Last week’s landing of a plane on the Hudson River has been widely celebrated as an event full of heroism, skilled flying and a big dose of luck. The first thing I thought of “miraculous.” It was certainly a moving scene to see the passengers appear to be walking on water to their rescuers.
But here’s what really struck me. The pilot’s wife was interviewed shortly after the event and I was fascinated by a particular soundbite from her remarks: “He is a pilot’s pilot and he loves the art of the airplane.” The art of the airplane. This seems to be a story right out of books from Daniel Pink, A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future, or Malcolm Gladwell, Outliers: The Story of Success. “Pilot’s pilot”: that says “experience” and “passion” to me. Did Capt. Sullenberger have the magic 10,000+ hours of experience that Gladwell cites as the foundation of mastery? Oh yes. According to Time Magazine, he had logged 19,000 hours of service. How could he NOT be a master after that many hours in service?
“Loved the art of the airplane” implies more than technical ability. Clearly he knew more than what switch to flip and what stick to pull. He knew how to direct the aircraft like an orchestra – even when it was not going as expected. I think we’ll learn that “Sulley” has a very right-brain connection to process of flying. His bio states that he has degrees in psychology and public administration. What? No aerospace engineering or even physics? And he is a visiting scholar at the Center for Catastrophic Risk Management at UC Berkeley. He deserves to become the international standard bearer of Catastrophic Risk Management.
If I had a chance to interview Capt. Sullenberger I’d ask him how he blends experience and passion to make his actions instinctive with a sense of symphony (to borrow from Daniel Pink). What does he feel when he is flying? How does he manage his inner narrative during extraordinary situations – and how did he do it during Flight 1549? How are all of his senses engaged? Does he remember anything about that six minute flight, and especially the last three minutes, that didn’t fit into a rational model of flight?
His answers would fascinate me and I think we could all learn a lot about mastery and recognizing where we engage at the “art” level.
Complete this sentence: My passion is the art of __________. How does that show up in your life? Where would you like it to be more prominent?
By Laurie Foley
I'm Laurie Foley and I help solo professionals like you discover your natural brand so that you can get clear, get noticed and get clients. Please request your free copy of The Inner Brandifesto, my popular guidebook full of brand-building exercises.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Love this post, Laurie. And I was thoroughly fascinated by “A Whole New Mind” too. I always thought I was very right-brain-oriented, because art-making was so much a part of my life during school days. But recently I did a little online test (http://mindmedia.com/braintest.html) and it said I’m more of a leftie. It got me thinking, and I realised that I am actually very left-brain-focused these days, probably since university days and some of the more left-brained work I’ve done since uni. And it dawned on me that all the themes of the changes I’ve been realising I want to make in who I’m being boil down to shifting back to the right again, to a more balanced whole mind. Not sure if the test is even valid, but It was fun to do and got me thinking and making some links I hadn’t made before.
I like that… the art of the airplane. Cool.
Can’t wait to try that test, Cath! I’m intrigued by our ability to shift intentionally and at will. Will watch your work to learn more about this because I have a feeling you’ll be sharing some ideas ;^).
Laurie -
I love this discussion… on several levels. My father and grandfather are both pilots. Experience alone will only get you from point A to point B more quicky than a car. Fly with my grandfather and that’s what you get. The airplane is a mechanical device to facilitate quick transport.
Flying with my dad, however, is a whole different phenomenon. Combine passion with the sheer joy and magic of taking flight, and the synergy of the machine and the man creates the art. Dad has built many of the airplanes that he pilots. They are, literally, an extension of his creative right-brained self. If you knew him, you’d know he is a very left-brained kind of guy. I belive this is what creates some of the magic. He’s found a way that he loves to deploy both sides of the brain at the same time.
Thanks for the post. I can’t wait to talk to dad about this!