What Three Flights—and a Sore Morning—Taught Me About Leadership

Yesterday was one of those long, satisfying days that reminds me why I love this job. It started with a 5K run, followed by a training session with my neighbor (a local soccer coach), and then three very different—but equally rewarding—flight lessons. By the time I hit the pillow, I was sore, grateful, and inspired.

But what struck me the most about the day wasn’t the physical effort—it was what each flight taught me about growth, leadership, and the power of the debrief.

Flight One: Training for the Unexpected

My first flight was with Pyro, a firefighter preparing for his first solo. We headed straight to the practice area, where I put him under simulated instrument conditions to mimic the challenge of accidentally flying into IMC (instrument meteorological conditions). He did an excellent job maintaining control, navigating, and even selecting a suitable alternate destination. Then came an unusual attitude recovery—he nailed it.

From there, we moved to visual conditions for slow flight, stalls (power-on and power-off), steep turns, and an emergency descent—imagining the engine was on fire. We wrapped up with a power-off 180 to simulate an engine-out approach to landing at Paine Field.

Flight Two: Energy Management 101

Next up was a flight with a more seasoned gentleman who has been struggling with stabilized approaches. His main issue? Energy management. He tends to get low and slow on short final—so much so that I joke the trees are starting to look like they’re reaching up to greet us like old friends. (I don’t want to end up like Charlie Brown’s kite.)

We spent the flight practicing changes in airspeed, altitude, and descent rate. There was progress, but we’ve still got some refining to do before I feel confident signing him off for solo.

Flight Three: Final Prep for the Checkride

My last student of the day, Diesel, is nearly ready to schedule his checkride. We flew out to Lake Stevens and tuned up the maneuvers he’s been working on. Steep turns? Check. Engine failure procedures? Reviewed and solid. We returned for pattern work at Paine Field and despite a quartering tailwind, Diesel executed some very nice landings. His confidence is growing—and so is mine in him.

The Power of the Post-Flight Debrief

At the end of each flight, we did what we always do: we debriefed. The questions are simple, but the impact is huge:

• What happened?

• What did you learn?

• What’s your plan for next time?

• How did we live our core values?

• What are you grateful for today?

This isn’t just about flying—it’s about leadership, growth, and character. My mission isn’t only to train safe pilots. It’s to help people become the best version of themselves, inside and outside of the cockpit.

These debriefs work so well, I use them in other parts of life too—helping my son reflect on his Civil Air Patrol events, soccer games, and even day-to-day challenges.

Want to Try This Yourself? Here's What I Recommend:

🔗 The Daily Stoic Journal – A 366-Day Companion A perfect companion for structured daily reflection. One page a day is all you need to start building the habit.

🔗 Best Self Journal – Goal-Setting and Gratitude Combined A favorite among high performers and ideal for debriefing your day.

🔗 Rite in the Rain Weatherproof Notebook Perfect for jotting down lessons learned right after a flight—no matter the conditions.

🔗 Pilot Logbook The finest and most versatile logbooks for aviators, The Standard™ logbooks have been supporting the aviation industry for over 60 years and comply with the FAA's recordkeeping requirements.

Coming Soon: Flight Plan for Leadership

In my upcoming book, Flight Plan for Leadership, I break down how aviation habits—like post-flight debriefs—can build resilient, reflective, and effective leaders in any field. Whether you're a pilot, parent, coach, or business owner, you'll find practical tools to lead yourself and others with purpose.

If this blog post resonated with you, you’ll love the book. Keep an eye out—it’s coming soon!