Shackleton’s Mission Through Crisis

When things become life and death, the mission becomes crystal clear. At that point, the mission is to live — whatever it takes, just stay alive.

That’s what happened to a man named Ernest Shackleton. He was the captain of a ship named The Endurance. The goal was for him and his 27 crewmen to sail for Antarctica. His driving motivations were fame, pride, and money.

As they entered the Weddell Sea near Antarctica, the ice began to trap the ship. The Endurance became stuck. The pressure of the ice started to crush the hull. Shackleton and his crew eventually had to abandon ship and set up camps on ice floes — massive sheets of floating ice. They used the wood from the ship to build fires, the rations for food, and supplemented them by hunting seals to stay alive.

The nights were bitterly cold. Seal meat and blubber became their staple meals. Shackleton would eat last to ensure his crew had enough. He’d take the night watch to protect his men. In the evenings, he encouraged storytelling and singing to lift spirits.

He did all of this with one goal in mind: get himself and his crew home.

The true story of their journey is both harrowing and inspirational. After being stranded for 15 months, Shackleton got every single crew member home. He didn’t lose a man.

Did he take risks to do it? Absolutely. But a laser-focused purpose will sometimes place you in a position where you must take a risk.

That’s the power of a clearly defined mission. Everything revolves around it. Nothing interferes with it. The team fights for the mission and wants nothing more than to accomplish it.

A mission clears the path forward. It defines your next steps. Instead of asking, What should I do next? you begin to ask, What must I do next to accomplish the mission?

Shackleton failed in his original goal — but he succeeded where it mattered most. Never forget: your goals may change, but the mission always remains true.

Be as focused as Shackleton. Get your team to where you want to go. Some days will feel like you’re crawling, moving only inches. Other days, you’ll advance a hundred miles. Just keep pursuing the mission.

Allow the mission to guide your next steps. Hire the best team to get you to your goal. Live the mission in front of them. If you want the team to take it seriously, the leader must treat the mission as the most treasured thing.

Shackleton got his crew home. He didn’t lose a single crew member. That’s an extraordinary accomplishment.

Get your crew aligned with the mission and start pursuing it. When you do, the team will understand their role — and they’ll give their best. Knowing the mission allows distractions to fade into the background.

Preach the mission. Live the mission. Expect to win because of the mission.

Intersecting life, luxury, and leadership,
Chris Adams

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