Helping to make humanity a multi-planet species while also improving life here on Earth

In June 2023, the world was captivated by a four-day search for Titan, a five-person research submersible lost in the Atlantic. The media portrayed the company’s co-founder/CEO as a charismatic con-man who misled wealthy tourists to fund his ocean exploration innovations. Human exploration always involves risks, including injury or death. Disruptive innovation often faces resistance, and challenging institutionalized conventional wisdom is difficult.

Mars has long fascinated us as a potential human destination, championed by figures like Elon Musk, Bob Zubrin, and Buzz Aldrin. As space nations aim for the Moon, a future on Mars seems possible. But what about Venus? Unlike Mars, with its 38% of Earth’s gravity and unknown reproductive viability, Venus offers 98% of Earth’s gravity. While Venus’s surface is hostile, scientists believe conditions in its atmosphere could be Earth-like.

Exploration and entrepreneurship share similarities, requiring unique leadership in risky situations. While some are natural leaders, the best leaders are lifelong learners, continuously refining their skills. Leadership differs from management; it involves mastering multiple styles, inspiring and connecting with others, and balancing empathy with humility. Although natural leaders may have an advantage, leadership principles can be taught and applied by anyone.

The term “sustainability” is widely overused in the 21st century, making the task of sustaining Earth for 8 billion people seem daunting. Despite the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals set over a decade ago, progress remains elusive. As we explore making humanity a multi-planet species, establishing space communities could offer solutions to Earth’s issues. Lessons from space could significantly benefit Earth.

During the Apollo 13 crisis, NASA’s Flight Director Gene Kranz declared, “failure is not an option.” In contrast, Silicon Valley embraces the motto, “fail early, fail often.” Which approach is correct? The human mind learns more from failure than success, making risk essential for success. Silicon Valley and NASA are outliers. Statistically, most entrepreneurs fail multiple times before succeeding, with exceptions like Gates, Jobs, Zuckerberg, Bezos, and Musk.

Every explorer embarking on a dangerous journey often faces the question, “Why are you doing this?” Their rehearsed answers may not fully reveal their true motivations, as they might be simply following their instincts. Studying the explorer’s mindset can offer valuable insights for our own challenges. While staying in our comfort zone is a natural survival instinct, venturing beyond it is counterintuitive yet necessary.

Entrepreneurs need a bit of madness to tackle projects that consume their lives for years, facing high failure risks. Startup life isn’t for everyone, but the lessons learned are invaluable for fostering innovation in established businesses. These lessons include embracing failure, managing risk, clearly articulating a purpose, setting ambitious goals (BHAGs), building professional networks, and promoting servant leadership.