Own Your ONE Thing

On May 30, 1899, an unknown bicycle shop mechanic from Dayton, Ohio named Wilbur Wright wrote a lengthy letter to the Smithsonian in Washington DC, declaring his belief that human flight was possible, and asked for any publications the Smithsonian might have that would help with his research.

The Smithsonian obliged, and the ambitious brothers began absorbing all of the latest flight research. Based on references from the Smithsonian, Wilbur and his brother Orville built an very unusual kite in the summer of 1899 which introduced a method of flight control known as wing warping. The kite experiment confirmed their approach and led to a series of full scale gliders.

In the fall of 1901, a disappointed Orville and Wilbur Wright were returning to Dayton, Ohio after their latest glider design had failed on the dunes of Kitty Hawk. What they began to suspect is that the lift coefficient they had used in their glider design, a figure also used by other early flight enthusiasts - was incorrect. They would have to verify for themselves a more accurate lift coefficient.

Upon arriving back home, the Wright brothers essentially pioneered the modern practice of aeronautical engineering. Central to their testing approach was the design and use of their wind tunnel. True to their single-minded work ethic, the budding aeronautical engineers tested more than 200 different airfoils in their quest to gain more accurate lift data.

Although previous inventors had used wind tunnels, Wilbur and Orville were the first to use one to generate specific data applied directly to the design of an aircraft. This approach, in basic form, is still used by modern aeronautical engineers!

In 1902, they returned to Kitty Hawk and - literally buoyed by more accurate lift data - the redesigned glider outperformed all previous tests. Confident that they had mastered the basics of lift and flight control, the final step was to add mechanical power.

In 1903 the famous motorized Kitty Hawk Flyer was constructed based on the precise measurements of their wind tunnel tests. The brothers once again made the trek from Dayton to Kitty Hawk to put their designs to the test. Here is the famous moment above the dunes of Kitty Hawk as Orville took flight at 10:35 AM, December 17th, 1903, with Wilbur looking on. They conducted three more tests that day, with the fourth and final flight lasting almost a minute.

By the fall of 1905, the Wright brothers’ experimental period ended. With their third powered airplane, they now routinely made flights of several minutes. On October 5, Wilbur made a spectacular flight in which he circled the field 30 times in 39 minutes for a total distance of 24½ miles (39 kilometers).

The pace of learning and engineering progress continued to accelerate, and - despite numerous patent challenges, and a painfully slow path towards revenue - a remarkable decade of progress was capped by a flight around the Statue of Liberty on September 29th, 1909. Just a little over ten years had passed since their initial request to the Smithsonian. They had literally transformed the world in a single decade!

What can we learn from this remarkable obsession and dedication?

1. Clarify and Commit to Your Vision
The Wright brothers had a clear vision: achieving human flight. They committed themselves entirely to this goal, showing how focusing on one primary objective can lead to groundbreaking achievements. This aligns with the idea of narrowing the scope of attention, as advocated by Emily Balcetis, to maintain focus on a singular, well-defined goal.

2. Embrace Research and Continuous Learning
Their initial letter to the Smithsonian demonstrates the importance of seeking knowledge and being open to learning. This willingness to gather information and learn from existing research is crucial in owning and pursuing your goal with informed passion and precision.

3. Innovate and Iterate Based on Feedback
Their use of a wind tunnel for precise data collection underscores the importance of innovation and responding to feedback. They didn’t hesitate to revise their designs based on new information, showing the value of controlling the frame of reference and adapting strategies as necessary.

4. Persistence in the Face of Setbacks
The Wright brothers' resilience after their initial glider failures is a lesson in persistence. They didn’t see setbacks as defeat but as opportunities for learning and improvement. This perseverance is key in owning your goal, maintaining motivation even when progress seems slow or challenging.

5. Transform Theory into Action
Their journey from theoretical research to practical application – building and testing gliders and eventually the motorized Kitty Hawk Flyer – highlights the importance of materializing plans. Moving from ideas to action is essential in making tangible progress towards your goal.

In summary, the Wright brothers' story exemplifies the essence of owning your ONE thing through a clear focus, continuous learning, innovative problem-solving, persistent effort, and the transformation of ideas into action. These lessons are vital in applying the ROCKET Goals framework effectively.