Life Lessons from a Master Aviator; How to Meet the Challenge and Lead by Example with Former Marine Colonel Doug “Smash” Yurovich
Doug “Smash” Yurovich is a former fighter pilot and the first Marine Colonel to be appointed as Commander of a Navy Carrier Air Wing Group. Doug is a graduate of the US Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN), and he served as a Test Pilot at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station. After a long and distinguished military career, Doug continues to apply his leadership and aviation experience to civilian roles, and he currently works as a test pilot, flight instructor, and safety director. In this episode, you’ll hear from Doug on:(00:11:52) Meeting the challenge. Doug explains his decision to join the Marines and describes how he viewed it as a personal challenge as well as an opportunity to build an exciting and purposeful career.(00:19:28) Leading by example. He emphasizes the importance of setting a good example, taking care of your people, and continually seeking self-improvement. Plus, he shares some of the techniques he used to motivate his recruits.(00:24:47) Sticking with your brief. Doug talks about the time he was forced to eject from his airplane at 380 ft and explains how his decision to stick to his brief and execute the agreed plan saved his life. (01:13:09) Coping with adversity. Doug believes we learn much more from our failures than our successes, and he encourages everybody to have the courage to face adversity, confront challenges, and carry on until they accomplish what they set out to achieve. (01:18:39) Doug’s ‘glad to be here’ statement. After a career full of incident and fraught with danger, Doug describes how happy he is to have lived to tell the tale. He also shares some of the lessons he learned from surviving a series of life-or-death situations.