BEARING

Bearing is a term that especially sailors are very familiar with. They often say, "take a bearing"; this phrase means using a specific reference point to determine direction. If you do not take a bearing while navigating, after a while, you will not realize that you have strayed from your target or are heading in a different direction, even though your actual direction has changed.

To do this, sailors take a fixed point on the ship and use a distant, fixed object (such as a hill or a lighthouse) as a reference. The sailor at the helm aligns their eye, the fixed point on the ship, and the reference point into a straight line and tries to maintain this alignment throughout the journey. This way, the ship can continue on the same course, heading toward its distant target. Otherwise, a sailor who focuses only on their immediate surroundings may not notice that the ship has deviated from its course.

Sometimes, while trying to reach a target after taking a bearing, a sailor may encounter difficulties beyond their control, such as wind, currents, or waves. In such cases, the bearing may be lost, meaning the alignment is broken. However, a sailor who keeps their distant target in mind will take the bearing again and steer the ship back on course.

The concept of taking a bearing can also be related to our career or life goals. If a person has a goal in life and works toward that goal by using it as a reference point, in the same way a sailor does, they should not lose sight of the direction they have set.

In my youth, I was interested in sailing, and I still try to practice it whenever I can. Taking a bearing was a method I learned and applied to maintain my direction while navigating at sea. Later, during my long career journey, I realized that part of my success was due to this approach. The habits we acquire in our youth contribute to shaping the journey of our lives.

In the work environment, as at sea, we may sometimes face strong winds, storms, and high waves—in other words, crises. Like everyone else, I have experienced these. In such situations, I now understand that I was flexible enough to make the short-term maneuvers required by the circumstances, while still keeping the goal I had taken as my bearing clearly in mind. I can say that the sailing experiences I gained in my youth indirectly and directly influenced my professional life and contributed significantly to shaping my management and leadership style.

I realize that I learned from my personal sailing experiences how to steer the boat steadfastly, patiently, and with resilience toward a certain direction, despite the changing conditions and factors of time. This also allows me, even when it seems like I am drifting away from my goal, to circle back and head toward it again, and to consciously follow this path.

Sometimes, an obstacle appears in front of you, and you need to navigate around it. During this time, you might have to leave the bearing behind temporarily. However, once the obstacle is overcome, it is essential to return to the bearing.

I remember a turbulent period in the early years of my career. During that time, instead of getting upset or giving up, I made a list of how I wanted to see myself in the long term. Then, I gave myself a score for how much I possessed each of the qualities I had identified at that time. In other words, when a crisis occurred, I set a new bearing and started to navigate toward that goal.

Recently, I watched a video that described how important sailing was for a child. It mentioned sailing is a very good activity that not only teaches physics and mechanics but also reinforces discipline, responsibility, and a sense of struggle, showing that the mind is always more important than physical strength and brute force. It also emphasized that it teaches you not to panic when faced with problems, to trust your decisions, and to take responsibility for them. The video concluded with a very meaningful sentence: "Sailing is a way to see the world without a digital screen."

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The sailing and bearing-taking approach I learned in my youth has always guided me in both my professional and personal life in reaching my goals. When faced with difficulties, I have learned to refocus on my target.