Burning The Ships
I am fascinated by the story of Cortez who after landing in the New World, burned his ships in order to prevent his crew from turning back from battle. That way, there was no return – the only way out was to fight. No going back! This isn’t totally the true, the shipped were actually scuttled (sank) not burned, but the point remains.
It must have taken a lot of courage to cut off his lifeline to his home.
It makes a dramatic statement that failure is not an option.
In Gene Kranz’s book of the same title, Failure Is Not An Option, he describes the trials and tribulations of the US manned spaceflight’s birth and evolution all the way from the first Mercury shots to the Shuttle flights. It’s an amazing book and it speaks more to perseverance and leadership than it does to the space race. The title is true of what they were up against. If we had kept that kind of intensity at NASA since that era, we’d be colonizing Mars right about now.
The concept is simple – succeed!
We can apply this standard to our own pursuits. If we have a failure-is-not-an-option mindset, how can we not achieve our goals?
I know it’s easier said than done. Life throws up barriers. In terms of flying, the barriers are large and numerous, but if I can do it, so can you. I grew up lower-middle class and worked two jobs in high school to bankroll my flying. I know it was cheaper back then, but minimum wage was $3.75 an hour and there wasn’t that many hours in a day. Borrowing or having my parents pay for it wasn’t an option…and neither was failure.
I invite you to “burn your ships” and follow your dreams…whatever they may be.
By Brent Owens <click on my name to email me>
Kind of a euphemism for many things in life. Some people just have that never-say-die fire in them (Jessica Cox!) and others don’t. In a perverse way, the fact that it’s not easy makes it that much sweeter when the summit is finally reached. As the saying goes, if it was easy everyone would do it!
Ron,
Well said! It is also self-fulfilling. The more I do things that require this kind of boldness – and I succeed – the more I’m embolden to do it again. Maybe that’s why folks like Jimmy Doolittle and John Young were able to do so much with their lives.
Thanks Brent, this is great!
Thanks Kevin!
This is an amazing concept and the power of belief. Somewhat making yourself accountable. I too had no one helping and did all i could to make it work. Success is never an option. I wonder if that is a gene, or we learn it from somewhere. Thanks for a great post!
Thanks Karlene! If we all do share a gene, no wonder we are drawn to one another as pilots.
A great reminder Brent!
Thanks Dana!
That’s the mentality I’ve recently pushed myself into. For the past 2 years I have been saying I’m going to do flight training. I joined AOPA, have read every issue of Flight Training magazine since I joined, as well as the weekly e-mails. I’ve done a few introductory flights, and have kept telling myself once I get certain things in line I’ll start. Recently I’ve had enough of my own excuses and committed myself to start training and succeed. Withing the past week I got my medical and student certificate, purchased a nice flight simulator seat from Vol Air Sim so I can have dedicated space to actually use the copy of Microsoft Flight Simulator that I’ve only used once in 2 years, and today I believe I finally found a flight school and instructors that will fit me. I’m not backing out now or ever. Success is my mission. I will get my private pilot certificate! And that’s just the starting point.
Matt,
That’s it! Glad to see you going for it! That’s were the magic happens. Good luck on your training and I know you’ll enjoy success…you already have.
Keep in touch.
Brent
Just now getting caught up on my blog reading and I loved the history lesson! I feel like jumping in with both feet is the only way to get into flying or else you’ll quickly “get out” of flying by going non-current.
So true it’s not really an endeavor to go into halfhearted.
Thanks Rob!