What is your freakout point? USA Today posed that question to several CEO’s and former CEO’s. I replied that years ago when I was under a lot of stress taking Braniff International Airlines through chapter 11 in Texas, I was really tired and uptight. Our daughter Sue, signed us up for a parachute class and then a jump. It was great. I was totally focused on the training and the jump and for 36 hours forgot all about my stress and Braniff. It took me outside my comfort zone and gave a great feeling of accomplishment when the fear subsided and the jump was over.
So USAToday, said would you do it again? Hmmm, the challenge had been issued. So I called Sue and she said: “Let’s do it.”
I contacted David Hart in Lebanon, Ohio, who operates a skydiving school there and is also a member of the National Speakers Association.
To add to the drama, we planned the tandem skydives for Friday the 13th. It was a clear and cold day at 13,500 feet when we jumped. I jumped with David who has made over 2500 jumps and is very professional.
Again, it was an exhilarating experience and very satisfying to reach “my freakout point” and deal with it in a positive way.
What were the lessons learned and value to me?
1. It gets you away from your day to day stressful moments.
2. You totally focus on the moment.
3. Great for your internal ego.
4. Push the envelope, outside your normal routine.
5. Fine tunes your decision making, for a business crisis later.
6. Gets the adrenaline flowing.
7. Teaches the value of being proactive and being decisive.
8. You have to test yourself to grow, otherwise you will shrink.
9. Builds your confidence to handle future setbacks and failures.
10. Was a great Father and Daughter experience.
11. Face down fear.
12. When you dive into cold water, do it, don’t tiptoe in.
Anybody can be a desk jockey. If you want to be a leader and grow, then find something outside your comfort zone and test yourself. I recommend it.
Have you ever reached your freakout point and dealt with it in a positive way? We’d love to hear from you!
Howard Putnam is a speaker on leadership, innovation, transformation, culture and customer service, and ethics. He is the former CEO of the highly successful Southwest Airlines and the first CEO to take a major airline, Braniff International, into, through and out of Chapter 11, getting it flying again in less than two years.
