Uncovering The Aviation Mindset Podcast benlef
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- Education
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Welcome aboard, everyone đ
Iâm Captain Ben le Fleming, a professional pilot of over 25 years, with experience on Gulfstream V, VI, & VII, Boeing 737, 757, & 767, and Learjet 45 aircraft.
In this podcast, I chat with my fellow pilots, flight attendants, and other aviation specialists to explore how we develop the can-do, creative mindset in building confidence, performing well, and enjoying the wonderful experience of life, in and out of the flight deck.
They say it takes 1000 people to successfully start, build, and complete a flight mission. Thatâs mind-blowing, and it highlights how important it is to connect with ourselves with emotional understanding and intelligence as a precursor to developing a spiritual understanding of connection with everyone around us. That forms the basis of health and wellness on a fascinating journey of discovery and adventure together.
My aviation journey started at 25 when I finally found the confidence to pursue my dream of becoming a professional pilot.
Until then, I had not considered myself remotely intelligent or emotionally strong enough to embark on such a feat, as I struggled to concentrate at school, making classroom studies a constant battle.
That was until I hit a low point in my mid-20s when my defeatist mindset led me to fail an interview to become a Professional Property Surveyor after six years of study and working experience.
In my melancholy, I inadvertently picked up a flight school brochure, and the direction of my life completely changed. Four months later, I was on the way to the USA to start my piloting adventure. 26 years later, here I am starting a podcast and supporting others in my Mindset & Confidence Life Coaching business.
Apart from my passion for flight, travel, adventure, discovery, and fascinating experiences around the world, my passions extend to my three wonderful children, as well as sports, guitar playing, singing, DIY, and cooking.
I am also dedicated to self-development and building better relationships, having had a life-long fascination with what makes me tick emotionally, spiritually, physically and mentally and how those elements play out in all those around me.
I am delighted to have you join me on this fascinating journey, so please jump aboard, and letâs see where this adventure takes us đ
If you would like to discover more about me, you can click the link below to my website, where you can sign up for my monthly newsletter, where I share some inspirational stories, some tips and tricks, and some recommendations for books and social media posts.
You can also book a 30-minute complimentary discovery call through my website to discuss how my coaching programs can help you achieve the big goals you have in mind and how to navigate the inevitable thunderstorms of life to reach the destination of your dreams.
www.benlefleming.com
You can also find me at:
https://www.instagram.com/benlefleming_/
https://www.facebook.com/ben.l.fleming.7
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-le-fleming-2a623710/
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#18 - Free Thinking and Creativity
đ« Uncovering The Aviation Mindset - Episode 18 With Matty Wohlers đŹ
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Matty Wohlers returns for part two of our conversation in which we discuss the importance of self-awareness, setting goals, and knowing one's limitations.
We emphasise the need for resilience, persistence, and discipline in achieving goals and explore the role of leadership in creating a harmonious and productive team environment.
The conversation touches on the value of making mistakes, having courage, and embracing imagination and creativity, highlighting the importance of learning from mistakes and being open to changing opinions.
The conversation concludes with a reminder to focus on self-development and supporting others.
Takeaways
â Self-awareness is crucial in achieving goals and knowing one's limitations.
â Resilience, persistence, and discipline are necessary for success.
â Leadership involves creating a harmonious and productive team environment.
â Mistakes are opportunities for learning and growth.
â Courage and imagination are essential for pushing beyond limitations.
â Changing opinions and embracing creativity are important for progress.
â Self-development and supporting others contribute to a fulfilling life.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Setting Goals
03:33 Self-Awareness and Achieving Goals
10:38 Knowing Limitations and Persistence
24:08 Embracing Mistakes and Courage
29:28 Imagination, Creativity, and Learning
31:22 Self-Development and Supporting Others
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I hope you enjoy the podcast. Iâd love to hear your comments and reviews, so please leave them in the comments box. đ.
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In the meantime, I wish you all the best, and please remember to:
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Keep It In The Greens đ
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â Join my monthly newsletter https://lnkd.in/eWkRpAiS
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â Book your free discovery call with me https://lnkd.in/e2AB9qW7
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â Discover my coaching offers https://lnkd.in/e7anbzPf
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#crm #psychologicalsafety #emotionalintelligence #humanresources #airlinepilot #mindsetpodcast #aviationpodcast #gratitudepractice #emotionalconnection #spiritualconnection #leadership #lifecoaching #resilience #fun #gratitude #joy #peace #mindfullness #adventure #opportunity #positivemindset #confidence #empowerment #mindset #courage #selfbelief #pilotlife #pilot #pilotlifestyle #gulfstream #aviation #teamwork #mentalhealth #humility #fear #choice #freediving -
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#17 - The Power of Leadership
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"The Power of Leadership"
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Uncovering The Aviation Mindset - Episode 17 With Matty Wohlers
Today, I launch with my good mate Matty on a journey discussing the
importance of self-awareness, mindfulness, and confidence in leadership.
