Page 111 - Never Fly Solo

84 | NEVER FLY SOLO
while, he doesn’t return your calls, or you’ve simply lost
touch? One minute you’re flying on his wing, and then sud-
denly he disappears. How did that make you feel? Maybe the
lost wingman is you. You get so wrapped up in your work or
life’s challenges that you lose contact with those partners, col-
leagues, and peers most important to you.

CALLING OUT WHEN YOU’VE LOST SIGHT

The scenario is quite common. Sometimes the weather in our
lives gets pretty bad and we can’t see beyond our own cockpit.
Financial, health, or family issues take over, and we lose sight
of our wingmen or get knocked off course. We’re flying along,
everything’s going peachy, and then suddenly it all goes dark.
Can you relate? Perhaps you were laid off from your job.
Maybe you lost a huge contract to a competitor after working
on it for months, or maybe you got passed over for the pro-
motion you put in for. Maybe you’re struggling through a
divorce or a personal tragedy or illness you can’t shake. You
crawl into your shell and disappear for a while. If no one
checks in on you, they won’t even realize you’re not around.
You’ve got to be able to call out “Lost wingman” or
“Two’s blind” to your wingmen! If not, you’re risking the
relationship and your ability to land safely. Moreover, a good
wingman will get you visual again (just as Koz did for me)
and won’t let you go “blind” or “lost wingman” in the first
place. Sometimes you can’t navigate for yourself and you need
a wingman to help you get your bearings back. The hitch is
that you can’t call out “Lost wingman!” and expect to be led
(or even found, for that matter) if you haven’t already estab-
lished relationships with wingmen.