Waldo Waldman
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Article
From Facebook to Phonebook - How Wingmen Stay Connected
Like many of you, I recently joined the Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn craze and it's been great. I've re-connected with old friends from high school, college, and my fighter pilot days, and I've also met some very interesting people. And yes â like you, I can easily spend a few hours a day on these sites checking out profiles and looking at cool videos and photos.n nLast week, I was driving home from a lunch meeting and was thinking of who I needed to re-connect with. Davi
May 22, 2009
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New Day, New Jet: Face Each Day with Courage and Fly to Your Highest Potential
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 one flight away from washing out of Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT). My dream of becoming a fighter pilot hung by a thread. I began to doubt myself.n nWhat if I mess up again? What if I forget to call 'gear down' on final approach or fail to apply the proper spin recovery procedures? I repeatedly chair flew
February 22, 2009
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Release Brakes - How To Break The Fear Barrier in Business
As I write this article at my favorite Starbucks, I can't help but hear the conversation next to me. A middle-aged woman is having a coffee meeting with a peer discussing job opportunities, the market, and their personal networks. It's obvious that she's lost her job due to cutbacks and is networking like mad, reaching out to her wingmen and exploring job opportunities.n nSound familiar?n nWe all know someone who recently lost a job or who is struggling with their business. T
December 8, 2008
Article
How To Become A Winning Sales ACE And Avoid Getting Shot Down!
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?n nThe same holds true for those who would assume the mantle of leadership in business. When adversity hits, how they respond in the market wi
September 22, 2008
Article
Integrity First : Living The Honor Code In Business
Integrity First. It's core value #1 of the U.S. Air Force... embraced by our leadership, taught in our training programs, and a symbol of the commitment and character of the men and women serving our country.nnI learned a valuable lesson about the true meaning of integrity after only serving several years in the Air Force. It wasn't on a combat mission flying an F-16. It was during a training sortie I flew as a brand new instructor pilot, and I learned it flying solo.nnIt was
June 27, 2008
Article
Lift VS. Drag - A Business Leader's Perspective
So, how do you get a 35,000-pound F-16 jet fighter to fly? nnIt's no easy feat. To overcome the force of gravity, you have to create a force greater than gravity's grasp. That force is lift.nnAs the F-16 blasts through the sky, there is an "enemy" of lift that must be overcome. It's an aerodynamic force which resists the forward motion of the jet (known as drag.)nnThere are two kinds of drag - induced and parasite. Induced drag is a "good drag." It is a byproduct of lift and
June 27, 2008
Article
Work It Now! How Winners Deal With Adversity
I remember the first time I was deployed to Iraq during Operation Southern Watch. I sat in an intelligence mission briefing with 50 of my fellow fighter pilots (my wingmen) where we were briefed on the multiple threats that scattered the enemy terrain in Iraq. The SAM's (surface to sir missiles) and AAA (anti-aircraft artillery) were everywhere - each with the reach and power to shoot us out of the sky. n nI couldn't help but notice the anxious feeling that was in the pit of
April 28, 2008
Article
Commit Commit! Where Discipline Meets Action
December 21, 1998âa brisk winter day in Saudi Arabia. I was stationed on my first combat deployment, flying missions to enforce the Iraqi southern no-fly zone. Inexperienced and quite nervous, I was scheduled to take off on only the fourth combat sortie of my career. It was a mission I'll never forget.n nI 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-16s were charged with "sanitizing" the
April 28, 2008
Article
The Inner Wingman - Trusting Yourself
Before fighter pilots can fly in combat, they have to demonstrate expertise in tactics, technology, and hands-on flying. Extensive hours of study, simulation and practice missions must be accomplished before they are designated "M/R" â MISSION READY.nnnnSimply put, they're not trusted to fly with other wingmen until they can fully trust themselves!nnnnIn business and life, before you can be trusted to execute a mission with others, you too have to become Mission Ready. You
March 15, 2008
Article
Lose Sight, Lose Fight - How Focused Vision Leads To Victory
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.nnnnWe've all heard the experts talk about vision. Vision paints an inspiring picture of what an organization can become and gives
March 15, 2008