Motivation and "Safe Zones"

[Doogie]

I'm about to take off for another trip and I need to get this off my chest before I depart.

I'm in the business of motivating people to do their best.

If you're going to do something, knock the bottom out of it. Slay it. Beat it. If you're going to be a broadway singer, be the best, play in the biggest music hall and get your name on the tallest sign with the brightest lights.

Aviation is the same way. Too many people think the fight's too tough and pull off at a rest stop along the career highway which, as a person who strives to motivate other young pilots to reach their goals, is confusing. It takes all lot of (proverbial) "balls" to solo an aircraft because it involves risk.

I post pictures from my trips and it motivates a lot of people to get the career change done, get their hours, work on those resumes and bid larger aircraft. I do my best to show that charging forward and onward with your career doesn't mean that you're leaving your wife or family behind. "You CAN do it".

It gets my goat when I see people work themselves into a tizzy over here when I dare suggest there's a great world of adventure beyond bouncing around Baton Rouge on a CRJ. I've been there and done that and for a while I had myself convinced that all-in-all it's all the same and it costed me not only money from not moving upward and onward, it's cost me years of missed adventures and opportunities to learn about other cultures.

Remember, America is a nation of risk-takers and adventurers. The safe thing wasn't for a bunch of wealthy farmers to take arms against the world's most organized, toughest armies (The British).

The "safe" thing was to keep paying the Queen taxes, take no risks and do what the red coats asked.

Passion, motivation and drive are not vices to be squashed.

They're what make us Americans. They're what got us the courage to solo without a flight instructor. If you're married to an aviator, encourage that. It's in him. Give him courage and support.

He'll be happier. YOU'LL be happier.

Life goes fast.

Life is short.

And dammit, you only get one! Go out and enjoy it!

[SeatClutcher]

On the other hand, the definition of "risk" and "being the best" is very specific to each person's life, isn't it?

Maybe you have a pilot who IS perfectly happy flying regionals - he flies for a living, it's the job he's always wanted - but, on the weekends, or whenever it is he's home, his idea of "going for it" is base jumping, or putting together a book case, or something.

Our jobs are not always what we want to BE the best at. For example, I have a feeling I'm going to end up being an admin. assistant. I do not WANT to be an admin. assistant - it'll just be a rent and loan-paying job. Be the best at it? Screw that. I don't think I'll care enough. I'll probably do my job well enough to keep it, but I'm going to spend my real energy being motivated and adventurous where it counts for me.

(I understand what you're saying here, Doug - and I think it's great to motivate people to get out there and see and do things. Truly - I'm one of the first to ask "WHY???" when people say they've never left their home town or state. But for some, flying just may be a job. For others, flying regionals may be THE dream job.)

Happy travels to you as you go off across the ocean again - looking forward to seeing more pictures on JC!

[flyershoe]

Originally Posted by SeatClutcher

On the other hand, the definition of "risk" and "being the best" is very specific to each person's life, isn't it?

Maybe you have a pilot who IS perfectly happy flying regionals - he flies for a living, it's the job he's always wanted - but, on the weekends, or whenever it is he's home, his idea of "going for it" is base jumping, or putting together a book case, or something.

Our jobs are not always what we want to BE the best at. For example, I have a feeling I'm going to end up being an admin. assistant. I do not WANT to be an admin. assistant - it'll just be a rent and loan-paying job. Be the best at it? Screw that. I don't think I'll care enough. I'll probably do my job well enough to keep it, but I'm going to spend my real energy being motivated and adventurous where it counts for me.

(I understand what you're saying here, Doug - and I think it's great to motivate people to get out there and see and do things. Truly - I'm one of the first to ask "WHY???" when people say they've never left their home town or state. But for some, flying just may be a job. For others, flying regionals may be THE dream job.)

Happy travels to you as you go off across the ocean again - looking forward to seeing more pictures on JC!

You have a way with words! Then again... you need to.

[Kristie]

I just don't understand how you can go through all that work of getting your PPL, MEI, CFI and years of little to no pay to flying is just a job. it's a career move....getting into it, you have to make it a career because it takes career effort to get to what you would consider "the top". so why would you want to stop half way there?

I haven't heard many say they wanted to stop at the regional level. the only guys i've heard say that they'd be happy and content if they get into the regionals are the guys that are over 50 and making a career change. Everyone else, that i've talked to, has always had a goal higher than that because of the amount of work and effort that goes into it.

[SeatClutcher]

Beats me. I don't know why anyone would even bother getting a pilot's license unless they have a great passion for flying, but Ian knows a few guys who pretty much fly just because they can.

Seems like too much effort, to me.

[Kristie]

to me as well...

I know i couldn't do it!

[ccbegay]

Originally Posted by Doogie

I'm about to take off for another trip and I need to get this off my chest before I depart.

I'm in the business of motivating people to do their best.

If you're going to do something, knock the bottom out of it. Slay it. Beat it. If you're going to be a broadway singer, be the best, play in the biggest music hall and get your name on the tallest sign with the brightest lights.

Aviation is the same way. Too many people think the fight's too tough and pull off at a rest stop along the career highway which, as a person who strives to motivate other young pilots to reach their goals, is confusing. It takes all lot of (proverbial) "balls" to solo an aircraft because it involves risk.

I post pictures from my trips and it motivates a lot of people to get the career change done, get their hours, work on those resumes and bid larger aircraft. I do my best to show that charging forward and onward with your career doesn't mean that you're leaving your wife or family behind. "You CAN do it".

It gets my goat when I see people work themselves into a tizzy over here when I dare suggest there's a great world of adventure beyond bouncing around Baton Rouge on a CRJ. I've been there and done that and for a while I had myself convinced that all-in-all it's all the same and it costed me not only money from not moving upward and onward, it's cost me years of missed adventures and opportunities to learn about other cultures.

