Ernest Shackleton didn’t promise comfort, safety, or success and yet he inspired one of the most legendary followings in history. In 1914, he launched the Imperial Trans Antarctic Expedition aboard the Endurance with the bold ambition of crossing Antarctica on foot. The ship became trapped in the Weddell Sea ice for months before being slowly crushed and sinking in 1915, leaving the crew stranded on drifting ice floes. The men camped on the ice, rationed supplies, and eventually escaped in lifeboats to the desolate Elephant Island. From there, Shackleton made the extraordinary decision to sail a small crew nearly 800 miles in an open boat to South Georgia to secure rescue. Shackleton is often credited with a recruitment ad that has become famous in leadership circles, even though historians acknowledge the exact wording may be a myth. Still, the quote captures the spirit of the man and the leadership he lived out: “Men wanted for hazardous journey. Small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in case of success.” Whether or not the ad appeared exactly this way in print, the message reflects Shackleton’s real approach. He did not soften reality or sell certainty. He led with clarity and honesty, and that honesty built trust. When plans collapsed and danger became constant, the men followed him not because the outcome was guaranteed, but because they trusted the leader. The leadership lesson is timeless. Ambition is good until the situation demands change. Shackleton understood that when the ice destroyed the plan, achievement no longer mattered as much as stewardship. Care for his people became the highest priority, and that decision is why every man lived. Leadership is not proven when conditions are favorable, it is revealed when ambition yields to responsibility. Lead boldly, but never so rigidly that you sacrifice people for the plan.

Hey fellow Skoolers 👋 Welcome to The Tide, a community rooted in the idea that a rising tide lifts all ships. Literally, a tide is the regular rise and fall of the ocean, a powerful current that changes the level of the water around every boat it touches. We chose this name because we want to be a force of influence that elevates people in every dimension of life personally, professionally, spiritually, and financially. As leaders in The Tide, we commit to serving the whole person, not just tasks, titles, or outcomes. Just as the tide does not lift only a few boats but raises the water for all, we aim to build environments that increase opportunity, strengthen character, and expand capacity for everyone around us through empathy, growth, and wise stewardship. Most importantly, The Tide is for leaders who choose to lead with Christ like care and love. Leadership is stewardship of influence, relationships, and resources, and when we serve with humility and generosity, we become a rising tide that lifts all ships on purpose.