#23 - Learn How To Crash

2024-08-05

🛫 Episode 23 With Sarah Furness: Combat Helicopter Pilot & Author 🛬 Sarah Furness, an ex-RAF combat helicopter pilot, mother, author, public speaker, and executive coach, joins me in another fascinating conversation about mindset and human performance. Sarah’s story of going from a teenage dream to one of very few female helicopter pilots to serve in combat is fascinating. After watching Top Gun, she wore a flying jacket and asked her dad if she looked cool. He answered that she could be a pilot, so the story began. Sarah shares h...

🛫 Episode 23 With Sarah Furness: Combat Helicopter Pilot & Author 🛬

Sarah Furness, an ex-RAF combat helicopter pilot, mother, author, public speaker, and executive coach, joins me in another fascinating conversation about mindset and human performance.

Sarah’s story of going from a teenage dream to one of very few female helicopter pilots to serve in combat is fascinating. After watching Top Gun, she wore a flying jacket and asked her dad if she looked cool. He answered that she could be a pilot, so the story began.

Sarah shares her personal experiences as a pilot and how she overcame self-doubt and imposter syndrome. We also touch on mindfulness, unitasking, and emotional intelligence.

Humility is a constant theme in her stories as she reminds us that being cool under fire is something we are not born to do but can learn to do if we commit to the training. We discuss the importance of reframing failure as a learning opportunity and the role of resilience in bouncing back from setbacks.

The conversation explores the concepts of heroes and monsters, gender stereotypes, and our internal struggles. It emphasises the importance of self-acceptance and compassion for oneself and others.

We also touch on the power of vulnerability and highlight the value of debriefing and self-reflection in learning and growing from our experiences.

Sarah is also the author of a compelling self-help book, Fly Higher, in which she shares her gripping stories, valuable guidance, and tools to help us perform with military-grade mindfulness. Links to the book can be found below.

Key Takeaways

✈ Life is not black and white; most people are doing their best.

✈ It's important to permit yourself to have a 'monster' inside you and learn to live with it.

✈ Emotions are signals and clues that point us to areas we need to address.

✈ Compassion for ourselves and others is crucial for growth and understanding.

✈ Different situations may call for different approaches, and adapting and being flexible is important.

✈ Self-reflection and debriefing are essential for learning and personal growth. Failure should be seen as a learning opportunity, not a reflection of one's worth or capabilities.

✈ Reframing failure and setbacks as little traumas can help deal with them and move forward.

✈ Comparing oneself to others and striving for perfection can be toxic and hinder personal growth.

✈ Resilience is a valuable skill that can be developed through learning from setbacks and mistakes.

✈ Mindfulness and unitasking can help in maintaining focus and productivity.

✈ Emotional intelligence and self-awareness are essential in navigating challenges and building positive relationships.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

00:36 The Complexity of Heroes and Monsters

01:30 Gender Stereotypes and Cinderella Complex

02:29 The 'Monster' Inside

03:48 The Power of Vulnerability

04:46 Debriefing and Learning from Experiences