ALIEN Thinking by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: PublicAffairs
Published: 2021-03-16T00:00:00+00:00

ENTERING HOSTILE TERRAIN

Marquis takes a dual view of navigation, emphasizing what happens before as well as during a trek.

Successful navigation starts with preparation. To respond appropriately to threats and opportunities on the spot, she needs to be physically and mentally prepared. For a three-month expedition, Marquis typically spends two years learning about the area and planning the route and logistics, adding intense workouts during the second year.

After a preliminary visit to the region, where she talks with regional experts and visits local markets, she goes home to process the information she’s acquired about the terrain, weather, and wildlife, and to determine what gear will be most appropriate. She also consults other sources of knowledge. “I am like a sponge,” she said. “I buy lots of books about the place: about previous wars, the history of the land, the languages, the Indigenous peoples, the medicinal plants. And I gather data from farmers, geographers, biologists, historians. I go back to old sources because the knowledge I need is timeless. Descriptions of gold prospectors from a hundred years ago are still valid because nothing much changes in that terrain. I want to know how people died there, so that I don’t die.”

She also has to reach out to potential sponsors and supporters. And that means crafting an engaging story about the forthcoming journey. “Before I even start walking, I’ve been telling my story over and over to people who don’t really care about my story or about me,” she said. “Storytelling is really, really important. Can you put words on feelings, on goals, on dreams, on what matters for you? This is part of the expedition. I tell them a story that I’m ready to die for.”

Many of Marquis’s concerns are analogous to those of innovators trying to bring their ideas to life or challenge the status quo. For their ideas to survive, they must also anticipate the likely threats, asking themselves: What “language” do people speak in this organization or sector, and do I understand them? What historical tensions may I encounter? What gear will I need to take? Where will I find additional resources along the way? What dangers should I take into account? Whose support will be essential, and how can I convince them to support me?

Innovators often neglect this preliminary aspect of navigation. Turning a good idea into a great source of value for users takes a lot of work. As Marquis put it: “The success of a trip like that is down to the details and an understanding of your surroundings. It’s not about luck. It’s not about ‘having a go’ at something. It’s a lot of preparation.”

Once she starts the journey, there is a transition from planned maneuvers to dynamic navigation because she can’t envisage every contingency. “You plan as much as you can, but when you take the first step, you have to be ready for the unknown. You have to read the environment and make full use of your senses—not just your sight but also your hearing, smell, taste, and touch.

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