The Same Wind Blows on Us All

It's not the blowing of the wind; it's the set of the sail that makes a difference. The same wind blows on us all. Economic Wind, Political Wind, Financial Wind, Career Wind, Relationship wind and other winds. I believe anybody can change their current course with the proper mindset and strategy. The older I get the better I understand patterns and cycles. Once you realize this, and accept it, you can plan and successfully operate in that environment. Stick with me; I'll tie this to general aviation at the end.

I hit a milestone this year. It is the 25^th year reunion for my USAF Academy graduating class. Wow, where has the time gone? 1604 cadets were given appointments and 1027 walked across the stage, shook President Ronald Reagan's hand and accepted their diploma four years later. 577 classmates (36%) neglected to set the proper sail. I look forward to the renewed friendships and comparing career notes. I wonder how many of them are also semi-retired. How many have been able to find success in three very distinct industries? Military Aviation, Fortune 200 Company and Home Business Entrepreneur.

I have seen and participated in the full spectrum from risk taker to analysis paralysis. The risk taker throws all caution to the wind and just blindly takes action. Then there are the extremely analytical types that sit on the sidelines over-thinking what may or may not happen. I believe successful people are proficient at both ends of the spectrum. There is a time and place for number crunching and postulating what if scenarios. There is also merit in grabbing the keys and starting the journey before you may know the destination. Remember the lyrics from the Kenny Rogers song, The Gambler? You've got to know when to hold them and when to fold them.

There are a couple themes that have directed my life choices and shaped me into the person I am today. It is the way I choose to set my sail in unpredictable winds. The first has been the statement - It is impossible to know what you do not know. The second is a corollary to the first axiom - How do you know where the line is if you don't cross it?

It is impossible to know what you do not know. This quest of knowledge, uncovering myths and challenging the status quo has driven me to identify blind spots. I had no true understanding of what landing on water would be like until I decided to do it. Sure, I had an idea or perception. That's not the same. I had not considered I would have to master reading water, determine wind direction and wind speed in a remote patch of water. With each flight experience the knowledge base became a little larger. I have celebrated my fifth straight year of decreasing insurance premiums on my amphibian.

How do you know where the line is if you don't cross it? This is a real tricky one. You must be able to get back to safety without paying rent on the dark side. I am not advocating breaking laws here. I am suggesting that you operate outside of your comfort zone. In the movie, The Right Stuff, they referred to it as -- Chasing those demons outside the envelope. Here I am talking about learning from mistakes and not intentionally committing crimes. I read somewhere recently that "wisdom" is a nice word for mistake. The idea here is to quickly become familiar with the unfamiliar. It is a perpetual act of stretching ones comfort zone and learning from mistakes.

Maybe you are like I was several years ago. I was successful at what I was getting paid to do but I had lost my passion. My passion was aviation. Even before this tough economic headwind, making money in general aviation was challenging. Lots of risk through many variables that appeared difficult to control. I stumbled on a nutritional beverage that was not on my radar. Now I use general aviation assets to support my cash cow beverage business. I fly into markets and check in with people and maintain relationships. My first thought was that I needed to be a juice salesman. It couldn't be farther from the truth. It is a people business that requires one to assemble, coach and mentor a team of like minded individuals. There is no start up cost and the pay is ridiculous. After two years of part time work, we're semi-retired. If you've thought about finding a legitimate business use for your airplane, this could be your answer. Feel free to call. 804.833.2188

I am sure you are familiar with the Inc 500 list that celebrates the fastest growing companies in the US. This company debuted at #1 in Food and Beverage Category, #3 in total Revenue and #18 overall. Here's a link to the list. It is the only company in the top 100 that is home based. You are the boss from day one! The rapid growth is fueled by a Wellness Boom driven by the baby boomers expected to be a Trillion Dollar industry in the next 2 years. The same wind blows on us all. Maybe it's time for you to set a proper sail and start flying again.