I didn’t see myself having the opportunity of going into space when I was growing up in a rural community in Ohio. I just did not foresee that possibility in my future. Looking back, I see now how the steps that I took enabled me to have an opportunity that very few humans have been fortunate to have.

The lessons I learned from my parents and teachers were keys to opening many doors in a future that I did not anticipate.  They were role models for me and showed me the value of working hard and doing your best in everything.  It was important to them, and it became important to me to go the extra mile.

This is a rather simple lesson, yet one so often overlooked by many people today.  I don’t mean doing your best so that you can get a good grade, or because you might get $5 for each “A” on your report card. Instead, develop an internalized motivation. What I mean is doing your best as a reflection of who you are, because it is your name on the results, because it will feel good to do a better job this time than last time. This is as important today as it was when I was growing up, if not more so. Always doing your best in everything that you do, whether you are being graded, evaluated, or managed, is one of the core methods to prepare yourself for opportunities that do not yet exist.

After all, I did not know I was preparing to be an astronaut when I studied in high school or even college, and I didn’t know even during my military career.  But because I had studied, practiced and executed to the best of my ability, I then became prepared for something even larger than my ambitions at the time.  And when the opportunity arose, I was able to participate in the space program and to serve my country and humankind.

Another important component of success is teamwork. I learned how to work together in sports teams as a young man, and those lessons helped me immensely as an astronaut. Although most people see only the astronauts working in space, what they do not realize is that they are only one small part of a very large team. There are many others who have prepared the science experiments, prepared the shuttles, trained the astronauts, created the infrastructure, and much more. In fact, the only way something as complex as a shuttle or space station mission can be successfully accomplished is through having an incredible team that you can trust. This same principle also applies in the academic and business worlds. Teamwork and trust will overcome many large problems that we face throughout our career.

Education provides a very important foundation and is the next critical lesson in preparing for opportunities that will arrive in your path. When I received my PhD in electrical engineering, it opened up many additional opportunities. In every role I had, I learned as much as I could, worked hard, and did the best that I could to build on each educational experience. This combination worked very well for leading to the next unanticipated opportunity.

I encourage all professionals to have an attitude of continuous learning through advanced degrees, independent course work, seminars, and mentorship. In fact, I feel education and knowledge are so important to me personally, as well as to furthering the greater good, that the decision to apply to be an astronaut was not difficult for me. After all, I knew that what we learn in space may have untold benefits to the unanticipated problems and opportunities we face in our future.

Lastly, make sure you like what you are doing and that it is important to you. Many people do not acknowledge this important truth. Enjoying what you do on a daily basis will help you stick with it and to be persistent in the face of adversity. You will not be nearly as successful if you are not enjoying what you do.

Work hard. Do your best. Value your teams. We’re all in this together.