Whether you’re in the Blue Angels, on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier or an elite athlete, being on a high performing team isn’t about you. Your success depends on working together, sacrificing, covering for each other and collaborating.  In order to do this right, everyone on the team has to hold up their end of the bargain. The leader has to be willing to hold up a mirror to their own performance and be the basis of all the values they want the team to have.  The team member has to...

Airplanes aren’t retiring the way they used to. They are more sophisticated than ever before. They are staying around longer and they are getting larger with each generation.  This creates a challenge and a lot of complexity for MRO but also a massive opportunity.  How do you run an organization with the capacity, talent and sheer size to support all of this growth?  That’s something West Star Aviation has figured out at a really high level. As a 77-year old company, the business has a...

With the recent Boeing and Textron strikes, it seems the business of manufacturing new planes just can’t catch a break.  These labor woes are just another challenge clobbering the production and availability of new aircraft, and we have to brace for a challenging few weeks (or months).  Unfortunately, this could be the tip of the iceberg that can trickle down, but it’s not all bad news for the whole industry. There is a glimmer of hope - the aftermarket.  Since the pandemic, this side of the...

In the highly competitive and specialized world of business jet interiors, standing out with something truly unique is no small feat. The challenge of innovation is compounded by the complex certification processes involved, making it difficult for most companies in this space to create disruptive designs. Interestingly, some of the most significant innovations often come from outside the aviation interior industry. A prime example is RCO Engineering, a company originally focused on...

The pilot shortage might feel like a relatively recent thing, but it has been decades in the making. The foundation had been buckling for a long time and now we’re in full-on free fall, which is being reflected in the salaries and contracts we’re seeing today.  Will this be the new normal going forward? In order to solve this issue, the whole industry has to present a united front to create a solid pipeline of talent. The companies that refuse to pay competitively will suffer accordingly.  In...

In the world of business branding, there are 2 kinds of organizations. The ones that talk about what they do, and the ones that focus on what makes them unique.  You can guess which one grows faster and has more loyal customers. Branding is non-negotiable - it’s the only way to stand out in a crowded marketplace.  In this industry, many companies don’t do enough to brand themselves differently, or the brands they do have are stuck in the past. As a result, there are hundreds of companies...

Commercial Airlines in the United States have achieved an amazing accomplishment– 10 years without a major mishap. This is an enviable safety record that is a direct result of professionalism and industry improvements made through the years. Resting on our laurels, however, is not an option. How do we maintain this stellar record despite massive industry changes? In this episode, I’m joined by former VP of Flight Ops for Southwest Airlines, Bob Waltz shares what’s behind the improvement of...

Leading an aircraft carrier with a 5,000 person crew is like running an entire city. The flight deck is dangerous, the number of moving parts is countless, the stakes are high. and the magnitude of responsibility is unparalleled.  How do you deal with all this and still manage to be an approachable leader with the respect and loyalty of your crew? Why is delegation THE key to success?  In this episode, I’m joined by retired Navy captain of the USS Theodore Roosevelt, Brett Crozier. He talks...

If all you’re known for is what you do, you’ve basically rendered yourself uncompetitive. -Ken Schmidt   For more aerospace industry news & commentary: https://goo.gl/3piJkw. To learn more about Craig Picken and the NorthStar Group, visit http://northstaresg.com/.    In a competitive marketplace, nothing kills you faster than trying to brand yourself on your product or service. That’s a lesson Harley-Davidson learned the hard way.  At one point, the company was being outpaced by Yamaha,...

Trust is really the water that all relationships swim in. When the trust is high, the water is clear and it’s a wonderful experience. When trust isn’t there, the water’s dark and there’s misery and drudgery. -George Dom   For more aerospace industry news & commentary: https://goo.gl/3piJkw. To learn more about Craig Picken and the NorthStar Group, visit http://northstaresg.com/.    In the high-flying, high stakes world of The Blue Angels - trust is as vital as the air we breathe. In such...

Everyone wants to have A-players in their teams, but when it comes to recruiting those rockstars, many of us don’t even know where to start.  Does recruitment look any different when we’re looking to onboard the best of the best? How do top-tier achievers want to be approached, and what could entice them to work with our organizations, over everyone else? On the flipside, how can recruits present themselves as the kind of talent companies are willing to go the extra mile to bring into their...

In order to build a successful, scalable business that sets us free, we have to first build a really great team.   Our teams and the way they operate dictate the success of our organizations, and most of us know that. However, when it comes to building those teams, most of us just don’t know what we don’t know.   So, how can we build the kinds of teams that allow us to create the businesses of our dreams?   In this episode, author, speaker and serial entrepreneur, Carl Gould reveals the 7...

