"Pilot in Command" – A Mindset for Life and Leadership
- CFI Monty
- May 16
- 3 min read
Before my flight today, one of my students asked me, “What’s one lesson you took away from your time in the special operations community?”
I paused for a moment. After reflecting on firefights, cold dawn patrols, and the quiet moments between missions, I responded with this:
No one is coming to save you.
That may sound harsh. But it’s the most empowering truth I’ve ever learned. If you want something—whether it’s to become a pilot, a leader, a better parent, or a more resilient version of yourself—you have to make it happen. The responsibility is yours.
You Are the Pilot in Command
In aviation, we use the term Pilot in Command (PIC) to describe the person responsible for the safety and outcome of the flight. It doesn’t matter who caused the issue—the PIC is the one who has to solve it.
That mindset doesn’t stop in the cockpit.
It’s easy to drift through life in resignation—a hazardous attitude in both flying and personal growth. You start believing you can’t change your situation. That your dreams are out of reach. But as I teach my students: if you're alive and the engine's still running (or even if it's not!), you have one job—fly the plane. Fly it all the way to the crash site if you must, but never stop flying.
Apply that same tenacity to your everyday life.
Initiative, Ownership, and Living with Purpose
When I served in the 2nd Ranger Battalion, we trained with one guiding principle: the mission comes first, and it belongs to you. You don’t wait around for perfect conditions. You prepare, you move, and you adapt.
Leadership isn’t about rank. It’s about influence, initiative, and personal accountability.
That’s the mindset I write about in my upcoming book, Flight Plan for Leadership. In it, I dive into how courage under fire isn’t about fearlessness, but about making decisions when the stakes are high and emotions are higher. You’ll learn tactical ways to build confidence through habits, reflection, and daily reps of personal excellence.
Confidence-Building Habits for the Civilian Battlefield
Here are three ways you can build your "Pilot in Command" mindset right now:
Start Your Day With Intentionality Don’t stumble into your day. Start with clarity and purpose. Journals like the BestSelf Journal or Full Focus Planner are game-changers for setting goals and holding yourself accountable.
Block Out the Noise When I fly, I wear a noise-canceling aviation headset. Why? Because clarity matters. You need to hear what’s essential and tune out what’s not. Same goes for life. Consider upgrading your headset to something like the Lightspeed Zulu 3 to improve focus and flight experience.
Read the Right Stuff If this mindset resonates with you, dig deeper. Books like Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink or Make Your Bed by Admiral McRaven drive home the same lessons I learned in Ranger Regiment and apply every day as a pilot and instructor.
Final Thought: Fight Onto the Objective
I tell my students and my son the same thing I told my soldiers: You’re not powerless. You’re not stuck.
There’s always one more thing you can do. Even if it’s uncomfortable. Especially if it’s uncomfortable.
So whether you're stepping into a Cessna cockpit, a boardroom, or a challenging chapter of life—be the pilot in command. Own the outcome. Make decisions. Lead yourself.
And when in doubt… fight onto the objective.
Affiliate Picks from This Post:
Lightspeed Zulu 3 Aviation Headset – Block out the noise and focus on the mission
Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink – Essential reading for leaders
BestSelf Journal – Plan your goals like a mission
Full Focus Planner – Take control of your time and priorities
Coming Soon: Flight Plan for Leadership – a practical guide for pilots, veterans, and professionals ready to lead with purpose under pressure. Stay tuned!
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