The amazing Eric Winkle...

...his story will amaze you...

In the last 15 years of Coaching, Training and Mentoring 100's of Entrepreneurs, Business Owners and their Teams; I have learned a few things about achievement and success...

I have learned that success and achievement doesn't come from reading the Secret or walking the Hot Coals, nor does it come from chanting Incantations or staring at Vision Boards - yes they can help increase the pace of success, but they don't create it in the first place; only we can do that for ourselves...

Roll up Mr Eric Winkle...

Picture Credit - www.dailymail.co.uk

I found Eric's story on the BBC website, just before he was due to appear on the BBC Radio 4 Program - Desert Island Discs.

His story is compelling, so I thought I'd share my thoughts on this amazing, and yet largely unsung hero, he even has his own Wiki Page - click HERE to take a look...

Born in 1919 - and due to celebrate his 96th  Birthday on January 21st Jan 2015, his lifetime achievements are truly mind blowing; here's a brief summary...

1. As a Test Pilot he has flown 487 different types of plane, a world record.

2. He holds the world record for number of landings on an Aircraft Carrier; 2407...

3. He is the Fleet Air Arms most decorated living Pilot...

4. Attended the 1936 Berlin Olympics and had a meeting with Hermann Goring.

5. Flew with the WW1 German fighter ace - Ernst Udet.

6. Was one of only two survivors when HMS Audacity was torpedoed by German U Boats in 1941.

7. Landed a twin engined plane on a carrier for the first time in 1944 - deck speed 86 kts, stall speed 110 kts...!!

8. Helped liberate Belsen Concentration Camp.

9. Sang with the Glenn Miller Band...

10. Awarded Lifetime Achievement Award from the British Rocketry Oral History Programme in 2007..

How was all this possible without a copy of Think and Grow Rich...?

Simple - he planned and prepared for every flight he ever took, while other pilots were in the bar, he was studying and preparing for his next sortie...

He attributes his success to being able to curl up tightly in the cockpit due to his short stature...

So what can we learn from Eric Winkle...?

For me, I think it is the work ethic, the calm deliberate approach to overcoming challenges without the fanfare. The ability to "get on with it" when the odds are clearly stacked against you...

Being prepared to risk everything for the achievement of the extraordinary, without the expectation of reward... 

In the words of William Shakespeare;

"When the sea was calm, all ships alike showed mastership in floating.."

Sometimes in order to be great, we have to enter stormy seas too...

Have a great week, and best wishes to Eric Winkle too; a truly great and inspiring man...