Sebas Bravo

In 1996, NASA launched the Mars Pathfinder Mission, a project that marked a milestone for planet exploration as it used a “ROVER¹” for the first time to explore the surface of Mars. Just imagine the challenges that this implies, the difficulties and ups and downs of sending a robot to explore another planet! This by itself symbolized a willingness to go forward, an eagerness to craft the future, and a complete source of innovation. However, I think the name of the mission, “Pathfinder,” not only captured what NASA wanted to do on Mars, but also embodies a core value of what the agency stands for: they explore and shape the way.

Following the same line, NASA continued with their odyssey to know more about Mars as in 2004 they launched the next mission, the Mars Exploration Rover (MER²). This expedition included two new rovers: Spirit and Opportunity; their main objective was to know better the geology of Mars by studying the rock records. This research led them to confirm that water once existed on the surface–as we can see, this adventure had an epic meaning that kept all the team motivated. They first started to work with one question in mind: “could Mars have been a habitat for life and can it be one for humanity in the future?,” with a powerful ideal, all the necessary actions follow naturally.

The twin rovers really represented a complete engineering challenge, but the ‘spirit’ of being curious and the ‘opportunity’ of crafting a better future were bigger.

The Space Agency tends to give powerful names to such powerful and meaningful projects, because each endeavor they do have a special value that drives all the actions to take. Furthermore, they not only reach an objective and stop, they continue moving forward by iterating and evolving. A perfect example were the latest missions on Mars, which involves the next generation of rovers: Curiosity, Ingenuity, and Perseverance…

Just like in the past, the organization defied the preconceptions of what was thought impossible and it managed to create an engineering wonder. Curiosity is not only a word, it is an action, it leads our decisions. This curious spirit is what makes us ask deeper questions and it is responsible for taking our efforts further, so when we feel it, we should let it lead.

Nine years later from the launching of Curiosity, Nasa sent what has been its latest–and more advanced–mission, which included: the Perseverance Rover and the Ingenuity Helicopter.

Rover Perseverance

The mission “Mars 2020³” has the main objective of seeking signs of ancient life, collecting samples of rocks, testing new technology and regolith for possible Earth return. “Explore, innovate and go beyond,” this phrase could have easily been the name of the most advanced rover, however, NASA used a word that englobes all of that, “Perseverance.”

The spirit of exploration, the act of facing challenges, the capability of adapting to any situation, and the willingness of going forward… that is perseverance and we all have it within us. This is a word that not only molds our projects and actions, but also our lives. It doesn’t matter how hard it gets, it can always be done. NASA knew this, and what they knew better were the possible setbacks that exploring another planet could imply; however, they decided to persevere, and you can do it too.

The Mars 2020 mission has already achieved great results and will continue to do it. Moreover, this project not only included the rover, but also a helicopter! From here we can notice that all the endeavors that require perseverance, will also need ingenuity.

Ingenuity helicopter

Another engineering wonder⁴. Made by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in collaboration with AeroVironment. The main objective was to act just as a technology demonstrator and to test the flight conditions on Mars; despite being planned to only make five flights and only last only one month, it ended up doing 72 tests and lasting 3 years! A perfect example of being clever and acting with creativity, simply… Ingenuity.

What is incredible about the Space Agency is that they always add great values to such amazing projects, but what keeps all of them motivated is that all the works have an “Epic Meaning,” a bigger purpose that makes perfect sense to all of the people there. I believe we all need to work on our own project, something that fills our souls with joy and that has an Epic Meaning for us, an endeavor in which we could reflect the value we decide to add.

Project with epic meaning!

In my case I have 2 big projects, one is Curiosity Spark⁵ and the other is my Project Perseverance.

The first one is my blog, in which I write about things I find curious and that I know that could help me to grow personally. Moreover, I am aware that these ideas could also ignite the curiosity spark in others, that is why I decided to share these concepts to the world. In a way, I am writing to myself, but if I have the opportunity to inspire others and to help to light up the world, that is a thing I cannot ignore. That is my Epic Meaning.

On the other hand, my Project Perseverance is a self-driven engineering project that I am doing. In this one, I am designing and simulating a Conceptual Mars Helicopter. I am working on this to get hands-on experience in Mechanical Engineering and in Aeronautical Engineering; moreover, I am planning to use this initiative to apply for a scholarship in the future. That is my Epic Meaning.

Both projects fill me with joy, my reward is the mere act of crafting a meaningful object. Let’s explore the benefits of having our own initiative.

The science

It is not a secret that working on a project in which we are passionate, rather than feeling we are doing work, we feel we are just having fun. It is something that we all have experienced many times (at least I bet) in our lives, and this feeling of doing something meaningful is not only related to “office work,” but also to things like: training in the gym, a new painting, or being with loved ones (I can see it, imagine the name of your project is “Love”).

According to the article “The building blocks of a year worth living” posted in Psychology Today⁶, having a personal project can make you achieve a feeling of fulfillment and can keep you motivated toward the days ahead. It all starts by going deep with your life and analyzing the aspects in which you would benefit if you create an endeavor to improve; so first, you need a powerful “why,” or… a powerful value to drive your project.

You will not only enhance one specific area, but also you will gain more focus and will be more aligned with the core values of your life. Your dharma would be filled and your purpose would serve a greater calling. The world is waiting for you, for your craft.

If dreams die, life is like a broken-winged bird that cannot fly. – Adam Grant

Perseverance

Values are chosen beliefs that guide behavior and decision-making, they are the foundation of personality, values are learned and developed and they play an essential role for personal growth⁷.

