“If you want to give thanks to those who have fought for our country, then be the type of person worth fighting for”…Rob “Waldo” Waldman

I’m a businessperson. I deal with competitors, changing markets, client demands, and a volatile economy.  I do the best I can to support my family and create a fulfilling life.  Some days the mission is easy and on others, the missiles and turbulence are intense.  But that’s what makes the journey exciting. I don’t want things to be easy.  I don’t like my life being safe.  Safe is boring.  I like knowing that when I wake up each morning, I may ...

Two nights ago I watched Saving Private Ryan. It wasn’t easy. Watching war movies for me never is. But I felt compelled to do so as a personal way to reflect on the meaning of Veterans Day and pay homage to our veterans. For those of you who haven’t seen it, the movie is an emotional and graphic depiction of WWII with a message that delves deeper than the horror of war. The main character, Captain Miller, played by Tom Hanks, ...

Knowing your long and short-term objectives, having a solid focus on where you’re going along with the flight plan to get there is a fundamental to success in any venture. But what about others’ vision of you? As a leader, how do your co-workers employees and customers see you? Will they follow you when times are tough? George Patton once said, “You’re always on parade.” What you say, how you say it, and how others view you really counts when it comes ...

 “A man who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.”  John Stuart Mill As I flew over the NYC skyline this weekend as the 10th anniversary ceremonies for 9-11 were taking place, I reflected upon this quote and what it revealed about the character of ...

Many people ask me how they can give thanks to those who serve our country.  This is particularly true on Memorial Day.   After all, it’s impossible to truly appreciate the sacrifices of our country’s soldiers unless you’ve been a soldier yourself. I believe we can honor our soldiers and fallen heroes by living up to the core American values that they fought and died for: integrity, service, courage, hard work, commitment, and respect (to name a few.) Here's the point: ...

For every pilot, weather is always a critical factor in flight. Blue skies and perfect visibility are a rarity. Sooner or later, thunderstorms, lightening and turbulence will appear. When this happens, we don’t turn around and head back to base. If we did, we would never reach our target. When bad weather strikes, pilots: 1.  Alter our flight path away from the weather 2.  Seek an altitude that has the least amount of turbulence 3.  Slow down to minimize the ...

Has CEO Tony Hayward Been a Wingman to BP? The BP gulf oil spill is one of the greatest environmental disasters our country has ever experienced. Not only will the long term environmental consequences be felt for years to come, but the price tag for cleaning up the spill will be over $20 billion. Finally, BP, a once reputable giant in the oil industry, is dealing with a $100 billion loss in market valuation and its brand and reputation has taken ...

As we celebrate this Veterans Day to honor our country’s heroes and pay respect to their service and sacrifice, it’s difficult not to get caught up with the emotions and controversy surrounding the recent massacre at Fort Hood Army base in TX. What happened was indeed a tragedy and the families and loved ones of those killed or injured will have many challenging days ahead. My heartfelt condolences go out to all of them. Although difficult to do, I am ...

Never Fly Solo is a business leadership flight plan that exemplifies the essential core values of integrity, courage, and service. No group embraces these values more than our country’s veterans. That’s why I am donating 100% of my advance purchase proceeds to veterans in need. My goal is to raise $100,000 for these heroes who have given their wings for our country.  But I need your help. Help me support and make a difference for our Veterans in need. Visit Never Fly ...