* Lieutenant Heels, Hurry Up With Your Safety Inspection!

This Is Our “17 Seconds” Newsletter #145: 17 Seconds = Useful Info Quickly.

1989-07-04, USAF Pilot Training, Reese AFB, Texas. 2nd Lieutenant Erik J. Heels shortly after soloing a T-37 jet, shortly before being dunked in the pool. (Photo by Charles Anthony “Chuck” Cheatham, AKA Ghost Cheatham.)

The title of this article is a verbatim quote from one of my instructors at USAF pilot training. It’s one of the most foolish things that anyone has ever said to me.

“I’m not that good at flying,” I thought, “so I’ll take my time if it’s that’s OK with you!”

Rushing things is rarely a good idea. In the startup world, I definitely subscribe to the ready-fire-aim school of thought, but even that seems intentional, not rushed.

Whether I’m cooking, driving, flying, or pretty much anything else, I like to take my time. I like to be intentional. I guess that’s it. Intentional, not accidental.

When I’m counseling startups about filing patents and trademarks, I tell them, repeatedly, that I don’t care whether or not they file patents and trademarks. I just care that the decision is intentional, not accidental. (See “file before launch” below.)

So how did this topic bubble to the top of my “to write” list? Intentionally. I have a “fodder” file of stuff to write about, and I recently reorganized and sorted it. This topic was in there twice, so there you have it.

Be intentional. And be safe.

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