I earned my pilot's license in college. It wasn't something I planned — it started as an elective I took out of curiosity and ended up shaping how I approach just about everything in life, including running a business.

Flying teaches you things that no textbook on leadership ever will. It teaches you how to think under pressure, how to prepare for the unexpected and how to make decisions that balance speed, precision and safety.

Over the years, I've logged hundreds of hours in the air and built a business from the ground up. Running a company — especially during periods of growth or crisis — is a lot like flying an aircraft. The stakes are different, but the mindset is remarkably similar.

Whether you're cruising at altitude or trying to scale a business without spinning out, the best thing you can do is think like a pilot.

In aviation, there's a rule drilled into your head early: always have an alternate. You never take off assuming the original plan will work out perfectly. Weather changes, air traffic shifts and mechanical issues happen. The plan is there to guide you, not to trap you.

It's the same in business. Your roadmap should be disciplined, but not rigid. Things break. Markets shift. Teams stumble. A good CEO doesn't just plan for success — they

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