to spend time, effort and money on something do you always have a defined purpose for what you are doing? For example - The two main purposes of a lighthouse are to serve as a navigational aid and to warn boats of dangerous areas. It is like a traffic sign on the sea. So lighthouses were not built for the purpose of being in a perfect scene for a painting or a photograph. Although lighthouses are in an amazing number of paintings and photographs! It is also critically … [Read more...]
