A participant in my upcoming Leadership Now seminar on Ronald Reagan’s Challenger speech made an interesting comment to me yesterday. He said that the topic particularly intrigued him because he remembered exactly where he was when the Challenger exploded. The fact that he had lived through the event, remembered it clearly, and could reflect back on that moment had a special power in persuading him to enroll in my January 31st seminar. I invite you to do the same thing, especially if, like him, you recall living through the event.

A set of questions emanates from your living through the event. Where were you then? What did you think your future would be? How did you look back at your past from that point? Why exactly did this event stay in your memory for so long? What would have changed for you if it had happened differently?

To an extent, you become one of the sources of research for the session. You may recall your reaction, whether to the explosion or to the speech. You can add your feelings to the general recollection of the public mood.

That section of river may be gone forever but the imprint of the moment is deep and lasting.