Kim Campbell is a retired Air Force Colonel who served for over 24 years. She has flown more than 100 combat missions protecting troops on the ground in both Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2003, Kim was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for Heroism after successfully recovering her battle-damaged airplane after an intense close air support mission in Baghdad. She is the author of Flying in the Face of Fear – A Fighter Pilot’s Lessons on Leading with Courage.
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- Aviate, Navigate, Communicate – “Aviate, navigate, communicate” is a fundamental principle in aviation that pilots learn early in flight training. It’s a priority order that helps pilots stay focused and in control, even when they’re under pressure or distracted:
- Aviate: Keep the plane flying
- Navigate: Figure out where you are and where you’re going
- Communicate: Talk to air traffic control (ATC) or someone else as needed
- On March 20, 2003, Kim wrote letters to her loved ones in case she died in battle.
- Prepare, practice, and plan for contingencies. My college football coach, the late great, Terry Hoeppner used to always say, have a plan, work the plan, plan for the unexpected. As leaders, it’s on us to prepare, practice, and plan for contingencies. You don’t have to get ready if you stay ready.
- I love the way Kim’s dad helped support her dream to be a fighter pilot. If you want to do this, you have to put in the work. Run hills, and do pull-ups every time you go to the bathroom. He didn’t just tell her you can do whatever you want… He created opportunities for Kim to do the necessary work to achieve what she wanted.
- Kim’s telling of the story of how she was hit and how she responded. An amazing example of responding in the face of fear, dealing with adversity in a calm, poised manner, and making a tough decision. Kim’s training and her attitude is what set her apart and saved her life.
- Response to Rejection: Initially Kim was rejected by the Air Force Academy because of a low SAT score. In response, instead of quitting and moving on, she wrote a letter to them every week stating why they should accept her… Which they eventually did.
- Dealing with fear: What’s most important is what we do in the face of fear. We can’t freeze. We must take action.
- The Debrief:
- Check your rank and ego at the door.
- Write all the objectives down. Next to each one, grade it a plus or a minus. Find the root causes of each mistake.
- What lessons can we learn from our mistakes?
- What will we change for our next mission based on what we learned?
- Share lessons learned beyond that room.
- Johnny Bravo – Be humble, approachable, and credible. That’s how you earn trust and respect and inspire others to follow.
- Balancing Confidence and Vulnerability: While maintaining confidence is important, leaders should also not shy away from showing vulnerability and admitting when they are scared or unsure.
- Promote Work Ethic and Responsibility: Kim talks about the importance of instilling a strong work ethic and sense of responsibility, both in herself and in her children, ensuring that preparation and hard work are keys to achieving goals.
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Time Stamps
More Learning:
Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon
Episode 216: Jim Collins — How To Go From Good To Great
Episode #300: AJ & Keith Hawk – How To Instill Work Ethic & Curiosity In Your Children
Episode #303: General Stanley McChrystal – The New Definition Of Leadership
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