Disruptions, crises, and unexpected challenges are inevitable in business. While we may not be able to prevent a crisis, we can control whether it escalates into a full-blown disaster.   The difference between a "disruption" and a "disaster" is more than just semantics. A disruption is a minor hiccup, but without strategic anticipation and planning, it can become catastrophic. The problem with many organizations is that they invest in impressive disaster management plans but fail to implement...

Disruptions, crises, and unexpected challenges are inevitable in business. While we may not be able to prevent a crisis, we can control whether it escalates into a full-blown disaster.   The difference between a "disruption" and a "disaster" is more than just semantics. A disruption is a minor hiccup, but without strategic anticipation and planning, it can become catastrophic. The problem with many organizations is that they invest in impressive disaster management plans but fail to implement...

We don’t like to talk about it often, but when it comes to safety, business aviation doesn't have the perfect record. Anytime an accident happens, it affects the entire industry. A rising tide of safety keeps more planes in the air and makes the whole industry better.   Raising the bar of safety can feel like a nebulous concept, but it’s a necessary conversation. While it’s hard to pinpoint the areas that need to be addressed, we can start by building the right enforcement mechanisms and...

Operating airplanes is a TOUGH business! Complicated machines, delicate financing structures, ever changing asset values, and other complexities that can tank even the best run operations. This is why it’s impossible to democratize business aviation.   Because owning a business jet company is sexy, it is easy to become overly emotional and focus on what makes you look good. But, it is a numbers business and operators who don’t stay disciplined will often find themselves in a lot of trouble....

Repositioning a 60-year-old distribution company - during COVID no less - is a Herculean effort. Considering that VSE Corporation’s market cap has gone from $300 million to $1.2 billion since 2019, the mission has been successful.   For the CEO tasked with this turnaround, there’s one key ingredient to this success - present leadership. In this post-COVID era of remote work, it’s easy for companies to take an out-of-sight, out-of-mind approach, but VSE does the opposite. Prioritizing the...

What happens when the aviation industry faces the gargantuan task of catching up to a constrained supply chain? The opportunity shifts. Everyone has accepted the reality that manufacturing is highly limited and that planes have to fly longer, so the aftermarket is white hot.   If you own IP and you’re driving the aftermarket, you’ll be fine for a while, but is this opportunity being felt across the industry or just limited to this corner?   The truth is there are different things occurring in...

The most conflict-ridden, unproductive and ineffective organizations have one thing in common - a severe lack of honesty. Getting the unsaid said is critical - it’s common sense, but it’s certainly not easy.   Very often, people have valuable thoughts about the organization, but they are afraid to bring them up. Whether it’s issues or ideas, allowing people to share honestly makes our teams more effective.   If you’re a leader and you’re constantly getting blindsided by things you should have...

Running a fast-moving parts-trading business with 200 employees. Maintaining a hawk-like focus on demand, every line item and deal that crosses your desk. Capturing every last dollar of value across the supply chain.   These aren’t easy things to do simultaneously but that’s what it takes to succeed.   David Chaimowitz, CEO of Setna iO has achieved this and more in just 7 years and his company is not showing any signs of slowing down.   He also feels his company is perfectly positioned to...

Today’s workforce is teeming with high-level talent possessing a wealth of wisdom and decades of experience. Do leaders have the confidence and maturity to hire them?    Young managers can learn a lot from the veteran players but only if they’re able to see past the age gap and manage the relationship maturely.   What are some of the insecurities leaders have around recruiting people with more experience, and how are they mitigated?   In this episode, Matt Johnson joins me to discuss why...

In many organizations, the gap between the generations is a point of conflict and friction but it doesn’t have to be.   Sure, millennials/Gen-Z see work differently to their older coworkers and superiors, but there’s a lot of value in the perspectives each generation have, and that can make for a more resilient organization.   How do we facilitate better communication and collaboration between the generations?   In this episode, executive and transition coach and change strategist, Julie...

Before the pandemic much of the industry ran on cruise control. Unfortunately, covid and the post-covid era exposed a lot of underlying weaknesses. From raw materials shortages to labor and production, everyone has a headache and there’s not enough aspirin to go around.   Before new solutions can be found the real challenge is stabilizing the processes we have now while also trying to make this an industry people will clamor to work in.   Although there is a flurry of activity within MRO,...

The skilled American worker has the resourcefulness to create better opportunities for themselves, so they’re not going to tolerate being treated poorly, even if they’re employed by a mega industry player.    What will it take for business owners to stand out to recruits at a time when the balance of power is rapidly shifting in favor of employees? What can we do to not only attract, but retain their interest, so they’re less likely to look elsewhere?   In this episode, we’re discussing how...