September 14, 2025 by Mike Manazir – (4-5 minutes) Failure Doesn’t End You. Hiding it Might. Integrity—Failure—Death We were spinning—with both engines out—dropping like a rock 90 miles southwest of San Diego. We blew through 10,000 feet, the mandatory ejection altitude. From the backseat Slammer called, “Ten thousand feet—have you got it?” I didn’t answer. … Read more

September 7, 2025 by Mike Manazir – (4-5 minutes) You Don’t Have to Say a Word When You Carry This Kind of Credibility Competence Commands Respect—And It Shows Tex had the edge. His A-4 Skyhawk turned tighter, faster, and with less drag than my big, beautiful Tomcat. I was bleeding airspeed, pulling Gs, fighting for … Read more

August 31, 2025 by Mike Manazir – (4-5 minutes) Leadership Means Standing Up – Even When You Weren’t There Cubi Point, Philippines The ship was docked at NAS Cubi Point, Philippines. We took advantage of the time ashore by flying tactical missions from the Cubi Point airfield. We had just egressed from a simulated strike … Read more

August 24, 2025 by Mike Manazir – (4-5 minutes) You Don’t Need to Be Fearless – Just Faithful Obsidian sky. No moon. No stars. Just a tiny, floating city a thousand miles from land—and me, a brand-new F-14 pilot, trying to land on it. After seven failed attempts to catch a wire, I was running … Read more

August 18, 2025 by Mike Manazir – (4-5 minutes) It Wasn’t the End. It Was Just the Beginning. Begin with a Clear Vision — Failure Fuels Success Kingsville, Texas | 1982–1983 When the instructor walked up to me and said, “Manazir, the LSOs called from the ship. You’re a disqual,” I honestly thought he was … Read more

August 10, 2025 by Mike Manazir – (4-5 minutes) You’re Not Stuck-You’re Early in the Process When Kelly and I rolled into Kingsville, Texas in the summer of 1982, she started crying. We had just gotten married—two days prior. No honeymoon. No Hawaii. Just a quick wedding and a long drive across the desert in … Read more

August 3, 2025 by Mike Manazir – (4-5 minutes) It’s Not Just About Grit. It’s About Foresight. When I stepped into flight school, I was a blink away from losing everything I’d worked toward. One eye exam away, to be exact. The NAMI doctors gave me what we called the “NAMI whammy”—a 20/25 result in … Read more

July 27, 2025 by Mike Manazir – (4-5 minutes) If You Ever Lost Your Why…This Story Will Help You Find It September 1981. SERE School. Warner Springs, California. Thrown to the dirt. Locked in a box. Slapped, interrogated, broken. It was all part of the training. And it changed everything. Before I took my first … Read more

July 20, 2025 by Mike Manazir – (4-5 minutes) Real Leadership Doesn’t Begin With Power- it Begins With Connection Learning to Lead The shrill blast of the alarm at 0555 during Plebe summer was unforgettable. Thirteen rings. Sixty seconds. You had to be up, dressed, and standing at rigid attention by the door—no excuses. This … Read more

July 13, 2025 by Mike Manazir – (4-5 minutes) Before you can command a team, you must earn the trust to be led. It began with shock and awe. Not from the roar of jet engines or the pressure of combat—but from a white cotton uniform, a clean shave, a shouted command, and a room … Read more