Wednesday Wisdom: Finally, the Great Pink Yonder

Wednesday Wisdom, Inspiration, Motivation for Women, Women Entrepreneurs, Female Business Owners

As the Blue Origin rocket took off into space yesterday morning carrying one of the richest men in the world, Jeff Bezos, he was accompanied by three other people including Wally Funk. At first you might think Wally is another wealthy man rubbing elbows with Bezos, but if you read about Funk you quickly learn she was one of 13 women who did not pass the NASA medical tests back in the early 1960s because the agency didn’t truly attempt to fly any female astronauts until the late 1970s. In fact, it took until 1983 until Sally Ride because the first American woman to venture into space.

Funk, now age 82, was a talented pilot who dreamed of flying into space, but was never part of NASA’s vision, but it didn’t mean she gave up on her passion. Without a chance to fly into the wild blue yonder, Wally instead built a career as a pilot and flight teacher. Over time, she accrued 19,600 flight house on various aircrafts and taught more than 3,000 people to fly.

When asked what she thought of being selected by Bezos for the flight she said, “I’ll love every second of it. Whoooo! Ha-ha. I can hardly wait. Nothing has ever gotten in my way.” She added, “They said, ‘Well, you’re a girl, you can’t do that.’ I said, ’Guess what, doesn’t matter what you are. You can still do it if you want to do it and I like to do things that nobody has ever done.” Amazing, right?

Well, today’s Wednesday Wisdom is simply to inspire you to live like Wally Funk, not allowing sexism, government limits, or your own personal limiting thoughts, to keep you from launching your own personal passion to a higher level. If you have passion in your specific business field, don’t let anything stop you from embracing it and partaking in it, maybe in ways you didn’t envision at first, until you’ve reach a ripe old age. If Wally can fly into space at the age of 82, after decades of waiting for her chance, what do you still have waiting for you by continuing to follow your own lead.

A friend called Funk to congratulate her on the chance to finally fly into space and Wally responded, “I’ve waited a lifetime, honey. I’m going up there for all of us.” Spoken like a woman after my own heart. I only wish Bezos could have gone one step father and painted one bright pink stripe on the outside of the Blue Origin rocket signifying a woman who never gave up her vision was on board.