The Space Shuttle Atlantis is the popular showcase exhibit at the Kennedy Space Center. It’s presented in a very dynamic fashion and I encourage you to check it out if you’re in the Orlando, Florida area.
From my visit, I realized there are some good lessons that we can take from the exhibit and use in our everyday lives:
First Impressions Matter
A sense of anticipation is created when you to into the building where Atlantis is housed. It’s not ten steps from the entrance, on the ground.
Instead, you go up a ramp and then enter a theater for a short film about the space shuttle. As the film is ending, the screen becomes see through. Behind it you see Atlantis revealed. Moments later, the screen rises and you kind of gasp as the space ship you were just hearing about is suspended in the air, in front of you.
The Atlantis hangs in the air between two floors. You get to experience the craft from different perspectives.
Obviously, the designers of the exhibit thought a great deal about the first time you were going to see the shuttle. They wanted to control it and make it a theatrical event.
In your life or business, what kind of first impression are you making on people? Is it memorable? While you may not have a spaceship, think about the impact you make on people as they first walk into your office.
In terms of personal style, do you look like you’re worthy of being revealed from behind a curtain? Odds are, there are people you admire, who can pull it off. What could you do to make your personal brand memorable?
Think Differently
While learning about Atlantis, I discovered that the ship’s hanger bay doors and the movable arm share something in common. On Earth, neither can support its weight. They are not built to do this.
This is not a problem because they are designed to work in the zero gravity environment of space. On Earth, they are useless but in space, they function at a high level.
In your world, do you feel the need to make something work in every situation imaginable. I’m sure that the doors and the arm could have been designed to work on Earth but that extra effort could have created other problems for the shuttle, in terms of added weight and increased mechanical complexity.
Think about the goal of your process and where it needs to work, rather than making sure that it is a one-size fits all solution.
Tell the Story
Atlantis was one of five shuttles that went into space. At first, you may not think there’s much that’s exciting about being one of five.
The exhibit’s creators use storytelling to give the Atlantis more of a personal touch. You learn that Atlantis was the “workhorse” of the fleet as it completed 33 missions. It was the last shuttle to fly and its final mission helped repair the Hubble Telescope. And while it wasn’t the last shuttle built, it was the most advanced, as the Endeavour was made of spare parts from older shuttles.
Suddenly, the craft has an easy to remember history and personality. We can all understand these concepts.
In your business, do you use stories to make you stand out? Are your accomplishments highlighted and are they accessible to a general audience? When people can learn about you, how you are different, and why you matter, you start to stand out from the pack.
