In 1914, British explorer Ernest Shackleton and his crew of 27 men set sail for Antarctica. It may have been my own experience with expeditions as an Outward Bound instructor and a sea kayak guide that first sparked my interest in Shackleton’s story. Model and inspire optimism [33:37] Shackleton was very aware of what would happen if his crew became pessimistic, frustrated, depressed. Posted on January 13, 2009.Filed under: Civil Rights, U.S. Constitution | Tags: Barack Obama, Clarence Jones, Ernest Shackleton, Jr., Martin Luther King | I just got around to reading Clarence Jones’ article on the upcoming Obama inauguration.In it, Jones, an advisor to Martin Luther King, Jr., makes a profound and wonderful … When things are easy, I hate it. We hope they do the same for you. Brunch on Pearl Street Mall. We hope they do the same for you. Ernest Shackleton on Optimism & Courage . Ernest Shackleton was perhaps the most striking example of good cheer and optimism in the face of incredible odds. Difficulties are just things to overcome, after all. Shackleton's Way is about the famous Antarctic explorer at the beginning of the 20th century. The ice shifted and started to crush the ship. He had all the men cross-train in various roles to increase their stimulation and their competence. No one was going to come save them. Sir Ernest Shackleton believed that an explorer should possess four qualities: optimism, patience, idealism and courage. This book acts as both a biography and a leadership book. Their fate remained uncertain, and Shackleton felt a heavy burden of responsibility. Readings from Shackleton’s book South are performed by John Carty of the Blue Raincoat Theatre Company. Shop Shackleton mug - picture and "Optimism" quote created by LiteraryLasts. It was soon pitched to the side and men had to move off the ship onto the ice. He needed to keep himself, and his men, focused on survival. Shackleton returned to Elephant Island some 137 days after leaving, to rescue the rest of his crew. There was an error submitting your subscription. Because what happened instead was incredible. There could be no dalliance with self-pity. 5. The quality I look for most is optimism: especially optimism in the face of reverses and apparent defeat. Lots of nuggets to remember; my favorite quote is, "Optimism is true moral courage." One man wrote in his journal after a particular celebration that it was “one of the happiest day of my life.”. Copyright Climer Consulting | All Rights Reserved, Contact Amy at 608.358.0840 or amy@climerconsulting.com | leadership & team development • creativity & innovation training • facilitator training. Model and inspire optimism [33:37] Shackleton was very aware of what would happen if his crew became pessimistic, frustrated, depressed. 4. Crisis and adversity are not new; we have met them before and we will meet them again. Ernest Shackleton’s discerning mind and contagious optimism makes his leadership legendary and inspiring for so many of today’s leaders in a variety of fields such … The only true failure would be not to explore at all. He had seen it and he had seen it not just in Antarctica, but even just out on ships in Europe and he knew that inspiring them with optimism was critical. Juliana Adelman talks to Kevin Kenny about how Ernest Shackleton and his men were able to maintain optimism in the extreme circumstances of the Antarctic after they … If you’re a leader, a fellow that other fellows look to, you’ve got to keep going. 3. After a 16-day perilous journey they made it to Elephant Island. After a few months, the ice began cracking and splitting and it became too dangerous to stay. It was common for men to die during the journey. First, he adapted to the ship getting stuck in the sea ice and needing to hunt for food and find warmth. Details. On August 1, 1914, aboard the Endurance , Shackleton would set sail for Antarctica for the third time. Button Text. As quoted in South with Shackleton by L. D. A. Hussey and in The National Geographic Magazine (1998), Vol. He kept the more pessimistic and ornery folks in his tent, lest they infect the others. Keep everyone (including and especially himself) too busy to die. They eventually made it to a whaling station at Stromness. He looked for optimism and cheerfulness in the people he hired. “Optimism is true moral courage.” Ernest Shackleton. His optimism was contagious. It was a small comfort. Personalize it with photos & text or purchase as is! Although the dire situation, all crew members followed Shackleton's belief … He had seen it and he had seen it not just in Antarctica, but even just out on ships in Europe and he knew that inspiring them with optimism was critical. Despite his experience in the Antarctic, disaster strikes early on when the Endurance is trapped in packed ice and slowly crushed, forcing Shackleton and his men off the ship and stranding them in a sea of ice. Model and Inspire Optimism: Shackleton believed in his mission and in his team. Optimism is the true moral courage: Shackleton and Obama. He intentionally made decisions to inspire optimism in his crew. One crew member described it as “frozen, like an almond in the middle of a chocolate bar.”, The crew made heroic efforts to free the ship. Shackleton was heralded by his team as being “the greatest leader on Earth.” Wow. Optimism: Shackleton called optimism “true moral courage.” He surrounded himself with optimists and managed to keep the tenor of the Endurance disaster surprisingly upbeat. Now check your email to confirm your subscription. Juliana Adelman talks to Kevin Kenny about how Ernest Shackleton and his men were able to maintain optimism in the extreme circumstances of the Antarctic after they had to abandon their ship, the Endurance. He gave his staff the best compensation and equipment he could afford. Caroline Alexander, author of The Endurance, The Story of Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Expedition, writes this about Sir Earnest's optimism. 6. Need to put footprint of courage into stirrup of patience. They could only hope the spring would bring warmer temperatures and free their ship. Shackleton’s Leadership of the Endurance Expedition By Charles Chappell Wharton Executive MBA Program, Class of 2001 On December 5, 1914, Sir Ernest H. Shackleton and 27 men under his command sailed from South Georgia Island in the South Atlantic aboard the barque Endurance. And so Shackleton, Worsley and Tom Crean set off to reach it by foot—climbing over mountains and sliding down glaciers, forging a path that no … There was a resupply station a few hundred miles away, but it proved to be impossible to get there. True to his word, Ernest Shackleton brought every man home. Shackleton is recognised as a role model for his leadership in times of crisis, most notably the 1914 – 1917 ‘Endurance’ expedition where, having lost the expedition ship, he led his 27 crew through one of the greatest ever survival epics. Then, on October 24, 1915, things got much worse. In this episode, "The Professor," Dr. Chris McCusker explores heroic leadership and a quality of character that is urgently needed in a crisis: Optimism. 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