Cmdr Chris Hadfield: Singer, speaker, author, astronaut

‘Go into business as you would go into space’, that was the message delivered loud and clear in Quebec City by Commander Chris Hadfield during his dinner conference as part of the week-long 2016 JCI World Congress.

The Junior Chamber International (JCI) groups together young businesspeople from around the world aged between 18-40 and boasts a large membership spanning over 120 countries.

Hadfield, who has been to space three times (twice on the the shuttle and once with the Russians) says that if going up there strapped on the back of what is essentially two bombs (fuel-filled cylanders attached to the shuttle boosters) is an incredibly stupid idea, then going into business is really not that different.

‘When starting a business, you’re going into (for you) the unknown, and who knows where you’ll end up’, he says.

The vastly experienced Canadian fighter and test pilot continued, ‘Once they’re ignited you can’t turn them off. So, you’re definitely going somewhere, maybe not where you want to go, and if it all goes wrong you might get a school named after you, but you are definitely going somewhere.’

The week-long meeting attracted some 3,000 delegates, a good number of whom were present to listen to Commander Hadfield’s keynote speech on the final day of this gathering of entrepreneurs.

He spoke for over an hour to a rapt audience, generously giving time at the end to answer questions from the audience.

‘If it takes three days to get to the moon, why have we not been back in forty years?’, asked one.
His response ‘Well, why haven’t you been to the north pole – it’s only six hours away’. ‘It’s not easy’, he continued, ‘but we will go back. We’ll be be living there eventually, and then on to Mars to do the same. It may take a while, but we’ll do it.’

The popular astronaut talked of leadership and how to get the best out of people.

‘Set the bar high and do not take the easy option. Early success can be your worst teacher’, he offered.

According to Hadfield it is necessary to take risks to get where you want to go.
As he readily admits, he is himself a product of that way of thinking.

Although part of the Canadian public conscience for many years – the first Canadian to walk in space – being one such reason, it was on board the International Space Station (ISS) for 6 months in 2013 that really he shot to global attention.

The small matter of 1.7 million Twitter followers, THAT David Bowie Space Oddity cover from the earth’s orbit (33 million views and counting) and the quite marvellous Is Somebody Singing with the Barenaked Ladies (1.7 million views) did no harm at all in promoting space travel, science, and a continued need to explore and learn.

Chris Hadfield is now recognised wherever he goes be it delivering lectures in universities, or in elementary schools. The one thing he notices wherever he goes is fear. The very same thing that was present early on in his career.

‘It’s ok to be fearful’ according to Hadfield as ‘It makes you look for solutions and work out problems’.

There’s a clear message there for all aspiring entrepreneurs and business leaders.

Peace is Possible

His stay on the ISS brought a sense of hope for the future of the planet. ‘Circling the earth in only 92 minutes makes you realise we’re all neighbours. It’s simply a matter of perspective, and a prolonged visit to the ISS does give you that’.

Inspiration to millions

‘Neil Armstrong was just a bloke’, said Hadfield during his talk, and while this maybe true, he made something of himself and became a hero and an inspiration for generations to come after him.

Chris, for us, you’ve done that too. You are a Canadian icon and an inspirations to millions, yes millions, of people around the world, not least the young business leaders present here in Quebec City for the 2016 JCI World Congress.

Whatever you go and whatever you do for the good of the world next, we’re all watching and we’re right behind you.

Godspeed.

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Prior to the conference Comdr Hadfield took part in a media scrum in front of representatives from Quebec City newspapers, radio stations, magazines, and websites.

Questions on topics such as business leadership, world peace, the Canadian anthem, and the Québec Nordiques were asked.

For the record, if ever the Québec Nordiques do make a return to the NHL, then Chris Hadfield would willingly come and sing O Canada! the Canadian national anthem before a Nordiques game if he was asked to do so.

You can listen to the questions put to him by the assembled media below.

The audio content is in English and French (English at the end).

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