Not just NASA has great examples of Perseverance, as in 1990 a woman from England was waiting for a delayed train from Manchester to London when, suddenly, an idea of a book sparked in her mind. The idea was so powerful that she started to sketch out the plot of a book that would sell more than 500 million copies; however, at that moment, her life was far from magical. Her marriage ended and she faced the challenges of single motherhood. However, she continued to work on her manuscript, pouring her heart into the story and believing in its potential.

When the book was finished, she faced many rejections from publishers that didn’t believe in the story, but she never gave up and continued sending more copies. Finally, in 1997, her perseverance paid off when Bloomsbury Publishing accepted “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone⁸.” The success of Harry Potter wasn’t just a win for Rowling, it was a testament to the power of perseverance.

Your Project Perseverance

Finally, we reached the main topic of this article, the creation of your Project Perseverance (or the value that best fits your situation). At this moment, it is evident the benefits of having your own project; however, I will bring to the table that it is important that this venture fills your energy, and allows you to go creative. Seek paths that will elevate your life and enhance your sense of adventure. You are a pathfinder.

Do not limitate yourself, your project can be about whatever you want. For example: yes, it could be work related, maybe you can craft a new project to increase the sales in your area or a method to save some time; or your venture can be about going out more often; you can create your “Project Discipline” and start going to the gym; even you can chose the value of “creativity” and start the hobby of drawing; there are endless possibilities and whatever you choose will be the correct option.

This pursuit will help you to become a better person, someone that is more mindful and that strives to go forward.

Tools to create your project

• Plan it
  • Either in a notebook or in a digital platform (like Notion).
  • Make a definition of what you want to do.
  • Define the kind of person you want to be.
• Schedule it
  • As it is personal and nothing much happens if we don’t do it, we should have a feeling of commitment to really do it.
  • Break it into tiny goals and track them to feel achievement.
• Visualize you and your project
  • The secret of visualization is not just seeing but to “feeling.” For that reason I recommend you to try the “5 senses meditation,” in your visualization look for:
    • 5 things you can see.
    • 4 things you can touch.
    • 3 things you can hear.
    • 2 things you can smell.
    • 1 thing you can taste.
• Make it fun
  • Create rewards (like going to the cinema when a milestone happens).
  • Create a map.
  • Listen to music.
  • Change the location.
  • Create adventures.
• Finish it / improve it
  • Work with discipline.
  • Create a “post-mortem,” this means to analyze what went right and what went wrong, and use this data when creating your next project.
• Start a new project / adventure.

🎫 Your ticket to improvement

One of my main beliefs is that we read to acquire knowledge, but it is worthless if we never apply it into our life, as Ryan Holiday states: “The goal is to put these words into works.” And that “work” could literally be anything: self-reflection, improvement, the start of an action, start crafting an idea, or words in your journal.

Therefore, I will ask you to see yourself as a “scientist of self-improvement,” one that seeks to find the formula to turn that spark into blazing fire. Or a “data scientist” who is gathering information from any place to build a “highest version mathematical model.” So, create your hypothesis and do your experiments to validate if these actions work for you. Go to your Lab and start crafting (by the way, I have a free Excel called “The Lab⁹,” which is designed for these experiments).

Without further ado, take your ticket 🎟️:

Becoming a “Pathfinder” by creating your project

A pathfinder is someone or something that discovers or pioneers a new course or path, especially through unexplored or challenging territory. It often refers to a person who leads the way or finds new opportunities and methods in various fields, such as exploration, innovation, or strategy. The main goal is to embark on a journey of personal growth, creative expression, and purposeful living. By crafting and pursuing a project with meaning, you will not only achieve external results but also develop a deeper connection to your passions.

You are about to start an exciting adventure: designing a project that reflects your values, passions, and goals. The journey starts with curiosity and leads to creating a path forward. Following this thought, create your map for this adventure and take the leap:

• Reflect on your “Epic Meaning”
  • Ponder about: “What is the great thing I would like to achieve and how will it change my life? What challenges have I always wanted to take on?”
• Define your “value”
  • Ponder about: “What value or virtue would I like to embody?”
  • Name your project.
• Visualize your life
  • Practice the 5 senses meditation.

Remember that it is important to keep your activities fun and to constantly track them to achieve a feeling of fulfillment.

• Ponder about: “How would this look like if it were fun?”
• Break the project into: milestones and tasks. Every night reflect about your progress and feel proud for taking action towards becoming your highest version.

No matter what you do, you are already making an impact in the world. Your project could be anything that makes you feel joy. I invite you to turn on your Curiosity Spark and leave a great legacy based on what you most love. Will you convert it into a blazing fire?

Footnotes

1. The term refers to robotic explorers specifically designed to move across and investigate the surface of planets, moons, or other celestial bodies. Normally, they are equipped with cameras, sensors, and other scientific tools to collect valuable data. Unlike stationary landers, rovers have the ability to “rove;” they are made to withstand harsh environments. You can find more about Rovers here. ↩︎
2. If you are curious and would like to know more about this mission, go to this link: https://science.nasa.gov/mission/mars-exploration-rovers-spirit-and-opportunity/ ↩︎
3. More about the Mars 2020 mission here. ↩︎
4. Literally, Ingenuity Helicopter has an amazing story, I leave the link here in case you would like to know more about it: https://science.nasa.gov/resource/the-legacy-of-ingenuity-the-frontier-of-extraterrestrial-flight/ ↩︎
5. That’s right, this blog. I invite you to subscribe! ↩︎
6. Here you can find the complete article. ↩︎
7. More about values here. ↩︎
8. The story of J. K. Rowling and the publication of the book “Harry Potter” is fascinating, I really recommend this lecture. ↩︎
9. If you would like to get your Lab Excel completely for free, all you have to do is to subscribe to my Substack or to my newsletter (will come soon). ↩︎

Viventem gradatim; gradatim ferociter