In January of 2007, I made a commitment to write a book. But it wasn’t an ordinary commitment. I wanted to write a New York Times bestseller. After all, if I was going to do something as unique as write a book, why not challenge myself to see if I could make a it a bestseller? After I made the commitment, I got busy. Real busy. I attended seminars on book publishing, connected with fellow speakers who were successful authors, researched agents, built relationships with ...
Thanksgiving is always a special holiday as we reflect on what we are thankful for. It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life and forget to take time to smell the flowers and appreciate what we have. I surely am guilty of this. When we really think about it, this holiday is really about being thankful for our relationships – the wingmen in our lives who give meaning to our missions. So, as we ponder what we’re ...
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 ...
I came across an article written by Ben Stein and I just had to share it. Ben Stein’s article sums up the philosophy of the wingman. The only life worth living is a life that is lived for other people. True heroes are not the ones in the tabloids but are the ones who are living in the trenches of life to help make a difference. How Can Someone Who Lives in Insane Luxury Be a Star in Today’s World? "…I no ...
My wingman screamed over the radio “Break Right, Break Right! Missile launch your 3 O’clock!” I looked to my right and saw two SAM’s (surface to air missiles) skyrocketing towards my aircraft at twice the speed of sound. If I didn’t maneuver my aircraft immediately, I would get shot down. There was no time to think. I lowered the nose, went to full power, banked the aircraft aggressively to the right and performed my best missile defense maneuver. Then I heard my wingman ...
Jules Ormont once said, “A great leader never sets himself above his followers except in carrying responsibilities.” In business the more you increase the altitude of your success the less rights you have. When you are the CEO of a company you no longer have the right to a vacation, when you are the owner of a business you no longer have the right to get paid and when you are in management you no longer have the right to ...
