Aviation for Women

MAR-APR 2016

Aviation for Women is the flagship member publication of Women in Aviation International. Articles feature women who have made aviation history, professional development ideas, and current-topic articles.

Issue link: https://afwdigital.epubxp.com/i/638688

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 86 of 92

84 Aviation forWomen M A R C H / A P R I L 2 0 1 6 I was sad to miss my friend's destination wedding in California wine country, but as much as I wanted to celebrate her marriage, when I added up the expenses, I fgured my attendance would cost me about $2,000. At the time, I just couldn't afford to spend that money. It was a tough deci- sion to make, but my friend understood. Being a grown up means prioritizing your spending. You might be in a similar boat when it comes to the upcom- ing International Women in Aviation Conference. For some of us, there's no way anything close to the money involved is available, and for others, you may have the money but it's simply not the best use for it. If you fnd yourself unable to attend, honor yourself by taking some positive steps dur- ing the time the conference is being held. One of my favorite sayings is, "The uni- verse rewards action." I don't know how that works metaphysically, but for me, it always has. Set a goal and take the frst step toward its achievement, no matter how small, and it seems the planets will start to align in your favor. Think of ways to "Connect. Engage. Inspire." yourself. Want to connect? Write an e-mail to a former boss or mentor and tell that person how much he or she helped you and how. Better yet, pick up the phone. Don't be shy and just plunge right in by saying, "The only reason I'm calling is to thank you…" and go on from there. It's always good to keep your connections current, and if the universe rewards action for you as well, you never know where the conversation may lead. One of the surefre byproducts of attending a WAI confer- ence is coming into contact with women who inspire you by their accomplishments. Spend some time listening to TED Talks online—those are the motivational and informational videos available on YouTube on technology, entertainment, and design. There are hundreds of topics from a wide range of people, and none of them is longer than 18 minutes. Spend an hour or so and you are bound to fnd something that makes you think just a bit more positively or gives you an idea on a change you might make in your way of thinking. Of course, countless books can provide hours of inspira- tion. It may be time for you to read Beryl Markham's West With the Night, or a work by Anne Morrow Lindbergh. You don't have to limit yourself to aviation-themed books. Ex- plore a business topic that might make you more effective in your career. One of my favorites is Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In. The book has been around for 30 years and taught countless people, including me, negotiation skills to use in all facets of your work and personal life. Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Infuence People has been guiding people's careers for more than 60 years. Give it a try. What baby step can you take? Remember that the universe rewards action, so think of the smallest step you could take to reach your goal. In- trigued by a career in air traffic control? Always wanted to earn your private pilot certifcate? Considering an MBA? Do an In- ternet search, make a call, and do some- thing toward that goal. Just as there are off-site trips during the conference, take yourself on a feld trip. See if there's an aviation museum in your area. Visit your home airport, or another one nearby. If you go to the airport with no other goal but to take it all in, rather than concentrating on the weather or your upcoming fight, you can see it with different eyes and remind yourself why you became involved in aviation in the frst place. Another task you could do to honor yourself is to update your résumé. Do it while you are feeling good about you and your career. There are hundreds of templates and bits of ad- vice on line to help you out. Conventional wisdom says your résumé should always be up to date. Besides being ready if a job possibility comes your way, an updated résumé will get your mind on the career track and where you're headed. Finally, another highly motivating activity is to fnd a way to pay it forward. Volunteer with a local aviation group. Take someone for a fight—or even to a visit to a local GA airport. Seek out a local Girl Scout troop and volunteer to speak. There are many ways to use your talents that will make you feel good while beneftting others. You may not be in the company of thousands of other wom- en to connect, engage, and inspire you, but you can still do something. And while you're thinking of it, jot this down: The 2017 International Women in Aviation Conference will be held on March 2-4 in Orlando. Make it a priority to attend—you may be surprised by how much of a life-changing event at- tending a WAI conference can be. ✈ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Patricia Luebke, WAI 1954, is a New York City-based freelance writer, editor, and marketing consultant. P E R S O N A L D E V E L O P M E N T P A T R I C I A L U E B K E THE NE X T BEST THING Being a grown up means prioritizing your spending.

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of Aviation for Women - MAR-APR 2016