What Astronaut Mike Massimino Taught Me About Change

The Power of Community: What Astronaut Mike Massimino Taught Me About Change

Some voices just command attention. Some people have a presence that makes you stop and listen. Astronaut Mike Massimino is one of those people. When he spoke on The James Altucher Show (Episode 204), his story wasn’t just about space—it was about resilience, adaptability, and the power of community in overcoming life’s biggest obstacles.

Massimino’s story is one of determination. He had dreamed of becoming an astronaut since he was seven years old, but when he applied to NASA, he failed the eye exam. That could have been the end of his journey. Most people would have taken “no” for an answer. Instead, he found ways to improve his vision—without the modern laser surgeries we have today. He didn’t accept failure as final.

What gave him the belief that he could still make it? Why didn’t he walk away when the odds seemed insurmountable?

At a low point, Massimino found strength in the people around him. He was surrounded by astronauts—people who had also faced challenges, medical setbacks, and personal doubts. They shared their stories of overcoming obstacles, and suddenly, his failed eye test wasn’t a dead end. It was just another challenge to solve.

At 47:20 in the episode, he said something profound:
“I found … I wasn’t alone, it was just another obstacle.”

That moment struck me. Sharing his journey, his struggles, and his fears allowed him to find solutions he might never have discovered alone.

And yet, for most of my life, I’ve tried to go it alone.

When I was eleven, my parents split up. That’s when I became fiercely independent. I told myself that if the people who were supposed to look after me couldn’t be relied upon, then I had to rely on myself. I built a wall of self-sufficiency. It made me strong, but it also shut out opportunities for growth.

For years, I prided myself on figuring things out alone. But now, looking back, I realize I was limiting myself. Sure, I became resourceful. Sure, I found my own way. But compared to what I could have become with the right people around me? I was playing small.

The truth is, we all have blind spots. And we’ll never see them until we let others in.

Massimino’s story reinforced something I wish I had learned earlier: the power of shared experiences. When you surround yourself with like-minded people who are also pushing forward, your obstacles become easier to navigate. The right people help you see solutions you never would have considered alone.

That’s why I’ve changed my approach. I now invest in communities—Toastmasters, mastermind groups, online forums. I openly talk about my failures because I know that’s where the real growth happens.

If you’re on a journey of personal change, don’t do it alone. Join a group, share your struggles, and let others help you see what you can’t.

Change isn’t a solo mission. It’s a team effort. And it starts today.