Becoming a Top Gun

by Ron White

( The film Top Gun is one remarkable movie I watched growing up. That film made Tom Cruise one of my Hollywood's Screen Idols. I think it is a breakthrough film for him. The lesson on that film and on this post is exactly the same and that is Fail to Make Excuses. See you at the Top! )

I want you to get this image in your head...

In international waters an aircraft carrier is busy with movement. Flight deck crews are safely directing aircraft. The air traffic controller is giving commands. Pilots are throttling their engines and sailors are swiftly and precisely preparing for a mission at 07:30. The mission is for a squadron of F-18 Hornets to take flight, but there is one problem: one of the cockpits is empty.

At 07:28 a young pilot, scarfing down a donut and chugging a cup of coffee, is smiling and laughing as he scampers toward his aircraft still zipping his flight suit. He grins and says, "Sorry guys, it was one of those Murphy's Law mornings [or traffic was bad or something else]. Sorry I am late."

Was that hard for you to picture? It was for me, because we all know that military pilots are some of the most trained and disciplined people on the planet. And in this scenario that lack of attention to detail would affect an entire mission and very possibly cost lives.

In life and business an often overlooked component to success is attention to detail and precision. If you want to be the best of the best, if you want to be the “Top Gun” of your organization, the only way to achieve that mark is to fail to make excuses, and more important, to fail to put yourself in a position where you have to make excuses. 

A true “Top Gun” will pay attention to the smallest detail and this means:

1. Realizing when you fail to meet expectations, you impact your entire team and customers. There is a difference between risking and failing and failing because you were sloppy.

2. Becoming an expert at preparation. In the military this is called the pre-flight briefing. You better have a pre-flight briefing before every sales call, business day or meeting to organize your thoughts and actions.

3. Every mission has an objective. Never make a sales call or business contact without a clearly stated and defined objective. A military pilot would never take off just to see what will happen. Have an objective.

This is how you become a “Top Gun”!

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Successful People VS. Unsuccessful People_The Difference

Cassius Clay knocking out Sonny Liston
 (former heavy weight champion)

Have you ever wondered what the difference between successful and unsuccessful people is? I’m sure you’ve seen the comparisons made lots of times in the past and truth is, many avoid the subject simply because it hits a raw nerve. You see, the majority of us want to be successful in life and crave the opportunity to set ourselves up financially. But less than 5% per cent of people actually achieve it.

So what’s the difference? What is it that pushes someone past the point of mediocrity and into an elite group of people who can live life as they dreamed.

Let this post be a wake up call and highlighting some of the differences between the “haves” and “have nots.”Here are the differences:

1. Unsuccessful people are obsessed with ideas but never implement them. In other words, they are gripped by what is known as analysis paralysis. On the other hand, successful people are obsessed with implementation. 

They don’t re-invent the wheel but instead watch successful people and copy them.

2. Unsuccessful people obsess about positive thinking but fail to match it with positive action.

Successful people take action to compliment their positiveness. There’s an old saying which says…”As you move, shuffle your feet!”

3. Unsuccessful people wait for the right time but it never comes. They want things to be perfect before they act.

Successful people take action when the opportunity appears. There is no perfect time other than the present and they know it!

4. Unsuccessful people wait for luck to send them on their way to success and financial freedom.

Successful people make their own luck and create their own circumstances in life.

5. Unsuccessful people are afraid to step up the plate. In other words, they don’t want to look silly in front of their friends and family.

Successful people take risks and aren’t worried about whether they are going to look stupid in front of the people they know.

6. Unsuccessful people are easily influenced by family and friends. If they are thinking about poking their head above the crowd all it takes is one cutting comment from a family member and they go to water.

Successful people push on no matter what. They surround themselves with successful people and take advice from those who are already successful. They live and die by their own convictions.

7. Unsuccessful people will always believe what they’re told especially negative talk/news.

Successful people will do their due diligence and conduct their own research, because they understand that public opinion does not necessarily reflect truth.

To Your Success!

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Dare to Soar Series - Passion for Excellence

Taking a Leap of Faith

Practice unconditional love.

Nothing can tame a flaming heart.

Don‟t get caught in the downdraft of doubt.

Don‟t leave this world without giving it your all.

Give back more than you take.

“ When you stop giving, when you stop offering something, its time to turn off the lights.” -George Burns

Exercise energizes the mind.

Go for the gold.

The path to least resistance often yields the least amount of success.

Don't start to quit.

Blaming others is a waste of energy.

The ultimate goal: To achieve the maximum potential out of life.

Motivation is a fire. You must add fuel.