Matty was my captain on a 2-month Boeing 767 detachment to Indonesia,
flying pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the annual Hajj celebrations.
It was the most wonderful experience, in and out of the flight deck. I put Matty
down as one of the people I have learnt a lot about in terms of leadership and
creating an environment that allows people to discover the best in themselves.
On one occasion, departing Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, we were radioed and
informed that an aircraft had crashed on the side of the runway at our
destination, Ujung Pandang in Indonesia. We had to decide whether to
complete the landing there or choose another destination and decided to
continue.
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It was a strange scene as we approached the airfield to see the stricken aircraft
as a clear reminder of what happens when things go wrong. That picture is a
good metaphor for life: if we choose to embrace our mistakes and those of
others with a creative mindset, the harsh lessons are invaluable. They give us a
much greater chance of launching again off the runway of possibility with an
even better chance of completing a safe, efficient and enjoyable journey.
Apart from sharing our experiences in aviation, Matty talks about his love of
freediving to highlight the value of admitting mistakes, embracing limitations,
and working as a team.
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We emphasise the need to break free from societal conditioning and selfconsciousness to reach our full potential. The conversation also touches on the value of role models, the impact of fear of judgment, and the importance of resilience.
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YouTube: https://youtu.be/UUi0ZYHeBIs
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7jqQrRTwZf7VjbNjLTshxd?
si=c890b21e26c54ba5
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/uncovering-the-aviationmindset-
podcast/id1725570994?i=1000653169929
Podbean: https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-xz3ti-15ee29a
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Key Takeaways
â Self-awareness and mindfulness are key to developing confidence and
effective leadership.
â Admitting mistakes and embracing limitations are essential for personal
growth and learning.
â Working as a team and utilising all available resources leads to better
outcomes.
â Societal conditioning and fear of judgment can hinder personal and
professional development.
â Resilience and the ability to overcome challenges are crucial in highpressure
environments.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
03:41 Leadership and Utilising Resources
07:24 The Importance of Trust and Openness
11:38 Inner Work and Self-Discovery
23:34 Breaking Free from Societal Conditioning
26:19 Resilience and Overcoming Challenges
31:00 The Role of Teamwork and Collaboration
35:09 Embracing Mistakes and Limitations
38:07 Unleashing Potential and Imagining Beyond Limits
I hope you enjoy the podcast. Iâd love to hear your comments and reviews, so
please leave them in the comments box.
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In the meantime, I wish you all the best, and please remember to:
Keep It In The Greens
â Join my monthly newsletter https://lnkd.in/eWkRpAiS
â Book your free discovery call with me https://lnkd.in/e2AB9qW7
â Discover my coaching offers https://lnkd.in/e7anbzPf
Keywords
leadership, self-awareness, mindfulness, confidence, aviation, freediving,
admitting mistakes, limitations, teamwork, societal conditioning, fear of
judgment, resilience
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#crm #psychologicalsafety #emotionalintelligence #humanresources
#airlinepilot #mindsetpodcast #aviationpodcast #gratitudepractice #emotionalconnection #spiritualconnection #leadership #lifecoaching
#resilience #fun #gratitude #joy #peace #mindfullness #adventure
#opportunity #positivemindset #confidence #empowerment #mindset
#courage #selfbelief #pilotlife #pilot #pilotlifestyle #gulfstream #aviation
#teamwork #mentalhealth #humility #fear -
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#16 - Emotional Hijacking
My mate David Robinson joins me again for the second of this two-parter.
Today, we launch with the story of when we found our G650 swarming with an army of prosecutors from the Japanese government following the arrest of Carlos Ghosn on landing in Tokyo.
We discuss our experience of being emotionally hijacked by the situation and share our thoughts and feelings during the incident and how we coped with the uncertainty and stress. We also discuss the importance of therapy and counselling in managing emotions and building stronger relationships. The conversation highlights the need for self-awareness, emotional regulation, and finding tools to navigate challenging situations.
Takeaways
Recognising and managing emotions is crucial in stressful situations.
Therapy and counselling can provide valuable support and help in navigating difficult emotions and relationships.
Self-awareness is key to understanding and regulating our own emotions.
Finding tools and strategies to cope with stress and uncertainty is important for personal growth and resilience.
Chapters
00:00 Emotional Hijack in Tokyo
08:20 The Power of Therapy and Counselling
25:49 Tools and Strategies for Coping with Stress
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I hope you enjoy the podcast. Iâd love to hear your comments and reviews, so please leave them in the comments box. đ.
