“We cannot expect to receive the trust of others,
if we are unable to trust in ourselves”
Not long ago I flew with a captain who shared a secret about the psychology of male pilots. He said, "We're all really just scared little boys and bury our fear deep within, allowing our ego to create our confidence. We create the confidence that we can, and then we go out there and do. Pretty soon, we are doing with success."
He also told me that some of those pilots have a yellow streak— meaning they hold within them that little bit of fear that anything can go wrong, and they always have a backup plan. Confident, but prepared. He said, "Those are the good pilots." The bad pilots allow their egos to fly their planes —fearlessly.
I told him that I thought that women pilots needed to know what they’re doing, before they did it. That we want to know that we can, before we do. Our ego doesn't precede our performance, but confidence in performance precedes the confidence in ourselves. Whereas male pilots fake it until they make it.
He said, “You don’t know you can do it, unless you do it.” That we need to trust in ourselves and know that we've had the training, have the ability, possess the talent...
Before we can be truly great, we must trust in ourselves.
From someone who spent his life teaching pilots how to fly a 747 around the world, this captain speaks from experience and with great wisdom. I'm thinking... words to live by.
You will be amazed at what you can accomplish if only you first trust in yourself.
Enjoy the Journey!
~ Karlene
