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Got me thinking... I flew a small plane once or twice (with an experienced pilot) and there are rules set by the FAA. IIRC, we had to fly between 1000 and 2000 ft. We had to stay outside a radius around the major airports. There are communication rules and you have to plan for fuel. We also did preflight checks. Within these boundaries, we were free to roam!

Of course, this was a journey made for pleasure not profit. We had a specific course set each time and I paid for a limited flight time (30 min, 1 hour).

This sailing analogy doesn't quite address the boundaries and/or purpose. Often there are boundaries. And often we're charting a course from specific port A to specific port B because we have a specific mission.

Sometimes we're a freighter moving cargo on a schedule - take the straightest path, predefined lane, or most fuel efficient. We might be a pleasure cruiser on a schedule - follow course, don't get lost, beached, capsize, or hit an iceberg! Other times, we're running a whole fleet of ships and we need to be organized and efficient. Very few times do we get to just roam around when someone is paying us for specific missions. So we chart the course, plan our fuel, communicate changes when we hit storms, communicate with other ships/planes and port authorities/air traffic control...else chaos reigns and bad things happen!

There's an explorer in me that absolutely loves exploring new territory. Sometimes, following a predefined course is hard to swallow. So I totally get the call to have free roaming, exploratory time. There needs to be space for that kind of work as it can be valuable for the organization. Speaking of management and back to the analogy...

Those setting up the missions don't have all the details. They don't often go out to sea and may have never been to sea. That's where communication and trust come in.

Land lubbers needs to trust their captains and crews. They have to be careful not throw them to the wolves, especially in the face of the green-eyed monster. Don't send them into hazardous territory theu can't handle safely or otherwise put them and their ships at risk by running them nonstop at high speeds. Seafarers need to keep their cargo safe, get there on time, keep costs maneagable. They also need to trust their landbound compatriots to keep their missions afloat so they can do what they love most - be out at sea!

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People talk about stretching the analogy too thin. But you managed to stretch it to the point of breaking!

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:)

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