By Rob “Waldo” Waldman, Lt. Col., CSP
How to face each day with courage and fly to your potential
7 September 1990; 1000 hrs
The air conditioned briefing room felt as cold as ice as I waited for the arrival of my instructor. I was a bundle of nerves. One more ‘busted’ check ride would put me a flight away from washing out of one of the most intense and stressful training programs of my life – Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT). My dream of becoming a pilot hung by a thread. I began to doubt myself.
What if I mess up again? What if I forget to call ‘gear down’ on final? What about the spin recovery maneuver? What if I miss one of the steps? I chair flew and practiced the maneuvers over and over and I knew what needed to be done but I began to second guess myself. I kept re-playing in my head the previous flights I failed. My confidence dwindled and I could feel the sweat pour down my back.
In walked the instructor who would decide my fate, Major Jerry Free. He was the commander of the UPT squadron, a former F-4 fighter pilot who had little tolerance for mediocrity and laziness. At 6’3 and with buzz cut hair and shiny boots, he was the epitome of an Air Force fighter pilot. I was intimated to say the least.
Not knowing what to expect, I stood at attention, braced myself, and saluted smartly.
He quickly saluted back, looked me in the eyes, and reached over to shake my hand. “Ok, Waldo – it’s a new day, new jet! Are you ready to pass this flight, or what?”
He smiled.
Suddenly, the energy of the room shifted and I instantly became more confident and empowered. All the stress and anxiety I had bottled up exploded out of me like a bullet and transformed itself into a shot of positive adrenaline. My mind became clearer as I thought to myself, “I can do this. Today, I’m going fly like Chuck Yeager.” Major Free believed in me.
New Day, New Jet. Wow! I never heard that expression before. But somehow, those four words and the man who spoke them instantly changed my attitude from fear to focus…from anxiety to action…just like that. I was ready to fly.
Some of you reading this may be facing similar predicaments in your life that are testing your resolve, skill, and focus. Perhaps you are experiencing financial challenges or are having concerns at work as your company and clients adapt to our volatile economy. Missed sales quotas, budget cuts, and lost customers plague us. Mistakes happen. No mission is ever perfect, and neither are we. (more…)
