Scott’s decision to spend 340 days in space was a personal one.

Would you spend a year in space if you could? What about Scott—why did he spend a year in space?

A decision to travel to what is unfamiliar in every way and be disconnected from the very ground you walk on … Wow! Many people make this brave decision: our military men and women, people engaged in international business, and astronauts, to name a few.

What calls a person forward to journey the unfamiliar? An adventurous spirit, of course, but also personal attributes that allow one to feel the call, see the greater good, and act with courage. And what are those personal attributes?  Think of your own journeys made through the unfamiliar. Possibly in varying degrees, you had a a personal connection with the journey’s mission; a desire to be part of the greater good and advance something valuable; and a knowing that you possessed the required talent, skills, aptitude, experience, and fortitude, and that you were the right person for the job.

This awareness of self often serves as a catalyst for moving through barriers, whether they’re erected by our emotions, thoughts, or physical limitations–or even by our imaginations! Your pursuit in seeking a meaningful connection to life at work is similar to Scott’s pursuits of the same. And that pursuit can require a big decision and a big investment.

The plan to spend 340 days in space was an international and team effort.

Your plan for pursuing a meaningful life at work is a team effort, too. And vital to that plan is your career network. If barriers–real or imagined–press you away from the space that is your calling, your vocation, the work you need to be doing, often it’s your network that helps guide you back to that space where your greatest gladness and the world’s deep hunger intersect.

Scott’s love for science, his greatest gladness, and the United State’s mission for exploration is an illustration of this intersection. Your career team (your network) is vital to your career effort—vital to your great gladness becoming a gift that satisfies the deep hunger of others.

NASA Professionals are on Scott’s team—who is on your team?

A good career team consists of …

• a coach or counselor who can guide you from the insideout
• trusted friends who know the part of you that you are not aware of yourself and will give you honest feedback
• professionals who inspire you to take a class and learn new skills
• people who are relationship connectors

Does all of this sound like a lot of work? It is! Go for it. It’s worth every phone call, email, and meeting.