Optics

The most powerful telescope in the world is the James Webb Space Telescope which is 100 times more powerful than the Hubble Space Telescope. It is so sensitive to infrared light it would be able to detect even a slight heat of a bumblebee on the moon. Technically, it could also see details as small as a U.S. penny at a distance of about 25 miles. It is currently over a million miles away from earth with the intent of spending the next 10-plus years exploring the depths of the cosmos and sending back pictures of our universe from its earliest days. What people don’t realize is that these breathtaking photos of deep space are not what the telescope sees initially. Most celestial objects, such as nebulas, emit colors that are too faint for human eyes to make out. It takes a telescope, letting light build up in its CCD over time, to see the rich hues. Long exposure, multiple filters, and thousands upon thousands of photos are combined together to create a depiction of what these telescopes see.

At its core our life is spent in the pursuit of understanding ourselves and understanding others. Just like the optics of a telescope, a snapshot will never give you the whole picture. It takes long exposure and multiple filters. We spend a lot of time trying to figure out why we are here, and how we fit in this intricate web that we call the human experience. If you really sit down and think about it though, there are almost eight billion people on the earth, and not one person views the world exactly like another. Our experience is personalized to us. No one will ever know what we see, and how we see it.

Usually, when someone refers to optics, they aren’t talking about the scientific study of sight or the behavior of light. They are talking about how someone is perceived. They talk about being able to flag deception and dishonesty. Because our perceptions feel very real to us, we end up spending a lot of time worried about others’ perceptions as well. As soon as we wake up each day and start making choices, optics guide almost every decision. Why? Because whether we want to admit it or not, how others perceive us and our reputation absolutely matters. I am not saying that this shouldn’t matter, because it should. The impression you make on others is a very important tool to make an impact. You can’t reach someone if you give off the wrong impression. While I think how you come off to others is very important, I also think optics most often generates victims, not heroes. We are sometimes so worried about how we are perceived by others that it can prevent us from taking the necessary steps to better ourselves. It can prevent us from stepping outside of our comfort zone.

I am currently reading Mavericks: How Bold Leadership Changes the World by Goddard, Lewis, and Batcheller-Adams. I am leading an Athenian Dialogue Session at the International Institute of Municipal Clerks national conference in Minneapolis this spring and we will be talking about this book in a day-long session.

This book is about discovering how to awaken your maverick mindset. A maverick is someone who has the ability to face the most pressing challenges and doesn’t settle for anything less. The authors talk about the five characteristics that you can develop to become a maverick leader. Passionate belief, an undeterred attitude, being resourceful, being directional, and experimenting. The intent of this book is to take these characteristics and create a foundation to grow into an iconic and positive change-maker.

I think change-makers are defined by the following characteristics. None of which have optics as a primary concern.

Passionate belief. When Mavericks spot an opportunity or cause they believe in, they will stop at nothing to make that a reality.

Undeterred attitude. Mavericks are willing to travel upstream and reinvent the rules when needed.

Experimenting. Leading change only happens through learning what works, and what doesn’t, then adapting accordingly.

Being resourceful. Mavericks use what they have at their disposal and find creative ways to get things done. They embed love for the people in their lives and in their work, and resources come from the relationships they develop.

Being directional. Mavericks always consider the long run in every decision they make and focus their efforts with a specific intention.

Here is the thing about being a maverick. Optics are not at the forefront of every decision they make. A maverick first and foremost is someone who spots opportunities that will contribute to the greater good. They creatively set about innovating to fulfill that opportunity. Taking risks and making an impact rarely starts with optics as the main consideration. Always worrying about how others perceive you can be a hindrance to making a positive lasting impact.