Think At Five Miles a Minute

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 my right eye that would disqualify me from becoming a fighter pilot. The dream I had pursued since entering the Naval Academy was suddenly on life support. I was devastated.

I was called back later in the day for a second eye exam. I’ll never forget that day. The second time, I passed. I don’t even know by how much. The Doc just told me, “You passed.” Whether it was fate, a bad first read, or a merciful doc, I’ll never know. But I do know this—I didn’t walk through the door to flight school. I sprinted through it. And from that day forward, I was committed to thinking ahead in everything I did.

Leadership Requires Forward Thinking

To fly jets at 300 knots—five miles a minute—you have to think ahead of the aircraft. If you’re reacting to what’s immediately in front of you, you’re already behind. That’s not just true in the air. It’s true in leadership.

In flight school, I learned the boldface procedures—emergency steps we had to memorize and recite – and perform – perfectly under pressure. I’d bounce a tennis ball while repeating the steps out loud, training myself to think clearly while distracted. That habit—training my mind to perform under stress—helped me win in the cockpit, and it helps leaders win in business and life.

Everyone’s in a Competition

Whether you’re aiming for a promotion, leading a team, running a business, or even just trying to get noticed in a crowd—you’re in a competition. And the people around you? Many of them are better than you. So, you think.

The ones who consistently win? They think ahead. They prepare. They anticipate. They go the extra mile when others are comfortable just getting by. That’s how I earned jet grades and got into fighters. Not by being the smartest. But by being the most prepared.

Think Like a Strategist—Use SWOT

If you want to get where you want to go, try this tool:

S.W.O.T. Analysis

Strengths – What are you naturally good at? How can you leverage that?
Weaknesses – What’s holding you back? How can you minimize it?
Opportunities – What doors might be opening? How can you walk through them?
Threats – What obstacles lie ahead? How can you outmaneuver them?

Leaders who think ahead use SWOT not just for themselves, but also for their teams, organizations, and goals. You can use it for planning your next year—or shaping your next career move.

Bottom Line: Think at Five Miles a Minute

In WWII, pilots who transitioned from propeller-driven airplanes or helicopters to jets often crashed—not from lack of skill, but because they didn’t think ahead fast enough. By the time they saw a mountain, it was too late.

Success is not about reacting—it’s about anticipating.

If you want to lead to win, you must outthink your environment. Play chess, not checkers. Lead with clarity. Prepare in silence so you can perform in the storm. I live by this principle every single day—and I encourage you to do the same.

You’re not just flying—you’re leading. And leaders think ahead.

Explore More Leadership Resources:

P.S.

If this message stirred something in you—share it. Forward it to a friend, colleague, or your leadership team. Better yet—let’s talk.

Let’s raise up a generation of leaders who know how to Lead to Win.

Mike Manazir
Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy (Ret.)
Author of Learn How to Lead to Win

P.S. Know someone who’s starting their leadership journey?
Forward this to a friend.
Or better yet—send them the book.

Let’s raise up a generation of leaders who know how to lead from their heart; who know how to Lead to Win.

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