Kate Findley

How A Wingman Can Guide You Through Life’s Turbulence On January 1, you launched into the New Year with a revamped mission and renewed ambition. You rode this momentum for the rest of the month, hitting your targets left and right. As we approach the halfway mark of February, though, life has taken over once again. You started moving the needle in a positive direction. But then something disrupted your flow—unexpected news at work, a family issue, an illness. Now you’re back in the trenches, falling back on old habits and routines. Sound familiar? You already know that when life throws you off-course, you must make a genuine effort to get back on track and not make excuses. But what if you are putting in the work and still feel discouraged? After all, we all have our limits. Overwhelmed by the turbulence of life, you’ve lost touch with the force that propelled you toward change in the first place. What will set you straight again? Maybe you’re asking the wrong question, though. Maybe it’s not WHAT will help you get back on track but WHO. Who’s Your Wingman? A wingman is someone who will give you that extra thrust to navigate through the chaos. When you reframe your perspective by focusing on the WHO, suddenly everything seems much more manageable. As a fighter pilot, I learned the life-saving value of collaboration. A wingman would alert me to dangers, keep me focused on my mission, and guide me through challenges. This formed my guiding philosophy: never fly solo. In the world of business, your wingman can be a coach…a partner…an assistant. A wingman offers many benefits. Identify Blind Spots When I was a fighter pilot, my wingman would point out enemies lurking in my blind spot. In business, these blind spots can be activities in your current routine that are wasting your time and energy. Once you identify them, a wingman can help you create a new schedule that maximizes your efficiency. It’s like having another set of eyes. Two Minds Are Better Than One No matter our level of expertise, we always have gaps in our knowledge. A wingman offers a unique combination of knowledge and experience to add to your own, broadening your perspective. Two minds working together will accelerate idea generation and turbocharge the journey toward a solution. Laser-Sharp Focus Next, a wingman helps to reinforce your mission. In other words, what’s your purpose? If you’re not clear on your why, it’s easy to get derailed and end up in noman’s-land. When your purpose is crystal clear, though, suddenly all those distractions floating in your periphery fade to oblivion because you’re moving in a straight line toward your goal. Accountability When you’re flying solo, it’s easy to put off a project until tomorrow. A good wingman will hold you accountable and make sure you follow through on your goals. They’ll call you out when you miss deadlines and make excuses. Peace of Mind When I was in combat, knowing someone had my back helped to ease my anxiety. If you have a wingman to keep you on track, your stress levels go down. You stop spinning around in your mind, wondering how you’re going to stay on top of it all, and you start moving forward toward your goals. From Paralysis to Action We often get trapped in our heads. Fear and self-doubt can be paralyzing. Here’s the good news: all it takes is a few encouraging words from a wingman to lift you out of that paralysis. When life starts hurling missiles at you, your wingman can lead you through the chaos and suddenly nothing seems so overwhelming anymore. Investing In Yourself Now, you’re probably thinking, how can I afford a wingman? Once again, you need to reframe your perspective. Don’t think of it as an expense. Think of it as an investment. If you find the right wingman—someone who will help you reach your goals 10X faster than you would flying solo—then you will get a return on your investment many times over. If you want to achieve meaningful, lasting success, you must invest in the long-term. Plus, investing financially in your goal will solidify your commitment. Think about it. How many free online courses have you completed and actually implemented the information? When you put down your hard-earned cash, it flips a switch in your brain, signifying that you must put serious effort into reaching your goals. Tapping Into Your Potential Remember: the most important component to your success is the person staring you in the mirror. How committed are you? A wingman can’t do the work for you. He can, however, set you on the path to success by uncovering your hidden potential and bringing out the best in you. So who’s your wingman?