Everyone is Someone's Hero

I witnessed something very cool this week.

I was at the airport waiting for my flight, sitting on the floor next to one of the few power outlets available (Note to airports everywhere - more outlets - that work - please). A Delta Air Lines pilot was standing near by, preparing to board his plane when a kid (i'm guessing around 16), came up to him and asked for a trading card.

Side note: TIL that Delta Air Lines pilots carry trading cards that they will gleefully handout to people who ask for one. Who knew???

Another side note: Dean has a new hobby at airports.

After handing the kid a card, the kid told the pilot that he also wanted to be a pilot as a profession. I eavesdropped, wondering how the pilot would handle a fan talking to his hero. The cynic in me wondered if the pilot would see this as a nuisance - like so many of people's heroes treat their fans.

Yet another side note: Fun Fact - I did concert security for over 10 years and was basically responsible for being the band's "babysitter" while they were at the venue. One of the things I learned was that meeting fans was one of the things bands hated most, and it showed. To their defense, fans can be overbearing to a fault and multiply that by dozen fans at every meet and greet, and I totally understood why it became a band's least favorite thing to do.

So to my delight, the Delta Air Lines pilot took great interest and time in explaining what it takes to become a commercial pilot. The training, the time, the studies, the cost. Then after that finished with "but it's the greatest job in the world". The entire conversation took about 10 minutes, but at no time did the pilot ever seem bothered, annoyed, or distracted. For that 10 minutes his entire attention was squarely focused on that kid and his questions.

It got me thinking about rock stars, pilots, and how everyone is someone's hero, and how 10 minutes are the difference between amplifying that fandom or (in the case of too many rock stars) massive disappointment. Additionally, people, knowingly or unknowingly, are listening - multiplying that impact.

I don't have B2B Marketing trading cards but the conversation reminded me how "not all heroes wear capes" and that whether your a parent, a pilot, a rock star, or whatever, somebody, somewhere thinks you are a hero, and when they present themselves as a fan, that interaction can change the trajectory of what happens next in their lives.

Last side note: seriously thinking about getting B2B Marketing trading cards.

To Delta Air Lines - I didn't get the pilot's name, but I'm pretty sure he launched the career of one of your future pilots because of his kindness, patience, and interest in his fan. And it kinda made me an even bigger fan of your airline.

To everyone else - when your fan presents themselves to you, take that 10 minutes to change their lives for the better.