Every oak tree began as a tiny acorn.

Powerful combination: Vision of an eagle, heart of a lion.

Live life like a two-minute drill.

Life is like a finish line. What are you doing to get there first?

Venture into the “ uncomfortable zone.”

To succeed in this world, you have to change all the time.

Want it so bad that you can taste it.

Winners do the little things exceptionally well.

Winning, like losing, is a choice.

Belief yourself far outweighs the doubts of others.

The sky is full of opportunity –

“Dare to Soar”

What's popular isn't always right, and what's right isn't popular.

Those who have vision most often share in the victory.

Vision: the ability to see what others only dream.

Dreaming is the first step to achieving.

You won‟t achieve it unless you are passionate about it.

Choose peak over partial performance.

We must risk failure to achieve success.

When you march to the beat of a different drummer, you'll be out of step with the people around you.

Remember, for all things there is a season.

The “ Thrill of Victory” often comes right after the “Agony of Defeat”.

Quit thinking about thinking to quit.

Eighty percent give up after the first try. Be the twenty percenter.

Moat people talk but few people do.

Great achievers are great dreamers.

The quest for success is not always a comfortable journey.

Like an eagle uses its talons, we must grasp opportunity before it disappears.

Turbulence is a necessary part of the journey.

Potential is your gift. Don't waste it.

Life is like a bank account; we must make the deposits before withdrawals can be made.

Get out of neutral and put your life into overdrive.

Mediocrity is blind to opportunity.

In every thought and action, think excellence.

You don't drown by falling into water, but by staying there.

Motivation is the high octane fuel that drives you to maximum achievement.

Failure is normally a choice.

Like a farmer, we get out of life what we put into it. No more, no less.

We must risk failure to capture success.

Keep your face toward the sun and you won't see the shadows.

Winners focus on “ When they will” not “If they can.”

What you think about is what you will ultimately become.

Goals are like the stars: they are always there. Adversity is like the clouds: they are temporary and will move on. Keep your eyes on the stars.

Pride: Personal Responsibility in Developing Excellence.

The one consistent trait of successful people-they continue to place one foot in front of the other.

In all that you do, give it all you have.Refuse to tiptoe through life.

The true character of an individual is what they think, say or do when no one else is present.

Be an “explorer” in life.

The 5 keys to success in life: what you watch,what you listen to, what you read ,what you think about, who you associated with.

Wealth is within reach.

If an eagle waited for perfect conditions, it would never soar.

Many start, but few finish the race of life.

Winners have an unquenched thirst for success.

Self-motivation is the “turbocharger” of life.

Success is just a little effort away.

Wisdom is much more powerful than knowledge.

Success normally follows an intense commitment to excellence.

Lean from failure-Babe Ruth struck out almost twice as many times as he hit home runs.

One must leave the security of the nest to achieve greatness.

Individuals “ wishing they could” are certain to be passed by those “ thinking they can”.

Those committed to mediocrity will always occupy a subservient role.

Excellence is always available to all who are willing to make the commitment.

Winning habits will separate you from the “pack” of mediocrity.

Just being on the right track is not good enough. If you don‟t move, you will probably get run over.

Due to a serious shortage of excellence, it is in great demand.

The grave is a terrible place to waste potential.

Mozart was 7 when he publish his first musical composition. 

George Bernard Shaw produced an award-winning play when he was 94 years old.

At 10, Yehudi Menuhin was the youngest artist to solo at Carnegie Hall.

Benjamin Franklin helped frame the constitution of the United States when he was 81 years old.

Brent Vogle was 4 when he ran in and completed a sanctioned 26.2 mile marathon.

"How old would you be would you be if you didn't know how old you were?" -Satchel Page

The fact is, it doesn‟t matter when you do something great. Age has a very little to do with ability.


To your success!

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Susan Boyle 1984 sings Barbara Streisand

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WYHv32hCE0

The above link is to a video of Susan Boyle at her earliest on-camera gig, singing the Barbra Streisand hit The Way We Were during a 1984 competition at Fir Park Social Club in Motherwell.If you have not heard of her. She is a 47 year old lady from Scotland," never been kissed" singing sensation of 2009 Britain's Got Talent competition.

Her story is of a person who continued to nurture her talents and never stopped dreaming. All those people who suddenly become famous or become rich, did not become so great at what they do - overnight. They have made lots of sacrifices, undergo trials and tribulations, got knocked down more than once. So whatever you are doing right now, be like a Susan Boyle..keep on dreaming and keep on singing. The recognition is just the validation of the personal development you have gone through.

Don't quit and see you at the top! =)

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