I was one of the many people who flocked to a theater recently to see Top Gun: Maverick. It’s one of the best films I’ve seen in recent years.
My friend Lt. Col. Rob “Waldo” Waldman is an American author, motivational speaker, and leadership consultant and founder of the Wingman Foundation. He is a Distinguished Fighter Pilot and retired Air Force officer and combat veteran who has flown 65 combat missions. He loved the film because “it shows how important it is for us to coach, mentor and guide our youth through challenges and fears.”
Top Gun: Maverick is packed with business and life lessons. This film speaks volumes about values: values that uplift, inspire and encourage and say that I have your back no matter what.
danger zone:Tom Cruise brings a modern twist with old-fashioned movie fun to Top Gun: Maverick
Among the other core values I picked up on in the film:
trust
The most important word in business is trust. It takes years to build trust, but seconds to break it. Trust is key to doing business with anyone. I can only imagine the confidence these pilots must have as they fly at dizzying speeds and perform breathtaking manoeuvres. Lack of trust could mean a life and death situation.
Obligation
Nobody climbs into the cockpit of one of these jets without giving it their all. When you’re committed to a cause, don’t accept excuses, only results. Commitment is a prerequisite for success. Commitment is the state of attachment—emotional, intellectual, or both—to a course of action. Commitment begins with a decision and is sustained through dedication and perseverance.
courage
It’s easy to be ordinary. Courage is what sets you apart from the crowd. Courage is considered one of the most important human virtues. Courage is bravery, bravery, withstanding danger, courage and nerve all rolled into one. I am not a soldier, police officer, doctor or laborer. I am a businessman. So what does courage have to do with running a company? A lot. I admit that most people’s daily lives are not filled with such dramatic challenges. We are all faced with situations that require us to reach deep within ourselves to do what is right and brave, and occasionally the difficult. Courage can mean making decisions that are unpopular or time-consuming or even expensive.
camaraderie and friendship
I’ve heard this quote many times, including from my good friend Muhammad Ali: “Friendship is the hardest thing in the world to explain. You don’t learn that in school. But if you haven’t learned the importance of friendship, you really haven’t learned anything.”
Proud
Not the selfish, obnoxious kind of pride. No, that level of pride means always doing your best so you can be satisfied that you gave it your all. For me, pride means being confident, but not selfish. Could you land on the deck of a moving ship? I would be very proud to achieve what they are doing.
bad luck
I’ve never met a successful person who hasn’t had to overcome a little – or a lot – of adversity. The effect and ultimate outcome depends on what you do with the difficulties that come your way. It has made me stronger, more fearless and ultimately more successful.
perfection
Practice makes perfect – not true. You must add a word. Perfect practice makes perfect. It doesn’t matter whether you’re practicing a presentation, a golf swing, or flying a jet, you want to improve your performance and not repeat practice mistakes.
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dedication
Passion is high on the list of skills you need to excel in any other profession. If you don’t have a deep, intense, burning desire for what you do, there’s no way you’ll be able to work the long, hard hours it takes to be successful.
encouragement
Growing up, I studied people like Dale Carnegie, who said, “Tell a kid, or a husband, or an employee, they’re dumb or stupid about something, they don’t have a gift for it, and they’re doing it all wrong.” and you’ve destroyed almost every incentive to improve. But use the opposite technique; Be generous with encouragement… let the other person know you believe in their ability to do it… and they’ll practice until dawn breaks the window to excel.” Encouragement unlocks potential.
Mackay’s morale: As Waldo says, “There comes a time and place when we can be a top gun.