Arlete is my cleaning lady. She is the most positive, loving person I know. And I love her for it. I have to admit I just don’t like to vacuum and mop my floors so I would rather pay someone to do it. So, Arlete comes by when I need her and she creates a space happiness in my life by giving me TIME. But she’s much more than that to me. Arlete always has a smile on her face and has ...
I’ve been getting countless e-mails and newsletters this past week from coaches and consultants capitalizing on the downturn in the market. Their message is fear based. “The dow is down again, it’s scary out there, layoffs are rampant!” Then they offer a $1,995 weekend seminar on wealth building or business growth that will solve all of your problems. These “compassionate coaches” become opportunistic vultures praying on the carcass of your fear. Give me a break! Here’s my take on it wingmen - Strap ...
If you want to test the true character of a person, see how they respond to adversity. Watch how they handle the pressure of a lost sale, an angry client, or a difficult boss. What do they say? How do they act? What is their emotional state? Do they freeze up and get angry, or do they buckle down and increase their focus and commitment? The same holds true for those who would assume the mantle of leadership in business. When ...
“You’ve got to Push it up to take off. And you have to take-off to fly!” I’ll never forget the first time I flew the F-16. The rush of adrenaline was amazing. The tower controller cleared me for take-off and from the back seat my instructor pilot, Captain “Deke” Slaton, called out over the intercom, “Push it up, Waldo!” “Yes, Sir!” I replied. I nervously pushed up that throttle to full power and felt a kick in the seat unlike anything I’ve experienced ...
So, how do you get a 35,000-pound F-16 jet fighter to fly? It’s no easy feat. To overcome the force of gravity, you have to create a force that is greater than gravity’s grasp. That force is lift. As the F-16 blasts through the sky, there is an “enemy” of lift that must be overcome known as drag. There are two kinds of drag – Induced and Parasite. Induced drag is a “good drag’ in that it is a bi-product of lift and ...
COMMIT COMMIT! December 21st, 1998 – a brisk winter day in Saudi Arabia. I was stationed on my first combat deployment, flying missions enforcing the Iraqi southern no-fly zone. I was scheduled to take off on only the fourth combat sortie of my career, inexperienced and quite nervous. It was a mission I’ll never forget. I was flying that day with my flight lead Lt Col “Hos” Hyatt, the commander of the 79th Fighter Squadron Tigers. Our “2 ship” of F-16’s were ...
We have a saying in the fighter pilot world, “lose sight, lose fight.” Lose sight for just a second of the ground or aerial target, and chances are you’ll lose the fight (i.e. miss the target or get shot down). It takes intense concentration, discipline, and focus to keep sight. Your vision is only as good as how well you see the immediate target. We’ve all heard the experts talk about vision. Vision paints an inspiring picture of what an organization ...
I am well aware of the toil, and blood, and treasure, that it will cost us to maintain this declaration, and support and defend these states. Yet, through all the gloom, I can see the rays of light and glory; I can see that the end is more than worth all the means, and that posterity will triumph. John Adams letter to Abigail Adams, July 3, 1776 Tomorrow is the 4th of July. My ‘orders’ from my trusted wingman and business ...
