January 15, 2009 US Air was alive and well and living out some kinda opus of their leaders making. They probably had a mission statement on the wall somewhere at headquarters. I’m certain some executives cared enough to even emboss it on security access cards somewhere too. And, I’ll bet a few of US Air’s foot soldiers (pilots, co-pilots, and flight attendents) even knew some of the words to the mission/vision of the airline. And, I doubt very seriously it meant anything to any of ’em.
Normal.
However, on this very day six short years ago there was a US Air flight 1549 captained by a man who’s OPUS was flying gliders. And, moments after take off, as his co-pilot began the climb out of New York’s LaGuardia airport, a massive bird strike turned their Airbus A320 into one, big, heavy, ill equiped kinda glider. “My aircraft,” said Sully without so much as thinking. You see, this is the power of authoring an OPUS of your own – in your moments of truth you will not have to think. Good. So, today, as you think back to the “Miracle on the Hudson,” remember, it was not a miracle. Nope, it wasn’t. January 15, 2009 was simply an opportunity for Sully to live out his labor of love.
Thanks, Sully for your good work. And, for giving us such a great example of what an authentic OPUS looks like from the middle of any system. Good…
BUILT TO LEAD 