“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
"Men wanted: For hazardous journey. Small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in case of success."
Sir Ernest Shackleton placed this advertisement in a London newspaper to recruit crews for his epic quest of the first transcontinental crossing of Antarctica. Despite meticulous planning and heroic efforts, Shackleton and his men never made it. Instead, they were stuck in ice for a year and had to abandon ship. Through his leadership and will, Shackleton miraculously brought everyone home safely.
Life is such an adventure. I am quite thrilled to experience many events that life will throw at me, some planned and the rest unexpected, some truly wonderful while others simply agonizing. Along that journey, I will try to succeed in many attempts, such as raising a family, starting a business that will be used as an HBS case, setting up a think tank on Chinese national security policies, or becoming the dean at a leading business school in my hometown of Shanghai. I am very certain that some of these attempts will fail miserably. All that I hope to achieve is that when I finish, I will be able to conclude that it has been a truly eventful journey, I have tried my best, and, along the way, I have made myself, my loved ones, and others better people.
I may not reach my "South Pole," but here I go, with anticipation, hope and dread...
Sir Ernest Shackleton placed this advertisement in a London newspaper to recruit crews for his epic quest of the first transcontinental crossing of Antarctica. Despite meticulous planning and heroic efforts, Shackleton and his men never made it. Instead, they were stuck in ice for a year and had to abandon ship. Through his leadership and will, Shackleton miraculously brought everyone home safely.
Life is such an adventure. I am quite thrilled to experience many events that life will throw at me, some planned and the rest unexpected, some truly wonderful while others simply agonizing. Along that journey, I will try to succeed in many attempts, such as raising a family, starting a business that will be used as an HBS case, setting up a think tank on Chinese national security policies, or becoming the dean at a leading business school in my hometown of Shanghai. I am very certain that some of these attempts will fail miserably. All that I hope to achieve is that when I finish, I will be able to conclude that it has been a truly eventful journey, I have tried my best, and, along the way, I have made myself, my loved ones, and others better people.
I may not reach my "South Pole," but here I go, with anticipation, hope and dread...
— Frank Wei