"I'm not good at..."

[Shiny Side Up]

...has got to be the thing I dislike the most that regularly comes out of people's mouths these days. Since this is the flight training forum, I'm talking about it in specific reference to that activity. Maybe its just me, but the "can do" attitude has been replaced in our society by the "can't do" one. People are very frustratingly accepting of being mediocre, or accepting their inability to do something. There is also common variations on this theme, such as the "I'm not good with" or my favorite and all encompassing "I'm a slow learner" - which by the way isn't something one should make a habit of broadcasting to your fellow human beings. Slow learner as compared to what? A monkey? A dog? A fish? I digress a bit.

The point is, and hopefully I can get this across to those out there learning in whichever part of your aviation path you may be in, is Yoda was right. There is no try. Either you have the mindset that you are going to do and succeed from the start, or that you are going to accept failure from the start. I can do a lot of help as an instructor for someone who is struggling to do well, I can't help someone who has given up trying to do better.

Flying, like many human endeavors, is something you'll never achieve perfection in (who do you think you are, Bob Hoover?), but its the struggle to strike close to the mark is what's noble about the activity. Do yourself a favour and don't accept doing something poorly, at the very least, you'll save yourself some time and money.

[robertsailor1]

Good Post

[Big Pistons Forever]

...has got to be the thing I dislike the most that regularly comes out of people's mouths these days. Since this is the flight training forum, I'm talking about it in specific reference to that activity. Maybe its just me, but the "can do" attitude has been replaced in our society by the "can't do" one. People are very frustratingly accepting of being mediocre, or accepting their inability to do something. There is also common variations on this theme, such as the "I'm not good with" or my favorite and all encompassing "I'm a slow learner" - which by the way isn't something one should make a habit of broadcasting to your fellow human beings. Slow learner as compared to what? A monkey? A dog? A fish? I digress a bit.

The point is, and hopefully I can get this across to those out there learning in whichever part of your aviation path you may be in, is Yoda was right. There is no try. Either you have the mindset that you are going to do and succeed from the start, or that you are going to accept failure from the start. I can do a lot of help as an instructor for someone who is struggling to do well, I can't help someone who has given up trying to do better.

Flying, like many human endeavors, is something you'll never achieve perfection in (who do you think you are, Bob Hoover?), but its the struggle to strike close to the mark is what's noble about the activity. Do yourself a favour and don't accept doing something poorly, at the very least, you'll save yourself some time and money.

Amen.

I will add the same applies to instructors. Too many warm the right seat waiting for a real job . Well newsflash boys and girls, every job as a commercial pilot is a "real" job and deserves your best efforts. Being a good instructor is a personal choice, so choose to be the best instructor on the field. A pet peeve of mine is too many instructors think their learning is done when they pass the Class 4 flight test. When the weather craps out and your flights get cancelled, instead of wasting time on face book get into the POH, review the weather manuals, learn some more about aerodynamics, go visit the guys in the maintenance shop etc etc etc. If you are feeling really lazy at least browse Avcanada

[Beefitarian]

Browse avcanada? That could set a class 4 back by decades couldn't it?

[ant_321]

...

Amen.

I will add the same applies to instructors. Too many warm the right seat waiting for a real job . Well newsflash boys and girls, every job as a commercial pilot is a "real" job and deserves your best efforts. Being a good instructor is a personal choice, so choose to be the best instructor on the field. A pet peeve of mine is too many instructors think their learning is done when they pass the Class 4 flight test. When the weather craps out and your flights get cancelled, instead of wasting time on face book get into the POH, review the weather manuals, learn some more about aerodynamics, go visit the guys in the maintenance shop etc etc etc. If you are feeling really lazy at least browse Avcanada

Or study the aircraft you want to fly in that "real job".

[AEROBAT]

Shiney,

You could have posted that 25 years ago and it would have rung true in many cases. It must be human nature unfortunately.

Good post.

[Darkwing Duck]

.
Flying, like many human endeavors, is something you'll never achieve perfection in (who do you think you are, Bob Hoover?), but its the struggle to strike close to the mark is what's noble about the activity.

While I understand your attempt to get the point across, you just contradicted yourself on the CAN DO attitude. Why can't someone strive to be the next Bob Hoover? You should of stated that you can become the next Bob Hoover if you have the mind set.

[robertsailor1]

Well I have to diasgree on anyone becoming Bob Hoover. He may not be the best pilot but he's up there. The average pilot these days simply doesn't have the natural skill or ability no matter how hard they might try. Its like saying any hockey player can be equal to Wayne Gretzky...just ain't so.

[Shiny Side Up]

.
Flying, like many human endeavors, is something you'll never achieve perfection in (who do you think you are, Bob Hoover?), but its the struggle to strike close to the mark is what's noble about the activity.

While I understand your attempt to get the point across, you just contradicted yourself on the CAN DO attitude. Why can't someone strive to be the next Bob Hoover? You should of stated that you can become the next Bob Hoover if you have the mind set.

I didn't say you couldn't strive to be Bob Hoover, I merely said that its highly unlikely you'll achieve that level. As above the important part is that you're working at improving. The problem I'm getting at is that most feel that since they won't be Bob Hoover, they just don't strive at all, they instead become comfortable where they're at.

[SuperchargedRS]

I do not like this "you will never be the best" anti-competitive crap. Someone has to be the best! Go work for a company where you feel you have much to learn, improve your art until you are better then those around you, find new company where you feel you have allot to learn, learn all you can untill you are the teacher, etc etc.

I never tell my guys to be the best they can be, I tell them to strive to be the best there is.