September 14, 2004
A Meeting at an Airplane Hanger
I had an opportunity to attend an airplane meeting.
That was a meeting of EAA, an organization for recreational aviation. The CEO had a membership. He invited me to the monthly meeting.
We went there by his car. We crossed the Golden Gate Bridge and headed to the north. After a while, vast vineyard came into our eyes. The airport was surrounded by a vineyard.
I learned about leadership on the way. He said while driving that leaders follow one rule of thumb, that is: be open to help people. He continued that by doing so, you would get a help in need and that you could also widen your network. I see that this may be what distinguishes leaders from employees.
The meeting place was set up in an airplane hunger surrounded by airplanes. I enjoyed a dinner of home maid hamburger, soup of beans, and salad. Then, the meeting started. They discussed things such as planning an air trip for fun and inviting an artic pilot for speech. What a different world! The discussion was followed by a speech. The speech was done by two airplane craftsmen. I did not understand what they were talking about. They used too many special words. So, I was surprised when many attendants made questions. They also used unknown words. They were knowledgeable.
After the meeting, the CEO had a talk with his friend. I was listening beside him. It turned out to be a good example of what I learned in the car. His friend seemed to have invented a new aircraft construction method. His concern was how to protect his right. The CEO helped him by sharing his experience of submitting patents.
In the trip to San Francisco, I asked him a question. I asked him what distinguishes leaders from employees. He actually knew employees well because he once had been an employee of big companies. His reply was that it was the vision. Leaders need the clear vision for their success. But more than a few employees does not have it.
Posted by hfuruichi at September 14, 2004 11:59 PM