This chapter recounts a deeply personal experience during the Iraq War, focusing on the necessity of writing letters to loved ones amid the uncertainty of conflict. It highlights the therapeutic nature of journaling as a tool for reflection, emotional processing, and leadership development, emphasizing its lasting impact on personal growth and mentorship.
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Episode #593: Kim Campbell - Contingency Planning, Responding to Adversity, Earning Trust & Respect, Flying in the Face of Fear, and How To Run a Debrief
- Aviate, Navigate, Communicate - "Aviate, navigate, communicate" is a fundamental principle in aviation that pilots learn early in flight training. It's a priority order that helps pilots stay focused and in control, even when they're under pressure or distracted:
- Aviate: Keep the plane flying
- Navigate: Figure out where you are and where you're going
- Communicate: Talk to air traffic control (ATC) or someone else as needed
- On March 20, 2003, Kim wrote letters to her loved ones in case she died in battle.
- Prepare, practice, and plan for contingencies. My college football coach, the late great, Terry Hoeppner used to always say, have a plan, work the plan, plan for the unexpected. As leaders, it’s on us to prepare, practice, and plan for contingencies. You don’t have to get ready if you stay ready.
- I love the way Kim’s dad helped support her dream to be a fighter pilot. If you want to do this, you have to put in the work. Run hills, and do pull-ups every time you go to the bathroom. He didn’t just tell her you can do whatever you want… He created opportunities for Kim to do the necessary work to achieve what she wanted.
- Kim’s telling of the story of how she was hit and how she responded. An amazing example of responding in the face of fear, dealing with adversity in a calm, poised manner, and making a tough decision. Kim’s training and her attitude is what set her apart and saved her life.
- Response to Rejection: Initially Kim was rejected by the Air Force Academy because of a low SAT score. In response, instead of quitting and moving on, she wrote a letter to them every week stating why they should accept her… Which they eventually did.
- Dealing with fear: What's most important is what we do in the face of fear. We can't freeze. We must take action.
- The Debrief:
- Check your rank and ego at the door.
- Write all the objectives down. Next to each one, grade it a plus or a minus. Find the root causes of each mistake.
- What lessons can we learn from our mistakes?
- What will we change for our next mission based on what we learned?
- Share lessons learned beyond that room.
- Johnny Bravo - Be humble, approachable, and credible. That's how you earn trust and respect and inspire others to follow.
