How many times have you started something, and then not completed it? Like that book, that blog, that song, that website, that portfolio, that DIY project, that degree, that homework (shudder), that shopping list? Guilty of any of that? I know I am.
But why do we do that? Why do we start something, and hardly ever finish it? Laziness? Well yes, I am extremely lazy, but I still manage to get some things done. Like sit on the couch, drink coffee and watch TV... Ok, so laziness is definately part of it. But the other part - the more significant part - of the human-being's lack of 'task-completion' is due to a lack of passion (in my opinion).
It's really quite simple. Those that go far in life are passionate about what they do (or they've had no other option but to do what they do). It's psychological; you can't be great at something if you don't have the Will, the Drive, and the Passion to be great at it. Take writing a book for example: I'm very good at coming up with an opening line and a closing paragraph. Awesome, but what about the rest of it? No matter how much I try think of a good story, I'm hardly ever able to write more than a page. Now, that's not due to a lack of imagination, but rather a lack of passion: Why am I writing this story? Do I plan on ever finishing it? The short answer is No, I don't actually plan on making it something worth reading, so why bother finishing it. Heck, why bother starting it?
The same goes for blogs and stuff. I think I must have about 5 blogs floating around the interwebs, most with no more than two (rather pointless and boring) entries. How does this tie in with The Flying Fish, you might ask. Well. . .
Flying is all about passion. Because without passion, you probably won't get anywhere. As I've mentioned before, becoming a pilot isn't easy. Especially if you want to work overseas. Picture this: PPL (7 subjects), CPL (8 subjects), ATPL (not sure of how many subjects, but it's probably about 7). But wait, there's more! Should you want to work in Europe you need to get another license (which means more subjects). And should you want to work in America, there's yet another license (and that means even more subjects). So at the end of the day, you have a stack of flying notes that go from floor to ceiling, and your eyes are bleeding from all the reading, and your brain has been reduced to a puddle of some unrecognisable substance that is oozing out your ears. Lovely.
But if you're passionate about what you do, all the long hours spent studying and the pain of writing (and possibly re-writing) exams won't matter. Much. Sure, it can start getting to you and you'll begin to wonder why you decided to be a pilot.
But for me, seeing the world from a couple of thousand feet, or doing low-level flying over open areas makes everything worth it. Getting back after a flight and filling in my logbook leaves me with a sense of pride. Every take-off, every landing, every correctly executed manoeuvre leaves me with a smile on my face because I can say "I was in control. I did that, and I did it well." Every exam passed gives me a spring in my step, and every exam failed helps me to learn more. Every step I take, takes me that much closer to achieving my goal. Every step forward fills me with a sense of achievement.
That is why I do what I do. That is why I've picked myself up after every failed exam or horrible landing (and there have been a few spectacularly bad ones!). That, to me, is what life boils down to; finding something you enjoy, something that you're passionate.
What you put in determines what you get out.
