‘Find Your Passion In Life’
🛫 Uncovering The Aviation Mindset - Episode 13 with Hook Hookassian🛬
Another American buddy joins me for this open chat on life in and out of the flight deck.
Hook and I became mates when we flew a Gulfstream 650 together during my secondment to Nissan North America.
He is a real giggle, and his laugh is very infectious. I have always admired his zest for life and finding passion and purpose. He is one the most sociable people I know, and that particular type of skill and intelligence is invaluable for making the most of life’s incredible opportunities.
His background is fascinating. His family emigrated to the US from Armenia when he was a young boy, and that sense of adventure inspired him to pursue his boyhood dream of becoming a pilot in the US Air Force.
Hook humbly talks about his experiences, notably his feeling of inadequacy when he was not accepted as a fighter pilot. However, he recognised it was a key moment in his development that led to another adventure and renewed sense of purpose.
Hook flew the KC 135 Stratotanker in the Air Force before moving on to Gulfstreams and taking up a role with Netjets.
We were operating as a crew together on a flight from Beirut to Tokyo, which resulted in the arrest of our CEO, Carlos Ghosn, for financial irregularities. It was a bizarre experience, with about 18 people from the state prosecution department searching every nook and cranny of the aircraft, including our crew bags. Sadly, it led to the winding up of the flight department, and most of us lost our jobs.
However, we both look back on that time with fond memories, aside from the challenges.
Hook now works for a private family flying a Gulfstream 450 in the USA.
(If you are interested in discovering more of the Carlos Ghosn story, it is the feature of a four part Apple TV+ documentary, as well as other film documentaries. Wanted: The Escape of Carlos Ghosn is available on Apple TV+)
Summary
In the conversation, we discuss our pilot experiences and the lessons we have learned throughout our careers. We talk about the importance of humility, adaptability, and setting goals and also explore the challenges of parenting and the need for effective communication and mentoring. Our conversation emphasises the value of self-reflection and continuous learning, and we reflect on our experiences and discuss the importance of emotional and spiritual maturity in navigating unexpected situations. We share stories from our time working together at Nissan and discuss the need for open communication and dialogue. We also emphasise the importance of being prepared, maintaining control, analysing the situation, and taking appropriate action. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the value of reviewing and reflecting on experiences to continue learning and growing.
Keywords
pilots, flying, experiences, humility, adaptability, goals, parenting, communication, mentoring, self-reflection, learning, emotional maturity, spiritual maturity, unexpected situations, open communication, dialogue, preparation, maintaining control, analysing the situation, taking appropriate action, reviewing and reflecting
Key Takeaways
Humility and effective communication are important in personal growth.
Adaptability is key in navigating challenges and changing circumstances.
Setting clear goals helps provide direction and motivation.
Effective parenting involves guiding and mentoring rather than telling and controlling.
Self-reflection and continuous learning are essential for personal and professional development. Emotional and spiritual maturity are important in navigating unexpected situations.
Open communication and dialogue are essential for personal and professional growth.
Being prepared and maintaining control are key in handling challenging situations.
Analysing the situation and taking appropriate action are crucial for success.
Reviewing and reflecting on experiences helps in learning and growing
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