Big Idea: Avoid making Titanic Decisions that will sink you as a leader!
100
years ago this month the class of all cruise ships set sail across the Atlantic
Ocean. The Titanic sank early in the
morning on April 15 taking with her most of her crew, the captain, and 1500
people were lost. This ship with its
beauty and high class has captured our attention as nation. It has spawned several movies. It has led to countless expeditions in search
of her resting spot. The latest movie in
her honor was just recently rereleased in 3D.
On this anniversary of sorts I want to take a look at some of the maxims
we get from the story of the Titanic.
1.
Unsinkable
It was the beginning of the twentieth century and
people had absolute faith in new science and technology. They believed that
science in the twentieth century could and would provide answers to solve all
problems.[i]
A lot of what was being written about the Ship from
White Star lines described the ship as “practically unsinkable.” This idea about Titanic rapidly spread. It was the beginning of a new era of “progressive”
thinking in our country. This is an era
that would lead many to have greater faith in science than in God. However, this all came crashing down when the
practically unsinkable Titanic hit an iceberg and was lost. “Unsinkable” was based on the knowledge of
the new designs in the Titanic with 12 separated water tight holds that
electronically could be opened and closed in the event of the ship taking on
water. The icebergs gash was made across
about 5 of these holds rendering the gates ineffective. Science sinks and ice; well it floats! I don’t
think that White Star lines believed the Titanic or for that matter any of its
ships were “unsinkable”.
However, they were certainly promoting the idea and
myth that Titanic was “unsinkable” for profit.
The Captain and crew and many of the passengers believing the Titanic
was “unsinkable” did not run any safety drills for loading the life boats. The ownership failed to put enough life boats
on the ship believing in her unsinkable design.
There were only enough life boats for about half the passengers. Some of the guests on board stayed on board
rather than getting in a life boat because they believed the Titanic even
though listing would not sink.
Principle: Humbly work hard and
trust in God for your security, and profitability! Only the “ark”
which was designed by God was unsinkable.
There is no such thing as a full proof thing on this earth. You can fail in business, ministry, and in
life. The moment you make yourself
unbreakable, unsinkable, full proof down you go. Pride comes before a fall and haughty spirit
before a crash.
2.
The “Just missed it”
club! [ii]
Guglielmo Marconi, The
Italian inventor, wireless telegraphy pioneer and winner of the 1909 Nobel
Prize in Physics was offered free passage on Titanic but had taken the Lusitania
three days earlier. As his daughter Degna later explained, he had paperwork to
do and preferred the public stenographer aboard that vessel. Milton Hershey, The Inventor of the Hershey candy bar missed the
ship. J. P. Morgan, He owned
interest in White Star lines, but missed his ship for a back rub and bath. John
R. Mott, Evangelist missionary and leader of the YMCA missed the boat. An Heir of the Vanderbilt estate also
missed the boat. These joined The “Just Missed It” club. Their shipped had already sailed and while
initially they were dejected their sadness soon faded when they heard of the
loss of Titanic. Almost all of these
famous people seemed to have their priorities in line. One had paper work, another was taking time to
relax, Mott took a lesser ship that sailed earlier, and still others had
priorities which were more important than catching their ship.
Principle: Priorities are
essential for success in life and in the long run. There will always
be other ships! Just because you missed
this one doesn’t mean there will never be another one.
3.
“Be British”
What
you do when failure is imminent will be all of the legacy you leave for others
to follow. On the plaque that is below
the statue of Captain Edward John Smith is the statement believed to be his
last words. It reads, “Commander Edward John Smith, RD, RNR. Born January 27 1850 Died April 15
1912, Bequeathing to his countrymen the memory and example of a great heart, a
brave life and a heroic death. Be British.”[iii]
He heroically went down with the Titanic and
his body was never recovered. However,
he was seen moments before the sinking and gave these last words to his crew as
Titanic sank, “Be British my men”.[iv]
By all accounts the truest
sense of the Captain’s words meant that these men were to by his command serve,
assist, and die in a fashion that would bring honor to their families and
country. There death was sure, the only
doubt left in the moment of this tragedy was the character of each man being
asked to serve those who aboard. The only doubt left was who would lead in this
crisis, and there standing with a blow horn in his hand shouting to him men was
the Captain, “Be British”!
Principle: Leaders must be
visible in a crisis moment giving the example to follow for those under their
charge and care.
You
can’t lead from behind the desk, or behind the wheel in a crisis. You must be visible, your commands clear, and
your example unwavering. About 700
people were saved because of the leadership of this man. His crew didn’t abandon their posts though
death was certain for each. His life and
body are gone, but his memory and legacy are intact. He failed as a navigator,
but he succeeded as a Captain and leader.
4.
And the band played
on[v]
I
was listening to Dr. Bill Bennett’s morning show yesterday as I took my kids to
work. He had guest on who discussing just
what the band was playing and he seemed to disavow the idea that the band would
have played anything other than jazz as they were going down with the
ship. I asked myself what kind of men
were these men who played, and why when they were under no obligation continue
to play when they could have found safety in a life boat?
I found this article on line of
quotes from people who knew the band leader Wallace Hartley. It seems that Hartley was a church going man
at a Methodist church and was very faithful in attendance when he was on
land. He was asked by a friend what he
would do if he was ever on a sinking ship and he stated that he loved the song “Nearer
my God to thee.” He also had a sense
that music was a great weapon against disorder and he used music to assist in
such cases. All this is mentioned in the
article I have sighted below. It seems
that Hartley had contemplated and prepared himself for the inevitability of
being on a sinking ship. He had a
prepared response to assist in those horrifying moments. I have no doubt that this is likely why the
band played on. What kind of leader can
compel those that follow him and play with him to assist in such a manner? A prepared leader must make plans for every
contingency if he is going to navigate and lead when the ship is sinking. How glorifying to God that the band played
on. I believe they played “Nearer My God
to Thee” accepting at that moment that their task was to be a weapon against
chaos in a moment that was tragic. (Steve Turner, “The Band that Played On”)
Principle:
All abilities, gifts, are a weapon against chaos.
Principle:
Christ is the foundation of great character. In Christ we understand duty, endurance,
suffering, meekness and the like! Without
Christ there is chaos, but with Christ character, commitment, and conscience!
Principle:
Use your gifts and abilities for greater causes. There are times when money is not the
greatest motivator. There are times when
financial benefit is not what is most beneficial. Know the difference and serve those that need
what you have been given by God above.
5.
Missed Signals
Titanic
was equipped with a telegraph but it was of no use and at the very least poorly
used.
Titanic
was warned by early ships passing ahead of her of the icebergs in her
path. These messages were either missed
by the telegraph operator or ignored by the captain. The Titanic in desperation sent it flares up
in the darkness in a last ditch effort to notify nearby ships for
assistance. The nearest ship’s telegraph
operator had turned off his radio and gone to bed. The flares were viewed as celebration
fireworks from a ship on its maiden voyage and ignore by near ships that had no
radios for messages. It seems that
every possible opportunity to communicate was blundered to some degree and that
the cosmic fate of the Titanic was stutteringly imminent. Signals were missed, misunderstood, and
mishandled.
Principle: Have a plan for communicating clearly in all
situations!
[i] http://historyonthenet.com/Titanic/unsinkable.htm
[iii] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Smith_(sea_captain)
[iv] http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/be-british-my-men-capt-smiths-order.html
[v] http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/04/09/why-did-titanic-band-play-on/
