Say Sayonara to Naysayers

 

Sayonara - Kaz Tower Set ShotA few years ago, I had the good fortune to interview Kazuko Uramatusu in Tokyo. Kazuko was one of only four female flight instructors in all of Japan. In a culture where women are often viewed as housekeeper, mother and maid, Kazuko was cut from a different kimono. She simply had the desire to fly and the guts to execute.   

But how exactly does a woman survive and thrive in an occupation almost totally reserved for men?  By something in aviation we call, “locked on”. She had an eagle’s vision of what she wanted in life, and clung to it with the tenacity of a pit bull.

Want to improve the odds hitting your target? Get locked on to your goal with such a crystal clear vision that nothing will shake you off course. Why? Because you’re going to be tested. You’re going to be put through the “storm wringer” of doubt, distraction and deviations along the way.Guaranteed. 

Case in point: Although Kazuko had the support and encouragement from her father, someone else thought flying was a bad idea. A very bad idea.                                         

At the time, Kazuko was dating a Japanese doctor. Unfortunately, the idea of flying did not set well with him. He floored Kazuko one day with an ultimatum: “If you become a pilot, we cannot marry.”  Kazuko reeled. She didn’t want to quit flying. She couldn’t quit. For the first time in her life she tasted the ultimate freedom of flight. The message was clear. She had to choose between rings, or wings.

The doctor got dumped.  

It’s a sad fact of life, but you’re going to have people chirping in your ear. Relatives, friends, lovers, co-workers and strangers all telling you how (or even if) you should fly the plane. Well-intentioned as they may be, keep one thing in mind: you’re the pilot-in-command. 

Lock on. At the first sign of a naysayer, kindly excuse yourself. Tune them out. Steer them away from your dream. You don’t need that negative buzz in your brain. To be a peak performer, find people who encourage and support you. And if anyone brings you down, you now know what to tell them. 

Sayonara!

 

Categories: Change & Challenge

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