I’ve heard it said that the most courageous person in the world was the first person ever to swallow a raw oyster. My own vote for most courageous goes to the folks who took the challenge to land a man on the moon and safely return him – along with the amazing astronaut who first touched down on the lunar surface. I remember how unreal that idea seemed to the child I was at the time and wondering whether I would have the courage to stand on the moon. (Since then I’ve committed to bold living, but it took me until age 58 to finally eat a raw oyster.) I remember watching JFK speaking to Americans, and seeing images of the first landing on the moon. I remember my family huddled in front of a square TV box with rabbit ears. What a difference in technology!

How much significance we attach to the events we remember – oyster eating or lunar landing — depends on the quality of the memory and the level of emotion evoked by it. We all encounter great challenges in our lifetimes; we generate new ideas every day; yet, many of those challenges and ideas remain just that. So, where do we find the magic that pushes us to overcome overwhelming challenges or transform a single strange idea into a world-changing event? Does it come from outer space, from the reaches of God’s into our minds and hearts? Or from what we learn about ourselves and our potential as we age?

What was so magical about the way President John Fitzgerald Kennedy used his glorious vision that he was able to lead a nation and a world on a quest through outer space? What is the takeaway for us? Can we peek inside the model he used to transform just one more fantastic idea into an event of world-shifting significance and learn something for ourselves?

Let’s see — JFK launched America’s lunar expedition with an unbelievably exciting vision. He painted us a picture of a man on the moon. He also spoke language that propelled action. Translating his vision into words and pictures, he pushed the button to mankind’s inner spirit and drove a nation to embrace the unusual and unfathomable. In turn, a nation pushed itself to achieve immeasurable excellence in space science, rocketry, logistics, and management while profoundly validating the power of human will.

We learned from JFK that people will rally around a provocative belief. In this case, the belief that Americans should be first on the moon. Beneath it lay the breakthrough belief that people can achieve anything and everything because we are graced with God-given potential. Simply touch spiritual belief, kindle a point of pride, evoke the senses, and you fire the fuel of creativity. The model is that simple. So what does that mean in our daily lives? When we learn to connect creative vision to a purpose higher than our own daily being, link it with a message that transports humanity to new heights, engage people and nations toward greater cooperation, and reach across the universe, we release that magic. We release the raw power of human emotions to draw from unfathomable, innate strength and creativity. It sounds like marketing to me.

JFK embarked on a mission. He fostered teamwork and desire in America by learning what moves people and then challenging us to win the race into space. He made it important, inspired us with belief in American principles and made being American feel like the blessing it is. JFK focused our nation on the previously inconceivable: landing human beings on the moon. He led this vision for humanity and transformed vast imagination into concrete reality. He unleashed positive, world changing action through national pride, and his gift was a legacy that we can, should, and will rekindle together — American pride – along with a lasting vision for the American Space Program.

How can you unleash positive world changing action. What message and vision would you communicate to the world now if you could? — Thanks for Reading! Donna Anselmo