Fighter Jets and Ikigai

Understanding the value of being directionally correct.

One of the biggest, most formidable military jets ever created was the F-4 Phantom.

And this kid from Indiana who had his first ride on a jet while going to Marine Corps Boot Camp got to work on them in Hawaii.

The picture below is one of the actual jets I worked on. The bay and mountains were my views every day.

audio narration by David Marlow

An F-4 Phantom from VMFA 235 on the flight line-Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay circa 1987

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25,000 Volts!

My time in the Marines taught me leadership, discipline, electronics, and something that helped my Ikigai journey.

The gear I worked on was highly sensitive, secret, and dangerous. One box operated at 25,000 volts.

While we had high-voltage test equipment, we typically used a test point in the system to more safely verify whether the equipment was working correctly.

A test point might read 5 volts to represent 5,000 volts at another point in the system.

Here’s the crucial lesson for Ikigai.

💥 The number was never right.

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When we measured the test point it was never precisely 5 volts. It might be 4.4, 4.9, or 5.2.

The key was when we made a change. We looked to see if an adjustment that should increase the voltage in the box moved the test point voltage up as well.

The important thing was to be directionally correct.

Life has many test points. Things are never going to be exactly 5 volts.

We will be high, low, left, and right of exactly where we want to be.

Like the test point, it isn’t as important what the number is as being directionally correct.

🌀 Reflection:

🌱 How could you apply the concept of being directionally correct in your life?

🌱 How might you use the concept in your Ikigai Journey?

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