People speak in metaphors all the time. For example, “we’re in the weeds” or we should “eat our own dog food”. Metaphors have even made it into technology with “desktops” and “windows”, though neither remotely reflect their real world counterparts (and probably shouldn’t). Some metaphors are used so often they slip past cliche and right into annoying. The media seems to love “the perfect storm” for any story that has two or more elements coming together at just the right time. However, in business, maybe the most overused metaphor is altitude. I’ve sat in business meetings many times where executives have tried to top each others altitudes.
Executive 1: “I think what’s needed here is to take the 10,000 foot view”
Executive 2: “Well, at 30,000 feet we would see…”
Executive 3: “The real story doesn’t become clear until we step back to 100,000 feet”
Really? One would think that as much flying as business people tend to do, they might have an understanding of altitude. I suppose until recently few of us carry altimeters (they’re on some of our smart phones now, you know), so it might be kind of hard unless the pilot is announcing the altitude on takeoff or decent. Thankfully, flight instructor and owner of Great Lakes Air Ventures, Patrick Retzer, has offered to provide some clarity with photos from a recent flight over the capital of Michigan in Lansing. One of the things that often get lost in these discussions is the detail and the beauty that can only be seen at ground level. Yes, I know the point if that people want to take broader perspectives, but there is something grounding (pun intended) about taking in the world around us, which we never seem to take time to do.
Ground Level - 0 Feet - Capital State of Michigan
Once you take off though, patterns start to quickly emerge. At 1,000 feet, details fade away, but structure and connections become almost immediately visible.
1,000 Feet - Capital State of Michigan
At 3,000 feet, even the structure of the buildings begin to give way to see the larger transportation network not just connecting buildings, but connecting areas. (Note that while the capital is still roughly centered in the picture, picking it out has become much more difficult).
3,000 Feet - Lansing, Michigan
As we approach 5,000 feet, individual buildings, even as unique as the capital, have lost their distinction. Smaller homes are just specks, but highways and geographic elements begin to take shape and show their relationships.
5,000 Feet - Lansing, Michigan
Finally, as we reach 10,000 feet, you can already start to see a slight curvature to the earth. One community stretches into the next as our relationship to the broader community becomes more clear. Impending weather patterns begin to emerge.
10,000 Feet - Lansing, Michigan
While certainly pictures from 30,000 and 100,000 feet would be even more dramatic, if you want a truly global perspective, the International Space Station’s lowest point is at well over 900,000 feet. So, next time you go to use the metaphor of altitude hopefully you’ll remember these pictures and be able to align the height with the story you’re trying to tell.
Many thanks to Patrick for both the photos and the inspiration to finally write this post.