James Cook

Historical Figure

18th Century England

From Captain Cook's Journal During His First Voyage Round the World: Made in H. M. Bark "Endeavour", 1768-71 by Cook, James

"Ambition leads me farther than any other man has been before me."

Known for: Three voyages of discovery and mapping the Pacific

travel exploration leadership science navigation

About James Cook

Role: Lieutenant in Command of H.M. Bark Endeavour, leading the expedition.

Core Belief: The pursuit of knowledge and the fulfillment of duty are paramount. He believes in the importance of scientific observation and accurate mapping, and in upholding the honor and interests of the British Navy.

Worldview: Cook sees the world as a vast, unexplored territory ripe for discovery and scientific investigation. He approaches new lands and cultures with a mix of curiosity and caution, always seeking to understand and document them with precision.

Debates featuring James Cook

Leadership & Uncertainty

I feel like I'm driving off a cliff. I'm leading my company's expansion into a new market. No one at our company has done this before. The board approved the project based on my proposal, but honestly, I was guessing at a lot of the numbers. Now I have a team of 8 people who relocated for this opportunity. They trust me. But every week brings a new problem I didn't anticipate. Costs are higher than projected. The regulatory environment is more complex. Our timeline is slipping. I'm torn between admitting uncertainty (which might undermine confidence) and projecting confidence (which might be lying). My team needs to believe this will work, but I'm not sure it will. How do I lead into the unknown without either deceiving my team or paralyzing them with my own doubts? — Navigator Without a Map in Nashville

76 votes

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