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Competence means keeping your head in a crisis, sticking with a task even when it seems hopeless, and improvising good solutions to tough problems when every second counts. It encompasses ingenuity, determination and being prepared for anything.

Chris Hadfield

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Chris Hadfield
Age: 65
Born: 1959
Born: August 29
Aircraft Pilot
Astronaut
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Executive Producer
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Sarnia
Ontario
Chris Austin Hadfield
Christopher Austin Hadfield
Chris A. Hadfield
Commander Hadfield
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More quotes by Chris Hadfield

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The emotional build-up and anticipation if you travel at Christmas can make it harder to enjoy a trip. I think sometimes it is better to travel outside of conventional holiday times for that reason.
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The Nile, draining out into the Mediterranean. The bright lights of Cairo announce the opening of the north-flowing river’s delta, with Jerusalem’s answering high beams to the northeast. This 4,258 mile braid of human life, first navigated end-to-end in 2004, is visible in a single glance from space.
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You can't just ignore spacewalking suit it partially defines the experience. So maybe the most difficult thing is becoming completely attuned to efficiently wearing a garment that is so inhibiting to motion, and making it look effortless, as if it's the most natural thing to be out there on a spacewalk.
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Almost everything worthwhile carries with it some sort of risk, whether it's starting a new business, whether it's leaving home, whether it's getting married, or whether it's flying in space.
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People tend to think astronauts have the courage of a superhero - or maybe the emotional range of a robot. But in order to stay calm in a high-stress, high-stakes situation, all you really need is knowledge. Sure, you might still feel a little nervous or stressed or hyper-alert. But what you won't feel is terrified.
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Ultimately, leadership is not about glorious crowning acts. It's about keeping your team focused on a goal and motivated to do their best to achieve it, especially when the stakes are high and the consequences really matter. It is about laying the groundwork for others' success, and then standing back and letting them shine.
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To me, it's not about being anywhere, but being able to change my perceptions and experience something new.
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There is no problem so bad that you cannot make it worse
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Early success is a terrible teacher. You're essentially being rewarded for a lack of preparation, so when you find yourself in a situation where you must prepare, you can't do it. You don't know how.
Chris Hadfield
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The cool things about space is when you put your pants on here, you can put them on two legs at a time.
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In any field, it's a plus if you view criticism as potentially helpful advice rather than as a personal attack.
Chris Hadfield
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For the last several years and culminating in six months in orbit next year, I've been training for my third space flight. This one is almost in a category completely different than the previous two, specifically to live in on the space station for six months, to command a space ship and to fly a new rocket ship.
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What's the next thing that's going to kill me? is a mantra for pilots and astronauts.
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Most budget airlines anywhere in the world are going to leave you dissatisfied after using them.
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My favourite city is Moscow, because of its history, which I find fascinating. As I learned to speak Russian, it made it even more interesting.
Chris Hadfield
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The rough and ready improvisational quality to life on board the International Space Station is reminiscent of a long trip in a sailboat: privacy and fresh produce are in short supply, hygiene is basic, and a fair amount of the crew's time is spent just on maintaining and repairing the craft.
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Scientific literacy is one of the underpinnings of everything I do. It's why I work with schools. It's why I teach at university. I do a lot of outreach to try and improve general scientific literacy, but the core of all scientific literacy is just literacy.
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If you start thinking that only your biggest and shiniest moments count, you're setting yourself up to feel like a failure most of the time.
Chris Hadfield
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Imbibe three or four times as much water as you think you need and skip at least one, if not two meals, when you are travelling. You should arrive at your destination feeling slightly hungry and your digestive system reset.
Chris Hadfield
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Fatherhood is the unending imperfect task of turning yourself into your dad while secretly maintaining the unbridled elation of your boyhood
Chris Hadfield