Key Highligths

  • It is a humorous discussion based on the famous quote “What’s your vector, Victor?” from the 1980 movie Airplane!
  • The quote plays on the aviation term “vector” which refers to both direction and magnitude.
  • The article relates this concept of having a vector (direction and magnitude) to one’s career path and focus areas.
  • It emphasizes that what you focus on and measure in your career will grow and improve (magnitude), while the areas you neglect will atrophy.
  • It recommends identifying and maximizing your career vectors (strengths/focus areas) in terms of both direction and magnitude to stand out professionally.
  • The book “Essentialism” by Greg McKeown is referenced as a guide to pursuing your essential vectors with discipline.

Don’t worry. There will be no pop quizzes.

However, there may be some reminiscing of the classic movie “Airplane”

If you have never seen the movie “Airplane” you have more than likely heard some of the best lines over the years. If you haven’t seen it … Go ahead and watch it now. I’ll wait.

Welcome back.

Kidding aside …

For those that have forgotten their high school physics.

A vector has BOTH direction and magnitude.

Where Does “What’s your Vector, Victor?” Come From?

“What’s your Vector, Victor?” is a famous line from the 1980 comedy film “Airplane!”

This line is part of the movie’s running gag of using aviation jargon in humorous and nonsensical ways. “Airplane!” is known for its slapstick humor and plays on words, and this particular line has become iconic as a representation of the film’s comedic style.

The line is a play on aviation terminology: “vector” in aviation refers to the direction in which an aircraft is traveling. However, in the movie, it’s used in a comical exchange that plays with the names of the characters and the jargon.

What Does this Mean for Your Career?

Just like a vector … your career also has a direction and magnitude.

  • What you focus on and spend time on … will grow and improve.
  • What you measure … or get measured on … will get done.

This is a slight offshoot from the Tom Peters quote:

What Gets Measured Gets Done!

In a very similar way your career will have direction and magnitude.

Again, if you have forgotten your high school physics … Magnitude just means size. And, Direction … is well … The Direction the vector is pointing.

You probably already know a few areas where you stand out in your career today. These points – whether you have identified them or sought them yourself – or whether someone has told you directly – are your career vectors.

What’s your Vector, Victor?

How will you influence the Direction and Magnitude of your vector so that you will stand out in your career?

Keep in mind … there is no wrong answer. What you focus on will grow. What you ignore will atrophy.

Essentialism Guides Your Vector

There is a great book by Greg McKeown called “Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less” where he distills the essence of our daily efforts into one simple graphic.

The graphic is a collection of vectors … and his point can easily be seen by how we may be allowing ourselves to become undisciplined by allowing our “vectors” to have reduced magnitudes and scattered directions.

If you have the book … check out page six. Or click on the link above and go to “first pages” and see page 6,

When you see his graphic you will quickly see what he means and what I mean by you focusing on your career vector to maximize both the magnitude and direction.

So, What’s Your Direction? And, How Strongly Do You Want to Get There?

What’s your Vector, Victor?

This is your magnitude (size).

Combine these two and you get the answer.

Your answer is your (career) vector.

Seek to maximize both the size and the direction to make the biggest impact.