Push it up

As a decorated fighter pilot in the US Air Force, Lieutenant Colonel Rob Waldman learned early on in his career that your wingmen are your most important asset. “You can’t do it alone,” he says. At the LANDSCAPES 2019 Keynote, Waldman shared how he thrived in the Air Force and how business owners can have the same mentality to succeed in their professions as well.

Recognize your passion. “Your passion has to be greater than your fear,” he says. He recalled when he first decided he wanted to be a combat pilot. His dad urged him to pick something else because frankly, Waldman was afraid of heights. Before he was even able to step into a cockpit, he had to face a 33 foot diving board in one of his Air Force trainings. “I jumped off that 33 foot diving board,” he says. “Because my passion for being a pilot was greater than the fear of the jump.”

He said getting too comfortable in your career can actually be a danger to your business. “Complacency kills your business,” he says. “Resist the temptation to ease up when you should be pushing up.”

Commit to your mission. “Who is dependent on you?” he says. You have employees relying and depending on the decisions you make every day. He says its up to the business owner to be a coach and mentor the team. “You already had the passion,” he says. “Share it.” You also need to recognize who to go to for help. “Wingmen should never wing it,” he says.

In your business, you may be the most important ‘family’ your employee has. He suggests being aware of whose values you’re shaping as a leader day to day.

Commit to your team. “You’re only as strong as your weakest team member,” Waldman says. He encourages business owners to convey to their employees that they do have their back. Waldman recalled a time in the Air Force when he realized his jet didn’t didn’t have the full amount of fuel in it. His superior explained to him that he needed to shift his perspective and really think about the people fueling the jets, and step into their shoes. “They are the unsung heroes,” he says.