I had an emotional conversation with a
colleague last week, He confessed he saw great potential in me and
advised me not to lose sight of my purpose or settle for less than
what my values are. One thing he was particularly alarmed about is
that I might someday lose my outspoken, independent voice in the
space sector. Rest assured, readers, I will not. But the conversation
did get me thinking.
When I started my company 3 years ago,
I didn't know what I was doing. I had no compass, no map, no
guidebook. I accepted any space-related work, even work that was only
of marginal interest to me. I focused on my clients' missions and
goals to the determent of my own. I was overworked (and significantly
underpaid), pouring my time and energy into others' visions for their
companies. I quickly realized clients aren't my compass. My company
is a reflection of my values.
And so, yesterday I created a vision
statement for my company. I usually ignore company mission, vision,
and purpose statements, full of corporate prose but empty of
substance. But it was time for my tiny company to grow in vision.
Astralytical's vision is space access
and use for everyone. This is a reflection of my own values and
goals.
I took the slogan “Space For All”
from my now-defunct previous employer. I truly believe in that
mission. With Astralytical, I strive to make space accessible to any
person on this Earth, in my own little way.
I take on clients in a wide variety of
backgrounds to assist them in making space more accessible to them.
Later this year, I will release a project to do so more broadly. I
don't want anyone to think space is off-limits to them.
I'm not building mass transit to space.
I'm not bringing internet to the masses via satellites. I'm not
creating space infrastructure for thousands. I'm simply doing my
small part to bring about the future I wish to create.
