I'm done
03-30-2013, 04:29 AM
#62
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2008
Position: 777 Cap
Posts: 199
Really interesting thread.
I too, have a long standing disagreement with a friend of mine related to luck in the industry.
He has told me repeatedly that I have had the luckiest career of anyone he knows in the industry. This from a guy that did not have the stones to chase the career he loved. He walked away from the career multiple times over the years, and always quit when it became difficult.
His aversion to paying his dues was greater than his desrire for success.
Have I been lucky? Absolutely!
But as previously pointed out, luck runs both ways.
I didn't feel particularly lucky when:
I went on strike, and was fired
I lost $500,000 in company stock I was forced to purchase and couldn't sell
I had my pension decimated and handed over to the PBGC
One of the "lucky" parts of my career was to stick it out through the tough times. Now I have seniority, a great income, a healthy 401(k) balance and the ability to totally ignore the career and enjoy the job.
Jack Niclaus is famous for a quote after making a phenomenal golf shot. His playing partner commented "That was a lucky shot", to which Niclaus responded "Yes it was, and it seems the more I practice, the Luckier I get!"
There is a certain amount of that in aviation. Hard work alone won't do it, but it certainly improves your chances. Those that stick it out through the unlucky times are in position to take full advantage of the good luck when it arrives.
I too, have a long standing disagreement with a friend of mine related to luck in the industry.
He has told me repeatedly that I have had the luckiest career of anyone he knows in the industry. This from a guy that did not have the stones to chase the career he loved. He walked away from the career multiple times over the years, and always quit when it became difficult.
His aversion to paying his dues was greater than his desrire for success.
Have I been lucky? Absolutely!
But as previously pointed out, luck runs both ways.
I didn't feel particularly lucky when:
I went on strike, and was fired
I lost $500,000 in company stock I was forced to purchase and couldn't sell
I had my pension decimated and handed over to the PBGC
One of the "lucky" parts of my career was to stick it out through the tough times. Now I have seniority, a great income, a healthy 401(k) balance and the ability to totally ignore the career and enjoy the job.
Jack Niclaus is famous for a quote after making a phenomenal golf shot. His playing partner commented "That was a lucky shot", to which Niclaus responded "Yes it was, and it seems the more I practice, the Luckier I get!"
There is a certain amount of that in aviation. Hard work alone won't do it, but it certainly improves your chances. Those that stick it out through the unlucky times are in position to take full advantage of the good luck when it arrives.
04-01-2013, 10:02 AM
#64
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2012
Posts: 480
04-01-2013, 09:23 PM
#65
Disinterested Third Party
Joined APC: Jun 2012
Posts: 6,298
Sticking it out is all you've got if you want to survive in the industry.
It may be taking a job you don't like. It may mean remaining in your instructing position for another two or three years while you wait for an opening. It may mean moving to a maintenance position while you look for a pilot slot, or it may be mean diversifying your aviation skills by seeking maintenance experience.
Sticking it out is not giving up, and it's absolutely necessary if you want to survive in aviation.
It may be taking a job you don't like. It may mean remaining in your instructing position for another two or three years while you wait for an opening. It may mean moving to a maintenance position while you look for a pilot slot, or it may be mean diversifying your aviation skills by seeking maintenance experience.
Sticking it out is not giving up, and it's absolutely necessary if you want to survive in aviation.
04-03-2013, 05:10 PM
#68
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2009
Posts: 519
Got lucky? Hardly.
Those of us who have succeeded in the industry have done so because we chose to work and to succeed.
It is not a matter of luck.
It never was.
I came from nothing, and worked damn hard to be where I am. No one with any knowledge of the industry, or who has put in the effort to succeed would be uninformed so much as to suggest that success in this business is "luck"
Those of us who have succeeded in the industry have done so because we chose to work and to succeed.
It is not a matter of luck.
It never was.
I came from nothing, and worked damn hard to be where I am. No one with any knowledge of the industry, or who has put in the effort to succeed would be uninformed so much as to suggest that success in this business is "luck"
You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, know when to walk away, know when to run!
04-03-2013, 05:55 PM
#69
Disinterested Third Party
Joined APC: Jun 2012
Posts: 6,298
That's not a matter of luck at all. "Know when to fold em" is another way of saying "recognize when you're too lazy to press on, then give up."
It's a career. It's not poker.
It really doesn't.
Stability may or may not be found in aviation. Certainly one can have it, but we are all beggars; we don't get to choose where the aircraft fly, who flies in them, or many of the other basic aspects of the job. We are told where to go and what to do, and we do it, or we look elsewhere for work.
With my present job, I'm generally home every night. I have regular dates with the wife. I know what my paycheck will be.
Retirement is touch-and-go throughout much of the employable world; it's the exception to the rule today, rather than the rule. It's not a matter of luck, however.
One doesn't rub a magic statue's belly and hope for luck when seeking a job, when going to an interview, or before getting into a simulator. We undertake an action with the outcome never seriously in doubt, or we've failed the most basic standard. We also plan for all other outcomes, and are prepared to execute them flawlessly in the event plans change. Plans do change.
So do we.
That's life. It's not luck.
