If You Lose Focus, You Pay A Price.

In "Shatter the Sky," I talk about an important lesson from my Naval aviator days: if you lose focus, you pay a price. I picked it up as a Naval aviator, especially during my initial experiences with the SH-60B, navigating back to the ship. Landing half a mile away at 200 feet was one of our most critical and dangerous checkpoints, especially at night. The darkness, fatigue, and the allure of the ship's lights could easily lead to fixation, a common trap that threatened our safety by causing a descent way too early before it was time to land, which would've ended in disaster.

This experience taught us the importance of maintaining a comprehensive awareness, scanning inside and outside the cockpit, and not losing situational awareness. Fixating on a single point, like a moth to a flame, could have dire consequences. It's a principle that I now apply to life: if you lose focus, you pay a price.

I've been thinking about some goings-on in the news as the aviation industry navigates current challenges, including debates on pilot quality and the imperative of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. I've been concerned about what could happen if we lose focus. As we face a workforce shortage, the risk of being sidetracked by external narratives could not be higher. Aviation's growth depends on our ability to look beyond immediate distractions and invest in expanding our talent pool.

The path forward requires a vigilant scan of our environment—inside and out. It means paying attention to our immediate tasks and being aware of broader industry trends and opportunities.

Just like in the aircraft—you must keep scanning, looking inside and outside, referencing your instruments, altitude, and airspeed—are you where you should be?

In other words, as we strive to attract a diverse new generation to aviation, we must avoid fixating on singular, potentially misleading narratives that detract from our goals. Companies, keep that scan moving.

If you're actively contributing to positive change, I applaud your efforts and encourage you to focus on the core principle distinguishing truly outstanding companies: investing in people. It's essential not to be swayed by misleading narratives that can detract from this fundamental truth.

A continuous commitment to nurturing a diverse talent pool is not just commendable; it's the cornerstone of achieving unparalleled success. Continue to champion this cause, for these are the investments that we all need for our collective success.

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