In his book Man Up, Bedros Keuilian talks about leadership, accountability, and high performance.
One idea that stands out is the concept of a “high-performance team.”
This type of team isn’t just skilled.
They share a mission, strive for excellence, and take responsibility for their success.
To build such a team, Keuilian says leaders need clarity.
The vision must be so clear that every member knows their role in making it happen.
High-performance teams rely on discipline, trust, and the ability to adapt.
They focus and work with intensity, which sets them apart.
This is something I’m working on—not just in building a team, but in becoming a high performer myself.
Keuilian uses a powerful analogy: be a fighter jet, not a crop duster.
A fighter jet is fast, agile, and built for impact.
It can handle tough missions with precision. A crop duster, on the other hand, is slow and limited.
While it serves a purpose, it can’t match the speed or capability of a fighter jet.
Right now, I’m more like a crop duster.
My days are often filled with distractions and tasks that don’t move me closer to my goals.
I’ve been playing it safe, staying in my comfort zone.
The focus and intensity of a fighter jet have been missing from my life.
But I’ve decided to change that.
The first step is defining my mission.
What do I really want to achieve?
Without a clear goal, I’ll keep drifting.
Next, I’ve started looking at how I spend my time. Am I focusing on the right things, or wasting energy on what doesn’t matter?
This self-check is tough but necessary.
I’m also paying attention to the people around me.
Keuilian says having the right team is key.
A fighter jet relies on its crew to succeed.
Similarly, I’m learning to distance myself from unhelpful influences and connect with those who challenge and inspire me.
Finally, becoming a fighter jet means embracing discomfort.
High performance requires sacrifice.
It means working through fear, fatigue, and self-doubt.
Discipline, not motivation, is what gets results.
Each time I choose discipline, I move closer to becoming a fighter jet.
One big decision I made to break out of my crop-duster mentality was to join the 1000-day content challenge.
I realized that to become the captain of my high-performance team, I needed to lead by example.
This challenge pushes me to show up daily, create consistently, and embrace the discomfort of growth.
It’s a commitment to excellence, accountability, and relentless improvement.
This journey isn’t easy. Some days, it’s tempting to stay in crop-duster mode.
But the rewards of becoming a high performer—for myself and those I lead—are worth it.
I’m committed to this transformation because it’s not just about success.
It’s about making an impact.
Here’s to leaving the crop duster behind and stepping into the fighter jet’s cockpit.
The climb is tough, but the view at the top will be worth it.
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