The two warships assigned to the training squadron had been maneuvering in bad weather for several days. I was in charge of the foremost warship and was on watch on the bridge at dusk. There was fog in places and visibility was narrow. Therefore, the commander was also on the bridge, supervising all activities.
Shortly after dark, the port side guard at the bridge’s observation post informed: “Light. On the starboard side.”
The commander called out: “Is it going straight ahead or coming aft?”
“It’s straight ahead, Commander,” the sentry replied. This meant that we were on a dangerous collision course with that ship.
The commander gave the order to the sentry: “Send a message to the ship: We are on a collision course. We recommend changing your course to 20 degrees.”
The following signal came in: “It is recommended to change your course to 20 degrees.”
“Send a message,” the commander said. “I am the commander. Change course 20 degrees.”
“I’m the naval corporal, you’d better change course 20 degrees,” replied the opposite.
The commander, meanwhile, was thoroughly enraged. He eagerly ordered. “Send a message! I am a warship. Change your course 20 degrees.”
He replied with the lights across: “I am a lighthouse.”
We changed the route.
It is very likely that we will encounter many more lighthouses in our lives, as long as we do not change our own reality according to changing events and impose our paradigms, as in this case of the commander.
Stephen R. Covey – “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”
