AviNation Magazine November 2018

Page 6

“Powering Up Your Grit” Three Tips for Keeping Your Dreams of Flight Aloft By Larae Stotts While pilots are dreamers by nature, the reality of pursuing flight is generally inseparable from the five- to six-figure price tag. Flight students also may bear the burden of periods of intermittent self-doubt, perceived regression and occasionally even failure. What, then, is a winning strategy for aspiring pilots to use against such challenges when they arise? One of the basic principles of flight describes how an object must maintain lift equal to or greater than weight (gravity) and thrust equal to or greater than drag (friction), in order to fly. Maintaining momentum as a pilot-in-training is no different.

words will instead showcase your confidence and drive: “As your new first officer, I will positively contribute my ideas through participation on the innovation committee.” When you are running a bit late, express gratitude rather than guilt. Try, “I am grateful that you chose to wait for me,” rather than, “I’m sorry for being late,” followed by an excuse. Enacting such changes may feel uncomfortable and slightly presumptuous at first. In reality, however, they show that you are sure of yourself, and you will be more equipped to face adversity with gusto.

Different Day, Different Judges

Your words are the sole pathway into your mind, so choose them wisely. Purposefully choose a tone of fearless intention in applications, interviews and everyday conversations.

As an intern with the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) this summer, I was honored to participate as a guest panelist with NBAA’s Young Professionals (YoPro) Council to help select the organization’s inaugural “Top 40 Under 40 in Business Aviation.” This was one of the toughest tasks I was assigned to, and in reading about the candidates, I had two powerful revelations. To begin with, I realized that the business aviation industry has some seriously high caliber, competitive individuals.

For example, during a job interview, you might usually say, “If I am selected for the position, I would like to contribute my ideas through participation on the innovation committee.” However, changing just a few

Just imagine, for a moment, being tasked with awarding either Elon Musk or Nikola Tesla as the recipient of a singular award. With both individuals being highly accomplished, how do you make

Simply put, one’s grit must equal or exceed adversity in order to sustain flight. What follows are a number of tricks to power up your grit when adversity inevitably strikes.

Speak as Though you Believe

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