The Airplane analogy

I first learned about the airplane analogy when I was working for Jim Rohn in Dallas, Texas, back in the mid 1990’s.  At the time, I was on the sales team that booked and gave presentations to sell tickets to Mr. Rohn’s sales and personal development seminars.  We talked about average producers and extreme producers.

The idea is to think of an airplane taking off from the runway.  A pilot will give the jetliner the maximum thrust available, to get the plane up to speed and to lift off the ground.  Full throttle.  The jet will stay at maximum thrust until it climbs to a cruising altitude.  Once the jet reaches cruising speed and altitude, the pilot will back of the thrust.  The jet will then be flying faster, far faster than it was on the ground, and burning less fuel.  It’s now cruising. 

On a flight that covers 1000 miles, a significant portion of the fuel will be burned in the first couple of miles, that point of maximum effort to get the plane up to speed, off the ground and up to altitude.

In business and in life we would be well served to emulate the jet.  Whatever endeavor you are undertaking, be sure to give it maximum effort up front.  Totally go for it in the beginning, to get the plane off the ground.  Once you are at a cruising altitude, you can afford to back off a little, and still produce great results. 

Here is the reality though.  Most people do not EVER get their plane off the ground.  Most people give it 80-85% effort.  Imagine if the pilot gave the jet 80% throttle on the ground.  What would happen?  It would never take off.  You would be driving to your destination instead of flying.  It takes massive effort and energy to get the jet off the ground, then it becomes easy.

You have a choice in life.  You can go 100% for a relatively short period of time.  Maximize and concentrate your full efforts, until you get the plane off the ground.  OR you can go 80-85% forever.  It’s up to you.

My wife and I like to watch the television show The Biggest Loser .  Those people on the show are forced to maximize.  They spend 3-4 months in a very high effort environment, getting their plane off the ground.  They all lose weight.  A lot of weight.  They all tried to lose weight for years before coming on the show, but again, they were only giving 80% at the most.  Or they were giving 100% for very short periods of time.  That won’t EVER get the plane off the ground.  The setting of the show cuts them off from their normal lives and forces them to give 100% effort right then.  It’s very tough, but effective.

Whether you are running a business, trying to lose weight, or just tackling the many problems that life throws at you, remember the Airplane analogy.  Give maximum effort up front, and be prepared to burn a lot of fuel in the early stages of the process.  That’s the only way to get your plane off the ground.