Avoiding Risk Confines You to Mediocrity

"That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind."

Neil Armstrong was a test pilot and knew more about risk taking than Godin ever will. From what I know of Neil Armstrong, he represented the US with dignity and humility and helped make NASA look like gods.

Even MTV wanted a piece of Armstrong's credibility in their initial ad campaign. Armstrong was a purple cow on the moon and Godin only mentions him to get some of that credibility in his post.

"They avoided risk, played it safe and chose someone who wouldn't make a ruckus."

Yes, you really need someone who's prone to making a ruckus when you're flying to the moon in a rocket-propelled tin-can.

Anyway, the final decision about who would go first was decided (to Buzz Aldrin's everlasting disappointment) by a coin-flip. So it could have been Aldrin who is celebrated as the first man on the moon, and Godin would presumably be saying what a dull man he is as well.

What is so inspiring about the Apollo missions is the massive investment (in emotional and financial terms) in a huge, co-operative endeavour which brought together the best scientists, technicians and pilots of the day. They didn't need a flashy front-man: they needed people with brains and nerves of steel. It's an awe-inspiring achievement which (as Arthur C Clarke said) will outlive all of us.

Recommended reading: "A Man on The Moon" by Andrew Chaikin.