Introduction

Remember back to the days when you were learning how to fly.  For me, it was a Cessna 152, tail number “four hotel bravo,” and the place was Cook County airport in southern Georgia.

I would sit down prior to takeoff and figure out where I wanted to go.  Once I did, I could jot down a heading on my kneeboard and just remember that.  Or I would jot down a planned duration.  Those two things would get me pretty close: 255 degrees magnetic for 55 minutes.  If I stopped planning at that level of detail, navigating to my destination would be possible but challenging.  So my flight instructor taught me this wacky sentence with more detailed planning steps: “Can Ducks Fly With Vertical Turbulence”– it helps me remember how to convert true course to mag course to mag heading, etc.

Navigating in those early days was quite an adventure.  I had a lot to learn.  On at least one occasion, I confess, air traffic control had to help me find my way.  Later on, I learned another tool to find my way,“clock-to-map-to-ground.” By intentionally adding the chart to my composite crosscheck in a methodical way, I multiplied my navigation capability tremendously.

At five minutes on that 255 heading, I should cross over a major highway with an overpass to my left.  I look outside and see where it is.  It’s not as far south as I thought it would be.  At seven and a half minutes, I should pass over the southern tip of a large pond.  The pond is just north of my position.  Apparently, the winds are drifting me south of my intended course.  I correct my heading to 260 degrees.  At fifteen minutes, I should overfly an intersection in a small town.  I am just north of the intersection.  Heading 260 corrected me back to course and then a little bit right.  Two-five seven is right in-between, that should keep me on course…

I use this example here and throughout to illustrate the complex nature of leadership and problem solving and to show the benefits of applying ATOMs, or analytical tools of mathematics, to the challenges that arise in leadership.  This entire workbook focuses on aviation to illustrate the principles being introduced.  However, at each point along the way, there are exercises for you to translate the ideas into your niche or specialty.  This introduction, as well as a business model for generating a six figure income as an aviation professional, are the two primary examples we will investigate.

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