In the meantime, I wish you all the best, and please remember to:
Keep It In The Greens đ
Â
â Join my monthly newsletter https://lnkd.in/eWkRpAiS
â Book your free discovery call with me https://lnkd.in/e2AB9qW7
â Discover my coaching offers https://lnkd.in/e7anbzPf
#crm #psychologicalsafety #emotionalintelligence #humanresources #airlinepilot #mindsetpodcast #aviationpodcast #gratitudepractice #spiritual #emotionalconnection #spiritualconnection #leadership #lifecoaching #resilience #fun #gratitude #joy #peace #mindfullness #adventure #opportunity #positivemindset #confidence #empowerment #mindset #courage #selfbelief #pilotlife #pilot #pilotlifestyle #gulfstream #aviation #teamwork #Nissan #CarlosGhosn #mentalhealth #humility #fear #choice -
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#15 - Overcome People Pleasing
Summary
Today, another fab mate from the US joined me for part one of this fascinating conversation on mindset, confidence, and well-being. Â
David and I worked together for Nissan North America on a Gulfstream 650 a few years back, and he is currently flying a Gulfstream 450 for a private owner in the USA.
Although David is over ten years younger than me, he seems at least that much smarter than me, so I have always looked up to him for his intellectual, humorous, and emotionally aware comments in our conversations.
We discuss our experiences working together at Nissan and the importance of mindset, confidence, and teamwork in aviation. We reflect on our time as co-captains during the infamous flight from Beirut to Tokyo when Carlos Ghosn was arrested and how that event affected us mentally. We emphasise the value of humility, being proactive, and filling the pool of shared meaning in a team. We also touch on emotional intelligence, fear, and the power of choice in shaping our responses.
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Takeaways
â The importance of humility and teamwork in aviation
â The value of being proactive and filling the pool of shared meaning in a team
â The impact of mindset and confidence on performance
â The role of emotional intelligence in navigating challenges
â The power of choice in shaping our responses to stimuli
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I hope you enjoy the podcast. Iâd love to hear your comments and reviews, so please leave them in the comments box. đ.
In the meantime, I wish you all the best, and please remember to:
Â
Keep It In The Greens đ
Â
â Join my monthly newsletter https://www.benlefleming.com/monthly-flightpath
â Book your free discovery call with me https://calendly.com/benlefleming/discovery-call?month=2023-12
â Discover my coaching offers https://www.benlefleming.com/coaching
#crm #psychologicalsafety #emotionalintelligence #humanresources #airlinepilot #mindsetpodcast #aviationpodcast #gratitudepractice #spiritual #emotionalconnection #spiritualconnection #leadership #lifecoaching #resilience #fun #gratitude #joy #peace #mindfullness #adventure #opportunity #positivemindset #confidence #empowerment #mindset #courage #selfbelief #pilotlife #pilot #pilotlifestyle #gulfstream #aviation #teamwork #Nissan #CarlosGhosn #mentalhealth #humility #fear #choice #wellbeing -
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#14 - Practising Gratitude
đ« Episode 14 with Captain & TRI Mark Blois-Brooke đŹ
My ex-chief Pilot at Tag Aviation, Mark, joins me for another fascinating chat on todayâs podcast.
Mark has a CV as long as you can imagine, having started flying in the 1970âs. His first commercial roles were In the corporate/air-taxi environment, flying all types of characters to far-flung places around Europe, some of them highly dodgy. He went on to fly commercially for cargo operators such as DHL on Boeing aircraft before returning to the corporate world on Gulfstream, Challenger, and Falcon aircraft. With well over 40 years under his belt, he still flies the Falcon 7x for a private family under Tag Aviation management.
I had the unenviable position of going to Mark with my tail between my legs, having had a ramp check in Vienna a few years back.
I had come up short in some paperwork representing the correct amount of fuel on board the aircraft and had to take the need for more professionalism on the chin.
As always, the emotional discomfort of that taught me a lesson. Not living with shame but choosing to see it as a gain is one of my mottos for success in life. After the emotional feeling faded, thatâs precisely what happened.
Mark is one of those characters who has so many fascinating stories to relate that he has put them to pen in the form of a book that is well worth reading.
âLife In A Tin: Stories From A Flying Lifeâ
https://lifeinatin.com/
Mark shares his impressive aviation career and insights on human factors and CRM in the podcast. Mark emphasises the importance of passion and variety in the aviation industry and the challenges and rewards of flying in the corporate world. He discusses the evolution of CRM and the need for effective communication and emotional intelligence in the cockpit. Mark also highlights the value of being friends on the flight deck and creating a supportive and inclusive environment.
