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Big Dreams

The story-telling in The Space Barons is engaging and offers interesting insights into why the commercial space companies came into existence. Millions around the world are fascinated by space exploration, science-fiction, the possibility of life beyond earth yet only a handful have the wherewithal to convert that fascination to a commercially viable venture. This book is about that ultra select minority and the origin stories of their space companies. Much closer to the earth and for way lesser mortals there could be some useful lessons to learn. If you are able to hold on to a big and impossible dream close to your heart for a very long time, chances are you will make the incremental moves to be able to give that dream a shot at reality. It does not have to be about colonizing Mars. There are other dreams that could feel just as outrageous when adjusted to the scale of the person dreaming that dream.

These men stayed tethered to their big dream and found ways to realize it. That was one thing I took away. The other was about timing and readiness to seize opportunity. Come to early and no one is ready for you, come too late and the train has left the station without you. Come unprepared and even the best of times can't help you with speed to deliver. Assessing timing and readiness to execute are key to realizing audacious dreams. As I read the book, I thought of some young people I know who have very "outlandish" ideas about the life and career they want. Most adults think after getting some hard knocks of real-life these folks will come to their senses. It sounds like they would be best served not coming to their senses but forging ahead assuming their plans will come to fruition, preparing well and hard to seize the window of opportunity when it does open.

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