Lessons to be learnt from 'Top Gun'

While on twitter the question was raised as to what lessons were to be learnt from 'Top Gun '(1986)

1. Being a Maverick.
Someone who is a non-conformist is always going to 'ruffle feathers'. But there are times when you have to do things a little different to get the goals you wish to achieve. You will always have to make concessions but if you can prove the reason for being a little different you can win other's over. Be yourself, but be prepared to recognise other's and you will be more accepted and your opinion's appreciated.
Quote : Iceman: You can be my wingman any time.
Maverick: Bullshit! You can be mine. 



  

 2. .Responsibility.
We are are all responsible for our actions. They will effect others and we really need to be aware of the potential consequences of them.

Quote:  Viper: How ya doin'? 
Maverick: I'm all right. 
Viper: Goose is dead. 
Maverick: I know. 
Viper: You fly jets long enough, something like this happens. 
Maverick: He was my R.I.O., my responsibility. 

 3. Team Work

By working with fellow team members we can lower the risk and they may see something we don't. Someone may be able to help you when you need them most. 

Viper: I flew with your old man. VF-51, the Oriskany. You’re a lot like he was. Only better… and worse. He was a natural heroic son of a bitch that one.
Maverick: So he DID do it right.
Viper: Yeah, he did it right… Is that why you fly the way you do? Trying to prove something? Yeah your old man did it right. What I’m about to tell you is classified. It could end my career. We were in the worst dogfight I ever dreamed of. There were bogeys like fireflies all over the sky. His F-4 was hit, and he was wounded, but he could’ve made it back. He stayed in it, saved three planes before he bought it.
Maverick: How come I never heard that before?
Viper: Well that’s not something the State Department tells dependents when the battle occurred over the wrong line on some map.

4. Distractions 
There will always be distractions to the goals you wish to achieve in your business life. It is important to keep the two separate. If 'Maverick' was to keep thinking about 'Charlie' when flying the planes he would definitely 'crashed and burned' 
By the way, distractions change with time. A bit like 'Charlie' did!

5. Thing's evolve with time
Bit of a loose connection but....


We have to be aware of how time changes things. The obstacles in our business life now will be different in five years time. We have to keep this in mind and be aware of what may change in the future.


When Top Gun was made in 1986 it was all about the Russians being the potential enemy of the United States. What country would they flying against now if the film was being made? Would they even use pilots ?  


Hope this gave you a made you think and gave you a laugh. 

A different Drumm

When I first saw the tweets about #twitterxmassingle I didn't know if it would work.

Brenda Drumm @BrendaDrumm had tweeted a few days before about organising a Twitter Christmas single. Her idea, like many great one are, was simple. People would get together using the power of Twitter to record a song for a charity.
But would many turn up I wondered? Would anyone be able to sing. I certainly don't have a recording voice and doubted I could make a viable contribution. But I know how to 'tweet' and I realise the power of social media.

Then I heard Brenda and co had chosen The Neo Natal Unit in Holles St and I was committed.

Over 17 years ago our first son was born in Holles St after his mother had a difficult pregnancy. He was a few weeks premature and went to Unit 8, the Special Care Unit. This is one of the most scary moments for any parent. There are a lot of machines and bleeping noises. UV lights and tiny little mites clinging on for life. But the staff were amazing. They were so precise and delicate in their handling of these little babies. They reassure  you with every comment they make. He had a short stay in Unit 8 and is now nearly six foot and a great young man. Just like any other teenager but he was like all who go to Neo Natal units 'Special'

Fast forward to 1997 and our second son is born, again in Holles St. This time is more dramatic. He has a very rough birth coming 3 and a half weeks early and had to be resuscitated as he was born dead. He was transferred to Unit.8. Horrible night not knowing would he survive. Bad scans for brain activity. We were told he may have no bodily movement. A few days later, he may walk but he won't run. All this time in Unit.8. he is on a ventilator and other machines. All the time being cared for with unstinting commitment and respect.
He had a shadow on his brain showing where part of it was calcified due to trauma at birth from oxygen starvation. (stick with me it does get better !) After a couple of weeks he is released from the unit. We didn't know what life he would have. Totally floppy a lot of the time. After 12 weeks we got a CT scan on his brain. The shadow had gone. There was some minor damage but ....

 Everything was delayed with him. But he walked, awkwardly at first, but he did. Now he is 14, he has had Epilepsy but is now off all medications and seizure free. He goes to mainstream school with some learning difficulties but  he also goes to disco's, rides his bike, runs and roller blades ! He is able to have a normal life.
So all you Tweeps and people who buy #twintersong or 'Winter Song, the twitterxmassingle' this is an example of the great work that Unit 8 in Holles St do.

Oh, did I tell you he was singing in the Westin on Sunday?

Thank you 'Brenda Drumm & the Tweeps', you efforts will be remembered by others years from now.