10 common lessons for digital newsies and Navy helicopter pilots
Had a great time hanging out with friend Megan last night, seeing her amazingly for the first time in seven years. The last time we saw each other, she was wrapping up at the Naval Academy; I was in Atlanta at CNN; and we both were watching the lead-up to the second Iraq War.
Now, Megan's a Navy helicopter pilot, returning from a three-year stint in Japan and heading to become a pilot instructor in sunny San Diego. We've both moved up a few ranks. Trying the locavore-leaning pizzas at American Flatbread (relatively new in Clarendon, down the street from Screwtop, delicious and I want to go back for more slices soon), we found our careers shared so many lessons. This isn't unexpected between old friends, I guess, but it is cool to see across professions, digital journalism and Navy flying. My favorite 10 lessons we shared:
1. The pieces are little until you assemble them into something big.
2. Doing a work process the best way benefits audiences blind to it.
3. Solving other people's trouble is fun when their lives affect yours.
4. Broken-window street theory applies to reading and oceans alike.
5. Leading by walking around beats up your shoes but is underrated.
6. In upside-down skeds, 4 a.m. works for breakfast, beer and wings.
7. Managing production and managing results of production differs.
8. Teaching something other people find boring is an opportunity.
9. If you can't assume responsibility, you shouldn't launch/take off.
10. Summing up seven years is easy when you've been having fun.
March 6th, 2010 at 9:17 AM
Thanks for the opportunity to catch up! I had a great time and concur that the pizza was delicious. Hopefully next time it won't be quite as long :). Fish tacos and brews when you get a chance to make it out to San Dog.
March 6th, 2010 at 3:01 PM
Your description last night won me over. San Diego ("a whale's vagina") will have to happen at some point.
March 14th, 2010 at 9:41 PM
hehe, dude, love the Anchorman reference! I had tried (successfully) not to mention it while in the company of said lady.