Getting Writing Advice from
a Fighter Pilot
By Kathleen Brown

When I was recently forced to attend a motivational speech at my day job, I was prepared to zone out … I don’t need an overpaid sports figure to motivate me to do my job.

Then the speaker was introduced as a former Air Force Fighter Pilot and Lead Solo Thunderbird Pilot.

I was intrigued.

Sure, it was another person so far removed from my job there was no way I would relate to anything she said …

But … maybe we’d see some cool video of Thunderbirds performances!

Turns out … We did see some cool video …

And to my surprise, I did relate to what she said.

And by the end of her presentation … I was motivated!

But …

Not for my day job.

Oops!

Everything she said resonated with me as a copywriter.

Let me explain … and perhaps the lessons will resonate with you also.

Michelle MACE Curran talked about lacking confidence.

That’s certainly something I’m struggling with in my writing journey.

But how could she be lacking confidence?

She had told us that when the Thunderbirds fly in formation, the planes fly 18 inches apart, wing-tip to wing-tip. Holy Cow — I’d say you need a lot of confidence to fly like that!

But she didn’t start out with that confidence. So she had a lot of great insights based on how she gained it. Let me share some of them with you …

Trust Your Skills

She talked about not feeling ready for her first test flight as a fighter pilot, even though she had gone through extensive training.

But she took the test. Did she make mistakes? Yes. But she made it through the test and felt more confident for the next round.

She emphasized — do something, even when you feel you’re not ready.

I’ve taken several AWAI programs, but I haven’t taken a writing project because I keep thinking I’m not sure I’m ready.

While listening to Michelle, I committed to taking the first writing opportunity that came my way!

Oh, and About Mistakes …

Like me, you might think that making a mistake would be a blow to your confidence.

Fear of making mistakes has held me back from deciding on a niche, creating a LinkedIn Profile, launching my website, finding clients, taking a writing project, and so on.

Listening to Michelle helped me view mistakes differently.

You see, fighter pilots have call signs. But they don’t get to choose their own call sign — it’s given to them, based on a mistake they made.

And then it’s worn on their name tag as a badge of honor.

Knowing that you made a mistake, overcame it, and learned from it, can build confidence.

As Michelle pointed out:

• Making mistakes is how we learn.
• Pushing boundaries is how we expand them.
• Embracing our flaws is how we turn them into strengths.

Expertise Not Required

After many years as a fighter pilot, Michelle learned of a pilot opening with the Thunderbirds.

But, as she read the list of requirements in the job posting, she found there were several skills she didn’t have.

She hesitated, but then applied for it anyway. She decided if she got the position, she would figure out how to handle the “missing skills” along the way.

In my journey to becoming a copywriter, there have been times I haven’t applied for a writing project because I didn’t have all the skills listed in the job posting.

You’ve probably reacted the same way.

It’s one of the reasons I keep taking AWAI programs … I think I need all the skills listed in writing job postings.

Well, as we know, Michelle got the position — without having all the skills listed!

And then how did Michelle figure out the things she didn’t know? She asked people who did know. And she accepted help from people who were willing to teach her.

She had a group of people who could help her — and of course that would certainly help with confidence.

And then I realized … I also have a group of people who can help me!

I’m a member of Circle of Success — a whole community of fellow AWAI members ready and willing to help me on my copywriting journey.

I don’t have to know everything — I just have to be willing to go for what I want and ask for help along the way.

Do Something!

Each step taken, even a misstep, helps build confidence. Here’s an example …

I contacted Rebecca, Katie, and Jade to tell them about my experience and that I thought Michelle would be a great speaker for Bootcamp.

And, uh-oh! Suddenly I was facing my first writing opportunity …

Katie had replied to my email, “That could make a great article for our The Writer’s Life daily e-letter. Are you interested in writing it?”

Here were my immediate next thoughts:

“WHAT?!

I’ve never written an article!

Can I do this?

WHOA! WAIT! STOP!

Yes! I am willing to go for what I want!”

And this was my response to Katie …

“Yes, I would like to write the article! As I was writing my email to all of you, writing an article was in the back of my mind but I don’t know how that works.”

She replied, “Don’t worry about that. We can help you with the process.”

And suddenly, I had my chance to apply just what Michelle talked about. Do something, even when you feel you’re not ready … figure out how to do something as you go … ask people who do know for help … and you’ll build confidence as you go.

And now I’ve got my completed article as proof. Michelle’s speech actually did motivate me … and I hope her story and now mine will inspire you.

I keep this by my computer screen as a daily reminder to …

Do Something!!