Remember, America is a nation of risk-takers and adventurers. The safe thing wasn't for a bunch of wealthy farmers to take arms against the world's most organized, toughest armies (The British).

The "safe" thing was to keep paying the Queen taxes, take no risks and do what the red coats asked.

Passion, motivation and drive are not vices to be squashed.

They're what make us Americans. They're what got us the courage to solo without a flight instructor. If you're married to an aviator, encourage that. It's in him. Give him courage and support.

He'll be happier. YOU'LL be happier.

Life goes fast.

Life is short.

And dammit, you only get one! Go out and enjoy it!

hear hear......I'm going to support the BF in whatever he may decide to do...shoot, if I personally didn't take risks I'd still be stuck in NM being miserable...I know that the BF will go on to do/fly big and better things/airplanes...and I have no right into keeping him piddling in the CRJ, because I know that he does not want too...that is what I most love about him he takes some gutsy risks, and I know that in the end he will be ultimatlely happier...

[Brenda]

Originally Posted by Kristie

I just don't understand how you can go through all that work of getting your PPL, MEI, CFI and years of little to no pay to flying is just a job. it's a career move....getting into it, you have to make it a career because it takes career effort to get to what you would consider "the top". so why would you want to stop half way there?

I haven't heard many say they wanted to stop at the regional level. the only guys i've heard say that they'd be happy and content if they get into the regionals are the guys that are over 50 and making a career change. Everyone else, that i've talked to, has always had a goal higher than that because of the amount of work and effort that goes into it.

Well, my guy is 37. He is content flying the regionals and flies a decent size airplane. Could care less about international. He does, even though it isn't to France or Africa or Germany. He can do that with me and the children and really enjoy it. but that is HIM. It isn't about money to him. To HIM, his family is more important. Seeing his wife and children. Watching his children grow up. Being able to go to a last minute school function is important.
Yes, his passion is to fly, always has, always had airplanes in the family, but to him flying isn't everything. Does that make him a bad pilot for not wanting more? I support whatever decision he chooses, whether to fly domestic or international.There happens to be a new statistic, I have to find t, but the average life expectancy of a pilot is 65. 65! During that time, how many important family things do you think that pilot will miss? Quite a few I bet. But that's okay, because he went for the "dream" and flew internationally with a major. Sorry, that isn't my guys dream.

[Regina]

I remember when my husband and I were first dating...his dream was to fly for Delta. He flew corporate for Scott's lawn company for awhile before he switched to a regional...goal still being to fly for a major. After having kids and having many other "life" changes, he appreciates where he is....he is a check airman at a very nice regional, teaching check airman classes, gets a pretty good airline schedule, has time off when we have a baby, nice vacation time, etc. Now, his goal is to get a job at the FAA to be home more with the family. (By the way, if anyone knows how to get him hired, I would greatly appreciate it.) I think he is content, but not totally happy with not being in the majors. He doesn't want to start off at the bottom of an airline right now by switching to a major. I feel bad that he didn't reach the majors, but I also know that there are reasons for everything. If he wanted to go, I would support it. But for us, I am happy with the money he makes (although more would be nice too, but not desperately needed or anything), and we have never done without anything. I guess what I am saying is that you may start out thinking one way and as changes occur in your life, your way of thinking changes too... I switched majors, I don't know how many times before going back to my original one (possibly due to the fact that I had a college advisor that didn't know anything....). I spent 6 or so years in college getting my degrees and my master's, and I have never used them outside the home. 6 years is nothing compared to how much time an aviation person puts in, but anyway, my situation changed and I moved with the flow. Just my opinion though....

[Bigsweetie]

Originally Posted by Kristie

I just don't understand how you can go through all that work of getting your PPL, MEI, CFI and years of little to no pay to flying is just a job. it's a career move....getting into it, you have to make it a career because it takes career effort to get to what you would consider "the top". so why would you want to stop half way there?

I haven't heard many say they wanted to stop at the regional level. the only guys i've heard say that they'd be happy and content if they get into the regionals are the guys that are over 50 and making a career change. Everyone else, that i've talked to, has always had a goal higher than that because of the amount of work and effort that goes into it.

No offense Kristie- but it comes off a little arrogant to say that stopping your career at a regional means you're not as motivated as a pilot at a major airline. Everyone's definition of success is different. Maybe he feels that he's happy flying whatever plane he's flying and he's smart enough to focus on things like his family and his children.

Eric beats himself up daily because he's not with a major airline yet. He's working dilligently toward his goal, but I fear that that's the ONLY way he'll feel fulfilled in life. There's no guarantee that he'll EVER make it to a major (although I believe he will and of course I encourage him every step of the way). But if he doesn't make it, does that make him a failure as a human being? He's missing out on the things that life has ALREADY given him here at home because he's so focus on that one goal.

I asked him once, if we divorced and Emily and I left you, and then you were hired by a major airline, would you still be happy with your life?

It's about balance in your life. No pilot should feel like they don't measure up just because of the plane they fly. Honestly, I give regional guys who stick around alot of credit because their the ones who say "I stay here because I bid an AWESOME schedule, make good money, and get lots of time with my family". Truth be told, Kristie, isn't that why Doug didn't upgrade to captain? Same thing, just different airplanes.

There's a song lyric that I like to use:

Sometimes that mountain you've been climbing
Is just a grain of sand
And what you're out there searching for forever
Is in your hands
And then you figure out love is all that matters after all
It sure makes everything else
Oh, it sure makes everything else seem
So small

ETA: It's sort of like saying "you're not successful as a woman until you have children". We both know what BS that is.

Hugs to you!