| So, how do you get a 35,000-pound F-16 jet
fighter to fly? It's no easy feat. To overcome the force of gravity, you have to create a
force greater than gravity's grasp. That force is lift. As the F-16 blasts through the
sky, there is an "enemy" of lift that must be overcome. It's an aerodynamic
force which resists the forward motion of the jet (known as drag.) There are two kinds of
drag - induced and parasite. Induced drag is a "good drag." It is a byproduct of
lift and is necessary for flight. Parasite drag is not helpful because it battles against
the "good" drag, working to slow the aircraft down. It's caused by the
non-lifting portions of the aircraft, such as the landing gear, missiles, and external
fuel tanks.
Here's the big picture. In order to fly, a jet's lift must
exceed drag. The less drag, the easier the plane flies.
Let's look at this on a practical level in fighter combat.
When evading missiles or engaging another fighter in close combat, one of the first things
you must do is what pilots call "jettison your stores." You have to get rid of
all the parasite drag hanging from the jet that's not critical to immediate, fast flight.
Fuel tanks and bombs, for example, must go. This reduces your weight while simultaneously
reducing drag, allowing the fighter to be much more maneuverable to avoid getting shot
down.
Simply put, if you don't need it, you drop it.
What "parasites" do you have dragging you down
and stopping you from reaching new heights in your life?
Parasites are the negative relationships that sap you of
your energy and time while giving nothing in return. Parasites are also the fears, doubts,
mental baggage, dramas, and self-limiting beliefs that strangle your ability to take
action. They suck the life out of you. They can drag you down emotionally and hold you
back from being a successful leader.
Do you have any of that hanging around?
We all have parasite drag in our lives. We're just not
aware that we have it or we put off doing anything about it until our own personal
"missiles" begin to fly. If we're dragged down too much, the missiles will hit
us.
What are you holding on to that you really need to let go
of? Here's my advice. Jettison your parasites now!
Wingmen are the opposite of parasites. They are the
relationships in your life who lift you to new heights. "Wingnuts" are parasites
that drag you down.
Are you willing to jettison what's dragging you down so you
can become more fulfilled and successful? Perhaps it's an unhealthy relationship,
laziness, or a private addiction such as TV, gambling, or a sugar fix. Or maybe a bad job
is bringing you down or a fear of failure is stopping you from starting a new business.
Want to find what gives lift in your life? Look at what
drives your passion. Look at the relationships and activities that get you excited and
energized and ready to "push it up" in life. Then, pursue them relentlessly.
Seek what gives you life.
When flight planning for success, winners have an ability
to get rid of distractions and focus on action that leads to positive results. They also
surround themselves with people who challenge them. Jim Rohn, one of my favorite
philosophers, has a saying that I love, "Don't spend major time with minor
people." If you want to be a success, spend time with people at work and in your
private life who lift you up. Folks who have the courage and compassion to tell it like it
is. These people won't settle for your excuses, but they will inspire you and give you
hope.
The question remains: How do you attract these types of
people into your life? You do it by giving your time, advice, and hope to those in need.
In essence, you become a wingman to others and help them to fly to greater heights. You do
the hard work to build your own character before expecting it of others. This is the core
of leadership. When you do this, wingmen will naturally be attracted to you. They will
feel comfortable coming to you for help and you will slowly but surely find yourself
surrounded by people you trust. As I always say, never fly solo.
Leadership Wingtip - Leaders push themselves up,
while pulling others up.
Discipline, hard work, and productive relationships are the
lifts in life that overcome the parasite drags of unhealthy relationships, addictions and
complacency. They are your tools to conquer mediocrity and live with courage. They will
help you to win. Don't leave them from your flight plan.
If you want to reach new heights in business and in life,
make sure you do whatever it takes to maximize your lift and minimize your drag. Not only
will you avoid the missiles, but you'll hit your target as well! |
