Accomplishing the Impossible Mission
When war broke out between America and Spain in 1898 over the geopolitical control of the then Spanish colony of Cuba, it became absolutely imperative for the American president to contact a Cuban insurgent named Garcia.
McKinley was the American president and Calixto Garcia e Iniguez was a leader of the Cuban insurgents who had been fighting the Spanish since the ten years war of 1868-1878.
McKinley and his generals knew that if they were to win the war, an impossible mission had to be accomplished, and accomplished without delay.
They had to enlist the co-operation and assistance of Garcia.
Garcia knew the positions and the conditions of the Spanish troops well, and was also very familiar with the Cuban terrain.
The Americans needed this information, and also needed Garcia as an ally.
McKinley needed to send a letter to Garcia urgently.
There was a problem-a very big one.
It was an impossible mission to accomplish.
No one knew where Garcia was; let alone how to get to him.
However, two things were known.
Firstly, that Garcia was somewhere in the vast mountainous forests of Cuba, and secondly that the forests and mountains were already heavily infested by hostile Spanish troops.
For long McKinley and his generals had no answer to this conundrum until one day one of the generals said to the president, "I know a fellow by the name Rowan, if anybody can find Garcia this man can.
" A little known junior soldier by the name Rowan Summers was called by the president and given his mission.
All Rowan said was,"Yes, sir".
He did not ask, "Who is Garcia? Where do I find him? Who will go with me? How do I get there? Where is the money for the journey? Where do I get the directions? How do I evade the Spanish troops?" Or, "How much will I be paid?" He simply took the letter, folded it and hid it in his jacket and disappeared.
Within three weeks Rowan had accomplished the impossible mission, delivered the message and brought back with him a delegation from Garcia to McKinley.
The exact details of how Rowan, in spite of the tribulations, perils and trials traversed the hostile jungle on foot and accomplished the mission are beyond our scope, but it has to be put on record that he accomplished an impossible mission.
From him we can learn a thing or two about how to accomplish our impossible goals and resolutions in 2010 and beyond.
REPUTATION FOR GETTING THINGS DONE Not much is recorded about Rowan's life prior to this mission.
However, one thing is certain.
The fact that the general recommended a young non-commissioned officer to the president, speaks volume about the officer.
The general did not know how Rowan would do it, but he knew that he could and would do it.
It is evident that Rowan's reputation of getting things done preceded him.
Now more than ever the world cries out for people who will get things done in spite of the odds.
Such a trait will put you in good stead in 2010 and beyond.
PREDILECTION FOR PROMPT ACTION Rowan could have asked many questions, but he didn't.
He could have rendered his opinions and offered understandable and acceptable excuses as well as plausible explanations, but he elected not to.
He simply acted promptly.
From this we learn that if we wait for all our questions to be answered and for all our fears-real and imagined-to be allayed we will never reach our goals.
Whining and winning are incompatible and irreconcilable enemies.
You have to embrace one, and spurn the overtures of the other.
For decades the Nike people have been solemnly adjuring us to, "just do it!" It is time to start heeding that call.
It is time to stop whining and start winning.
COMMITMENT TO A WORTHY CAUSE There is a pestilential pandemic in the workplace in particular, and in the world in general.
Increasingly the workplace is being populated by people suffering from an infirmity of the will.
There is no commitment to the work and the job, but there is incessant demand for salary increases.
Technological advances have created a world in which most things can be obtained almost instantly.
There are instant coffee makers, instant cash at the automated teller machines, instant information from the internet; almost anything can be obtained almost instantly.
The crucible of adversity in which character was formed and forged is fast disappearing.
Unfortunately, this has spawned a generation which knows not how to fight the wars of achievement.
Words like perseverance, determination, never -say-die spirit are now like relics from a dead language.
It needed a man of an iron will to achieve what Rowan achieved given that he navigated through the enemy infested forests and for three weeks labored against the inclement weather.
Achievement favors man like Rowan; men whose work hours are not limited by the clock and whose commitment is not driven by the allure of personal aggrandizement.
A man with a malleable will is like a city whose defenses are broken.
No man can commit to a cause unless he finds meaning in his work.
If you give men a worthy cause, motivation will follow easily and achievement will be a natural outgrowth.
You are unlikely to achieve your goals unless you personally find them worthwhile.
You are also unlikely to fulfill your resolutions unless you believe it is worth it.
CAPACITY FOR INDEPENDENT ACTION For Rowan to take the message to Garcia, he needed an ingredient that we will call capacity for independent action.
He did it without the watchful eyes of the supervisor, and without the applause of the spectators and admirers urging him on.
Away from the glare of people Rowan could have thrown the letter into the dustbin or aborted the mission.
Lost deep in the forest with no one but God watching and no one to give an account to, Rowan could have given up.
He remained faithful and loyal to his mission.