If one sets ridiculous goals with lofty ideals that don't match reality, one has nobody to blame but one's self when the goals don't materialize as anticipated. Our favorite dreamer Sky High prattles on about his own expectations; that he would live like a King, move quickly to a major airline and be treated like a god, and that he would live like, and become "James Bond," which is how he claims to perceive a working airline pilot, based on his having come from a family of pilots.
That's not reality, and one cannot blame luck when unreal expectations don't materialize. One can blame one's failure to work harder, but one doesn't get blood from the proverbial tuber, and one doesn't make the ubiquitous silk purse from animal hides. We don't turn lead into gold, and we most certainly don't live like Kings in a job that doesn't pay a kings ransom. We live within our means, spend and work accordingly, and learn to be happy with what is realistic, rather than pining away for what is not.
I'm on a temporary assignment away from home just now; it came up today, and the boss asked if I was willing or able. He gave me the choice. I said fine, no problem. Just three weeks, I know it could change, not a problem. I had a few other things going, but I'm flexible, the job is flexible, and life is good.
We make our luck. Luck is an irrational explanation for things we're afraid to address, and it's an excuse for the "other" excuse; coincidence. Our career is not a function of luck, but a function of effort.
There are those who will try to explain it away by saying that not getting the job to which they applied is proof positive of luck at work; bad luck. Such whiners are the ones who believe in entitlement. Why didn't I get the job? Bad luck? How about someone more qualified applied? How about they filled the position already, or the position closed early, or I just wasn't qualified enough. Not luck. Reasons. Make luck. Apply somewhere else. Or get better qualifications. Become more competitive. Lots of way to make luck, without needing all the excuses.
It's a career. It's not poker.
If someone would like to have stability, a decent paycheck, and a retirement...luck becomes VERY relevant.
Stability may or may not be found in aviation. Certainly one can have it, but we are all beggars; we don't get to choose where the aircraft fly, who flies in them, or many of the other basic aspects of the job. We are told where to go and what to do, and we do it, or we look elsewhere for work.
With my present job, I'm generally home every night. I have regular dates with the wife. I know what my paycheck will be.
Retirement is touch-and-go throughout much of the employable world; it's the exception to the rule today, rather than the rule. It's not a matter of luck, however.
One doesn't rub a magic statue's belly and hope for luck when seeking a job, when going to an interview, or before getting into a simulator. We undertake an action with the outcome never seriously in doubt, or we've failed the most basic standard. We also plan for all other outcomes, and are prepared to execute them flawlessly in the event plans change. Plans do change.
So do we.
That's life. It's not luck.
If one sets ridiculous goals with lofty ideals that don't match reality, one has nobody to blame but one's self when the goals don't materialize as anticipated. Our favorite dreamer Sky High prattles on about his own expectations; that he would live like a King, move quickly to a major airline and be treated like a god, and that he would live like, and become "James Bond," which is how he claims to perceive a working airline pilot, based on his having come from a family of pilots.
That's not reality, and one cannot blame luck when unreal expectations don't materialize. One can blame one's failure to work harder, but one doesn't get blood from the proverbial tuber, and one doesn't make the ubiquitous silk purse from animal hides. We don't turn lead into gold, and we most certainly don't live like Kings in a job that doesn't pay a kings ransom. We live within our means, spend and work accordingly, and learn to be happy with what is realistic, rather than pining away for what is not.
I'm on a temporary assignment away from home just now; it came up today, and the boss asked if I was willing or able. He gave me the choice. I said fine, no problem. Just three weeks, I know it could change, not a problem. I had a few other things going, but I'm flexible, the job is flexible, and life is good.
We make our luck. Luck is an irrational explanation for things we're afraid to address, and it's an excuse for the "other" excuse; coincidence. Our career is not a function of luck, but a function of effort.
There are those who will try to explain it away by saying that not getting the job to which they applied is proof positive of luck at work; bad luck. Such whiners are the ones who believe in entitlement. Why didn't I get the job? Bad luck? How about someone more qualified applied? How about they filled the position already, or the position closed early, or I just wasn't qualified enough. Not luck. Reasons. Make luck. Apply somewhere else. Or get better qualifications. Become more competitive. Lots of way to make luck, without needing all the excuses.
04-03-2013, 06:38 PM
#70
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2009
Posts: 519
That's not a matter of luck at all. "Know when to fold em" is another way of saying "recognize when you're too lazy to press on, then give up."
It's a career. It's not poker.
...Retirement is touch-and-go throughout much of the employable world; it's the exception to the rule today, rather than the rule. It's not a matter of luck, however.
One doesn't rub a magic statue's belly and hope for luck when seeking a job, when going to an interview, or before getting into a simulator. We undertake an action with the outcome never seriously in doubt, or we've failed the most basic standard. We also plan for all other outcomes, and are prepared to execute them flawlessly in the event plans change. Plans do change.
It's a career. It's not poker.
...Retirement is touch-and-go throughout much of the employable world; it's the exception to the rule today, rather than the rule. It's not a matter of luck, however.
One doesn't rub a magic statue's belly and hope for luck when seeking a job, when going to an interview, or before getting into a simulator. We undertake an action with the outcome never seriously in doubt, or we've failed the most basic standard. We also plan for all other outcomes, and are prepared to execute them flawlessly in the event plans change. Plans do change.
If it's all achoice, why isn't everybody working at their proverbial dream job?
