This Surprising Truth About ‘Deadliest Catch’ Might Change How You See It Forever
This Surprising Truth About ‘Deadliest Catch’ Might Change How You See It Forever
It’s often said that television will rot your brain, but there are some shows that can impart much-needed life lessons. Deadliest Catch is one of those shows. While fans might be paying attention to how fishermen defy the dangers of the sea, the interactions between the crew members could help those same fans in their day-to-day lives — whether they’re at work, competing in sports, or even something as mundane as planning a party. What is this life lesson, you might ask? It’s simple: you have to learn how to depend on others, no matter the situation. As the poet John Donne once eloquently put it, “No man is an island.” Or, if you want to be specific, no man is a fishing boat.
‘Deadliest Catch’ Can Teach People How To Be a Better Team Player
No matter the boat or the captain it follows, Deadliest Catch emphasizes that the entire crew has to work together to bring in their haul. A great example comes in the Season 20 finale: fan-favorite Captain Sig Hansen is out at sea when the power on his boat, the Northwestern, goes out. This means that he’s stuck in the middle of the ocean, forced to switch to manual steering since his instruments are literally dead in the water, and on top of that he still has crab pots deep in the ocean that he has to get on board. What follows is a team effort, as the Northwestern’s crew hauls out maps to plot their course while also working through the night to get the pots on board. The Northwestern finally manages to get to shore, thanks to Hansen’s steady hand at the wheel — and the fact that his crew was able to work together to get safely to shore. Another major example comes in Season 17, where the crew of the F/V Saga, led by Captain Jake Anderson, conducts an impromptu rescue mission. Again, it’s a group effort, and it shows viewers that sometimes you have to work with others to achieve your goals.
One of Deadliest Catch’s most iconic fishermen, Captain Keith Colburn, was even willing to pass on his leadership lessons! Colburn outlined what it takes to captain a fishing vessel with Business Observer’s Mark Gordon, highlighting three key elements that every fishing crew — and captain — needs: perseverance, a vision, and the ability to stay calm under pressure: “You have to find a way to keep your emotions in check, and adapt well to the situation in front of you.You have to be laser-sharp out there. You have to look at it like a vacuum…most importantly, you have to stay calm when the s— hits the fan.” That’s easier said than done, considering the dangerous environments that Deadliest Catch stays in. But it’s also a lesson that viewers can apply to their real lives. Have a big presentation at work? Need to do a big school project? Deep breaths, a vision, and pulling through can help you out.
Persistence Has Helped Plenty of ‘Deadliest Catch’s Fishermen Achieve Their Goals
Perhaps the biggest lesson that Deadliest Catch can teach its viewers is about persistence. The show doesn’t mince about how tough it is out on the waters: if you’re not dealing with raging waves, you’re dealing with icy weather, heavy steel pots, and the very real fear that you could potentially drown. The fishermen pull through because they’re dedicated to their job, and it’s something to keep in mind for fans when they’re pursuing their goals. Maybe you aren’t doing anything as dangerous as crab fishing, but there will be days when it gets tough…and you should pull through. The biggest example of what not to do, though, came in the form of Jason “Moi” Moilanen, a deckhand who worked on the F/V Wizard. Moi was insufferable because he complained about everything, from the toll it took on him to how heavy some of the pots were. In the same vein, his crew mates were less than pleased about his attitude. Eventually, Keith Colburn grew tired of Moi’s behavior and kicked him off the boat, but the lesson was clear. If you’re going to work with others, you’ll have to pull your own weight. In other words? Don’t be a Moi.