You too reader, with no captain and no supervisor, you will need to remain loyal and faithful to your resolutions and goals.
McKinley was the American president and Calixto Garcia e Iniguez was a leader of the Cuban insurgents who had been fighting the Spanish since the ten years war of 1868-1878.
McKinley and his generals knew that if they were to win the war, an impossible mission had to be accomplished, and accomplished without delay.
They had to enlist the co-operation and assistance of Garcia.
Garcia knew the positions and the conditions of the Spanish troops well, and was also very familiar with the Cuban terrain.
The Americans needed this information, and also needed Garcia as an ally.
McKinley needed to send a letter to Garcia urgently.
There was a problem-a very big one.
It was an impossible mission to accomplish.
No one knew where Garcia was; let alone how to get to him.
However, two things were known.
Firstly, that Garcia was somewhere in the vast mountainous forests of Cuba, and secondly that the forests and mountains were already heavily infested by hostile Spanish troops.
For long McKinley and his generals had no answer to this conundrum until one day one of the generals said to the president, "I know a fellow by the name Rowan, if anybody can find Garcia this man can.
" A little known junior soldier by the name Rowan Summers was called by the president and given his mission.
All Rowan said was,"Yes, sir".
He did not ask, "Who is Garcia? Where do I find him? Who will go with me? How do I get there? Where is the money for the journey? Where do I get the directions? How do I evade the Spanish troops?" Or, "How much will I be paid?" He simply took the letter, folded it and hid it in his jacket and disappeared.
Within three weeks Rowan had accomplished the impossible mission, delivered the message and brought back with him a delegation from Garcia to McKinley.
The exact details of how Rowan, in spite of the tribulations, perils and trials traversed the hostile jungle on foot and accomplished the mission are beyond our scope, but it has to be put on record that he accomplished an impossible mission.
From him we can learn a thing or two about how to accomplish our impossible goals and resolutions in 2010 and beyond.
REPUTATION FOR GETTING THINGS DONE Not much is recorded about Rowan's life prior to this mission.
However, one thing is certain.
The fact that the general recommended a young non-commissioned officer to the president, speaks volume about the officer.
The general did not know how Rowan would do it, but he knew that he could and would do it.
It is evident that Rowan's reputation of getting things done preceded him.
Now more than ever the world cries out for people who will get things done in spite of the odds.
Such a trait will put you in good stead in 2010 and beyond.
PREDILECTION FOR PROMPT ACTION Rowan could have asked many questions, but he didn't.
He could have rendered his opinions and offered understandable and acceptable excuses as well as plausible explanations, but he elected not to.
He simply acted promptly.
From this we learn that if we wait for all our questions to be answered and for all our fears-real and imagined-to be allayed we will never reach our goals.
Whining and winning are incompatible and irreconcilable enemies.
You have to embrace one, and spurn the overtures of the other.
For decades the Nike people have been solemnly adjuring us to, "just do it!" It is time to start heeding that call.
It is time to stop whining and start winning.
COMMITMENT TO A WORTHY CAUSE There is a pestilential pandemic in the workplace in particular, and in the world in general.
Increasingly the workplace is being populated by people suffering from an infirmity of the will.
There is no commitment to the work and the job, but there is incessant demand for salary increases.
Technological advances have created a world in which most things can be obtained almost instantly.
There are instant coffee makers, instant cash at the automated teller machines, instant information from the internet; almost anything can be obtained almost instantly.
The crucible of adversity in which character was formed and forged is fast disappearing.
Unfortunately, this has spawned a generation which knows not how to fight the wars of achievement.
Words like perseverance, determination, never -say-die spirit are now like relics from a dead language.
It needed a man of an iron will to achieve what Rowan achieved given that he navigated through the enemy infested forests and for three weeks labored against the inclement weather.
Achievement favors man like Rowan; men whose work hours are not limited by the clock and whose commitment is not driven by the allure of personal aggrandizement.
A man with a malleable will is like a city whose defenses are broken.
No man can commit to a cause unless he finds meaning in his work.
If you give men a worthy cause, motivation will follow easily and achievement will be a natural outgrowth.
You are unlikely to achieve your goals unless you personally find them worthwhile.
You are also unlikely to fulfill your resolutions unless you believe it is worth it.
CAPACITY FOR INDEPENDENT ACTION For Rowan to take the message to Garcia, he needed an ingredient that we will call capacity for independent action.
He did it without the watchful eyes of the supervisor, and without the applause of the spectators and admirers urging him on.
Away from the glare of people Rowan could have thrown the letter into the dustbin or aborted the mission.
Lost deep in the forest with no one but God watching and no one to give an account to, Rowan could have given up.
He remained faithful and loyal to his mission.
You too reader, with no captain and no supervisor, you will need to remain loyal and faithful to your resolutions and goals.
