Question

Like Countless American nerds born in 1960, I spent part of my childhood dreaming of being Captain James T. Kirk, commander of the Starship Enterprise. I didn’t see myself as Captain Pausch. I imagined a world where I actually got to be Captain Kirk. For ambitious young boys with a scientific bent, there could be no greater role model than James T. Kirk of Star Trek. In fact, I seriously believe that I became a better teacher and colleague – maybe even a better husband – by watching Kirk run the Enterprise. So what was Kirk’s skill set? Why did he get to climb on board the Enterprise and run it? The answer: There is this skill set called “Leadership.” 2. I learned so much by watching this person in action. He was the distilled essence of the dynamic manager, a leader who knew how to delegate, had the passion to inspire, and looked good in what he wore to work. He never professed to have skills greater than his subordinates. He acknowledged that they knew what they were doing in their domains. But he established the vision, the tone. He was in charge of morale. Every time Kirk showed up on the screen he was like a Greek god to me. 3. And he had the coolest toys! When I was a kid, I thought it was fascinating that he could be on some planet and he had this thing – this Star Trek communicator device – that let him talk to people back on the ship. I now walk around with one in my pocket. Who remembers that it was Kirk who introduced us to the cell phone? 4. A few years ago, I got a call (on my communicator device) from a Pittsburgh author named Chip Walter. He was co-writing a book with William Shatner (who played the role of Kirk) about how scientific breakthroughs first imagined on Star Trek foreshadowed today’s technological advancements. Captian Kirk wanted to visit my virtual reality lab at Carnegie Mellon. 5. Granted my childhood dream was to be Kirk. But I still considered it a dream realized when Shatner showed up. It’s cool to meet your boyhood idol, but it’s almost indescribably cooler when he comes to you

Answer 1

Answer:

Captain James T. Kirk, commander of the Starship Enterprise. I didn’t see myself as Captain Pausch. I imagined a world where I actually got to be Captain Kirk. For ambitious young boys with a scientific bent, there could be no greater role model than James T. Kirk of Star Trek. In fact, I seriously believe that I became a better teacher and colleague – maybe even a better husband – by watching Kirk run the Enterprise. So what was Kirk’s skill set? Why did he get to climb on board the Enterprise and run it? The answer: There is this skill set called “Leadership.” 2. I learned so much by watching this person in action. He was the distilled essence of the dynamic manager, a leader who