Mark and I talk about the importance of resilience, learning from mistakes, and finding purpose in life. We discuss the need for professionals to work together and respect each other's ideas, even if they don't always agree. We also touch on the evolution of safety practices in the aviation and medical industries, emphasising the importance of analysing mistakes and learning from them. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the value of stepping out of one's comfort zone and embracing challenges as opportunities for personal growth.
Keywords
aviation, career, human factors, CRM, passion, variety, corporate aviation, communication, emotional intelligence, flight deck, resilience, learning from mistakes, purpose, teamwork, safety practices, comfort zone, personal growth
Takeaways
Passion and variety are critical in the aviation industry
Effective communication and emotional intelligence are crucial in the cockpit
Creating a supportive and inclusive environment on the flight deck is important
Being friends with your co-pilot can enhance safety and performance
Resilience is essential in both professional and personal life. It allows individuals to overcome challenges and learn from mistakes.
Even if you disagree, working together and respecting othersâ ideas is crucial for achieving common goals.
Analysing mistakes and learning from them is crucial to improving safety practices in industries like aviation and medicine.
Stepping out of one's comfort zone and embracing challenges is an opportunity for personal growth and development.
Finding purpose in life and being grateful for our opportunities can lead to a more fulfilling and resilient mindset.
Titles
The Benefits of Being Friends with Your Co-Pilot
The Importance of Passion and Variety in Aviation Finding Purpose and Gratitude in Life
Working Together: Respect and Teamwork
Sound Bites
"I love the industry. It's funny, I think in the corporate world, you find guys who are quite happy to go on because it's a fantastic job, but it's a very privileged job."
"The gradie -
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#13 - Find Your Passion In Life
âFind Your Passion In Lifeâ
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đ« Uncovering The Aviation Mindset - Episode 13 with Hook HookassianđŹ
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Another American buddy joins me for this open chat on life in and out of the flight deck.
Hook and I became mates when we flew a Gulfstream 650 together during my secondment to Nissan North America.
He is a real giggle, and his laugh is very infectious. I have always admired his zest for life and finding passion and purpose. He is one the most sociable people I know, and that particular type of skill and intelligence is invaluable for making the most of lifeâs incredible opportunities.
His background is fascinating. His family emigrated to the US from Armenia when he was a young boy, and that sense of adventure inspired him to pursue his boyhood dream of becoming a pilot in the US Air Force.Â
Hook humbly talks about his experiences, notably his feeling of inadequacy when he was not accepted as a fighter pilot. However, he recognised it was a key moment in his development that led to another adventure and renewed sense of purpose.
Hook flew the KC 135 Stratotanker in the Air Force before moving on to Gulfstreams and taking up a role with Netjets.Â
We were operating as a crew together on a flight from Beirut to Tokyo, which resulted in the arrest of our CEO, Carlos Ghosn, for financial irregularities. It was a bizarre experience, with about 18 people from the state prosecution department searching every nook and cranny of the aircraft, including our crew bags. Sadly, it led to the winding up of the flight department, and most of us lost our jobs.
However, we both look back on that time with fond memories, aside from the challenges.Â
Hook now works for a private family flying a Gulfstream 450 in the USA.
(If you are interested in discovering more of the Carlos Ghosn story, it is the feature of a four part Apple TV+ documentary, as well as other film documentaries. Wanted: The Escape of Carlos Ghosn is available on Apple TV+)
Summary
In the conversation, we discuss our pilot experiences and the lessons we have learned throughout our careers. We talk about the importance of humility, adaptability, and setting goals and also explore the challenges of parenting and the need for effective communication and mentoring. Our conversation emphasises the value of self-reflection and continuous learning, and we reflect on our experiences and discuss the importance of emotional and spiritual maturity in navigating unexpected situations. We share stories from our time working together at Nissan and discuss the need for open communication and dialogue. We also emphasise the importance of being prepared, maintaining control, analysing the situation, and taking appropriate action. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the value of reviewing and reflecting on experiences to continue learning and growing.
Keywords
pilots, flying, experiences, humility, adaptability, goals, parenting, communication, mentoring, self-reflection, learning, emotional maturity, spiritual maturity, unexpected situations, open communication, dialogue, preparation, maintaining control, analysing the situation, taking appropriate action, reviewing and reflecting
Key Takeaways
Humility and effective communication are important in personal growth.
Adaptability is key in navigating challenges and changing circumstances.
Setting clear goals helps provide direction and motivation.
Effective parenting involves guiding and mentoring rather than telling and controlling.
Self-reflection and continuous learning are essential for personal and professional development. Emotional and spiritual maturity are important in navigating unexpected situations.
Open communication and dialogue are essential for personal and professional growth.
Being prepared and maintaining control are key in handling challenging situations.
Analysing the situation and taking appropriate action are crucial for success.
Reviewing and reflecting on experiences helps in lea