Ben Wilson

If you're talented and you want to rise quickly, it's better to be in charge of a small team where you can demonstrate real results rather than just to be a cog, even if it's in maybe a more prestigious organization within your company. Right.

If you're talented and you want to rise quickly, it's better to be in charge of a small team where you can demonstrate real results rather than just to be a cog, even if it's in maybe a more prestigious organization within your company. Right.

uh this goes back to horatio nelson another great british sailor he used this to great effect so rather than taking subordinate positions on bigger ships which is what everyone did right it's like oh if you can get on a first-rate ship then that's exactly what you want to do.

uh this goes back to horatio nelson another great british sailor he used this to great effect so rather than taking subordinate positions on bigger ships which is what everyone did right it's like oh if you can get on a first-rate ship then that's exactly what you want to do.

But he took positions on smaller ships, on little frigates, because he would rather be in charge and be able to show what he can do and demonstrate his value as someone who's actually in charge and has the opportunity to demonstrate results rather than just being a part of a bigger machine. So anyways, if you wanna rise quickly, that's what you wanna do.

But he took positions on smaller ships, on little frigates, because he would rather be in charge and be able to show what he can do and demonstrate his value as someone who's actually in charge and has the opportunity to demonstrate results rather than just being a part of a bigger machine. So anyways, if you wanna rise quickly, that's what you wanna do.

Find those places where you can actually be in charge, demonstrate results. So he does this for a few years. And during one of those years, he is a scientifically minded, quantitative person, and he observes an eclipse. And so he takes careful notes and observations and writes down notes on this eclipse. And these notes make their way back to the Admiralty, back to scientific circles in England.

Find those places where you can actually be in charge, demonstrate results. So he does this for a few years. And during one of those years, he is a scientifically minded, quantitative person, and he observes an eclipse. And so he takes careful notes and observations and writes down notes on this eclipse. And these notes make their way back to the Admiralty, back to scientific circles in England.

And so people say, okay, this is someone who is very smart and capable and is scientific minded and is oriented towards discoveries. Okay, why is that important? Because... There is a plan by the Royal Society, which is the preeminent scientific organization of the time. And there is a plan to send a ship to Tahiti in the Pacific Ocean to observe the transit of Venus. That is, you know, Venus.

And so people say, okay, this is someone who is very smart and capable and is scientific minded and is oriented towards discoveries. Okay, why is that important? Because... There is a plan by the Royal Society, which is the preeminent scientific organization of the time. And there is a plan to send a ship to Tahiti in the Pacific Ocean to observe the transit of Venus. That is, you know, Venus.

They can tell that Venus during this time on this particular day is going to cross in front of the sun. So the transit of Venus means Venus. And so what they want to do is send different scientists to different parts of the world to observe the transit of Venus from different vantage points. And for all of them to carefully note down where exactly it crosses the sun and when exactly it does.

They can tell that Venus during this time on this particular day is going to cross in front of the sun. So the transit of Venus means Venus. And so what they want to do is send different scientists to different parts of the world to observe the transit of Venus from different vantage points. And for all of them to carefully note down where exactly it crosses the sun and when exactly it does.

And that's going to enable them to calculate the exact distance that Venus is from the earth and therefore the exact distance that the sun is. from the earth. So this is a collaborative effort between the Royal Society and the Royal Navy. And so a deal is struck that this voyage to observe the transit of Venus will also explore the South Pacific. In particular, they're going to look for

And that's going to enable them to calculate the exact distance that Venus is from the earth and therefore the exact distance that the sun is. from the earth. So this is a collaborative effort between the Royal Society and the Royal Navy. And so a deal is struck that this voyage to observe the transit of Venus will also explore the South Pacific. In particular, they're going to look for

the continent of Terra Australis. So that is this assumption. If you look at the Northern Hemisphere, you've got this huge mega continent, right? Which is Europe, Asia, and Africa. They're all connected. And Africa is mostly in the Northern Hemisphere. Only a little bit of it is in the Southern Hemisphere. Same is true of Asia. Vast majority of it is in the Northern Hemisphere.

the continent of Terra Australis. So that is this assumption. If you look at the Northern Hemisphere, you've got this huge mega continent, right? Which is Europe, Asia, and Africa. They're all connected. And Africa is mostly in the Northern Hemisphere. Only a little bit of it is in the Southern Hemisphere. Same is true of Asia. Vast majority of it is in the Northern Hemisphere.

And so by the thinking of the time, they think Well, then the same must be true of like there must be an equivalently large continent in the southern hemisphere to balance it out. And we know that's not South America. South America is pretty small. It's not even as big as North America. And so they're looking for this giant southern continent. And they think, you know, it's probably rich.

And so by the thinking of the time, they think Well, then the same must be true of like there must be an equivalently large continent in the southern hemisphere to balance it out. And we know that's not South America. South America is pretty small. It's not even as big as North America. And so they're looking for this giant southern continent. And they think, you know, it's probably rich.

There's lots of opportunities there. So. So they want to combine these missions. Okay, we'll send someone to Tahiti to observe the transit of Venus. And at the same time, they can explore the Pacific Ocean and look for this lost continent, Terra Australis. And so as they are looking for the right person to lead this mission...

There's lots of opportunities there. So. So they want to combine these missions. Okay, we'll send someone to Tahiti to observe the transit of Venus. And at the same time, they can explore the Pacific Ocean and look for this lost continent, Terra Australis. And so as they are looking for the right person to lead this mission...