Adaptation

Sometimes life will throw you a curve and you have no choice other than to adapt. In the case of those who want to fly, many times the curve ball is color blindness.

Colorblindness is usually a problem for the male of the human species; females are carriers of the trait, but are very rarely afflicted with the malady. Seven to 10 percent of all males suffer some degree of colorblindness.

So, young person, there you are, preparing yourself for your flying career and you have already picked out the house of your dreams, the next five cars and two boats you plan to buy over the coming 10 or 15 years, your soul-mate and children. Now it appears as though you won’t be able to get your “dream job.”

Now what? How can you possibly afford the good-looking spouse, children, and all those goodies?

It is time to adapt. 

Many times, most of the young people I work with fail to make the important connection between having a plan, and having a backup plan. It is very similar to flying a cross-country flight; you have a destination, and you should have your alternate destination – just in case the weather goes down or another problem befalls the destination airport.

At their young age, most young people lack the vision required to look over the horizon. I know this, because when I was that age, I also lacked the “over the horizon” vision. Most young adults have not really lived enough to understand “the big picture.” Many times, all they see is what they want to see and not what is really out there, in front of them, which is theirs for the taking. 

Another way to view this is to understand flying big jets is not the only way in life to make a living. You can find other means to collect a paycheck. The real trick is to discover something else as exciting as flying big iron.

I have counseled numerous young pilots who have just discovered they are colorblind. Many believe their flying days are over. This simply is not the case; in many instances, they can fly, just not as a commercial pilot. Various degrees of colorblindness may still allow an individual to fly, it just may require a waiver for private or personal operation of aircraft. For these individuals, I say start a business, make a lot of money, and fly around in your own company jet.

Here’s the secret: be productive. Create, serve, connect. Use your business to help others make a living.

You will thoroughly enjoy the sense of well-being this creates for both those you help and yourself.

Oh, one other thing. Do something you really like and it will seem as though you never work.

Have fun, be happy.

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©2010 J. Clark

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