When landing…Gun it!

March 17, 2011
Leadership Clip to Evernote
6

When a jet lands on an aircraft carrier and the plane catches the "grab wire" the pilot guns the engine to full throttle! Why do they do that? Just in  case the wire malfunctions, you have enough power to take off and try it again.

When you "land" or start a new project, process, service, ministry or mission. You can think you have crossed all your T’s and dotted all your I’s, but what if it fails? It may crash and burn. What is your back up plan? Gun it!

Don’t stay down, even after a crash and burn. As a high powered leader never land a new project without having your throttle "locked down." Always have a PLAN B. Your team is depending on you. All leaders great and small crash and burn, what separates the two is what happens when they do fail.

The truly great leaders…. They GUN IT!

What say you?

About artie: I'm the lead Pastor at Cornerstone, a Multi-Ethnic church in the heart of Orangeburg, South Carolina. Also the founder of the Comb Network.com, a movement to plant Multi-Ethnic, culturally relevant churches in smaller cities. I direct a gathering of small city leader called "The Sticks."

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  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1462898821 Buddy Knight

    Not only do they slam the throttle forward in case the arresting wire malfunctions, but also in case of a "BOLTER", where you MISS all four of the arresting wires.

    There have been a few cases where, in spite of firewalling the engines, there is a malfunction that happens after the jet has slowed down too much to take back off, but the pilot knows that the jet’s going over the side. The "TRAP" seemed to work, but there was a late failure (the hook can sometimes separate). At that time there is only one way to survive: EJECT! EJECT! EJECT!

    These variations on a "bad landing" also have application in ministry!

    BTW: Carrier pilots are graded on each landing. Each of the categories (OK-3-WIRE, OK, PASS, BOLTER, etc.) has a color and the squadron’s maintain a "GREENIE BOARD" that shows each pilot’s skill at landing aboard ship. How are you fellow ministers keeping yourselves reminded of how YOU are doing? Do you have a GREENIE BOARD?

    Oh, and BEAT ARMY!

    • Anonymous

      OK Buddy, you are way over my head there bro. All I know, is "EJECT" must be a last resort, and as soon as I swim back to the boat… I’m looking for another plane!

      • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1462898821 Buddy Knight

        A "Bolter" in ministry would be where you missed your target/goal and had to "go around for another pass". You correct what’s wrong and keep on to the goal (safe landing).

        The EJECT is where you realize that the situation is not recoverable, and that you will need to go get a new JET. In Ministry, that would be when you see your project/emphasis/new work come apart or get damaged and you realize that the best thing to do would be to "EJECT" from that effort and go to another topic/ministry/approach (which would be the "new jet").

        BTW: I’ve actually seen it where the guy who ejected landed ON THE BOAT!

        Have a victorious weekend!

        • Anonymous

          Would love to have seen that!

  • Thomas McDaniels

    Great post Pastor Artie. Enjoy your stuff! Would like to get connected more. Will search you out on web and itunes. Highest blessings to you!

    • Anonymous

      Thanks Thomas, very honored by that. Love & Lead Big, my Bro