59. Aim to be a Zero | An astronaut's guide to life on Earth
Sep 20, 2021
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Dan Mccollum breaks down the skills learned by astronaut Chris Hadfield. Topics include aiming to be a zero, humility and continuous training, perfectionism and failure, and finding happiness in challenging situations.
Aiming to be a zero, practicing humility, and observing and learning from others can lead to outstanding contributions.
Following flight rules, checklists, and protocols in the medical field can prevent errors and improve patient outcomes.
Deep dives
Aim to Be a Zero
In the podcast episode, the concept of aiming to be a zero is discussed. Instead of constantly striving to be a plus one and prove oneself, it is advocated to have a neutral impact and focus on observing and learning from others. By practicing humility and taking on grunt work, one can eventually make an outstanding contribution. The importance of recognizing one's limitations and not overestimating oneself is emphasized. The episode highlights the value of being a zero and constantly learning and improving.
The Importance of Flight Rules
The podcast explores the concept of flight rules, which are detailed standard operating procedures used by aircraft pilots. These rules provide step-by-step instructions for handling various scenarios, ensuring that important steps are not missed even in high-pressure situations. A parallel is drawn to the medical field, where the use of checklists and protocols can help prevent errors and improve patient outcomes. The episode emphasizes the need for clinicians to follow established procedures and adapt a diligent approach to optimize patient care.
Expeditionary Behavior and Resilience
The podcast delves into the importance of expeditionary behavior, which involves being open to discovery and enduring hardships for the sake of the mission. It highlights the need for clinicians to adopt a resilient mindset and be willing to endure challenges in their work environment. The episode discusses the significance of maintaining a positive attitude, avoiding complaints, and focusing on contributing to the team without getting bogged down by personal grievances. The idea of internal locus of control is emphasized, encouraging clinicians to focus on what they can control and find fulfillment in their role.
What does your life have in common with that of an astronaut? A lot, it turns out. Dan Mccollum returns to Stimulus to break down the skills learned by International Space Station commander Chris Hadfield as explained in his autobiography An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth.
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For full show notes of this episode and all sorts of other goodies, visit our podcast website
We Discuss:
The pitfalls of thinking too highly of yourself [1:46];
The importance of being a “plus one” and the wisdom of not proclaiming your plus-oneness. “If you’re really a plus one, people will notice” [2:23];
Aim to be a zero -- having neutral impact [5:08];
What Mccollum looks for in EM residency applicants: people who treat the receptionist or program administrator well [8:00];
Why we should focus on the simple core things which are most likely to save lives, as opposed to shooting for the stars with cutting edge treatment [8:48];
How the weight and power of ego impairs our ability to learn and harms patients [11:04];
Sweat the small stuff [13:01];
The quintessential nature of EM and how they’re similar to flight rules: solving complex problems rapidly with incomplete information [13:49];
The fact that perfectionism and zero likelihood of failure is not part of the flight rules for anything [15:49];
Why early success is a terrible teacher. If you’ve always been the star and never experienced failure, this can be a barrier to learning [18:27]
The Jocko Willink video, Good. When bad things happen and you get knocked down, “get up, dust off, reload, recalibrate, re-engage, and go out on the attack” [20:13];
How to behave when you're in a position of leadership [22:00];
Expeditionary behavior, which is the willingness to endure hardships for the sake of the mission, and why whining poisons the pool [24:13];
And more.
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