If I actually got out parameters and I recognized it, and I did the right procedure, not a safety. And I love it. I'm going to guess ask, were you doing breathwork and meditation when you were with the Blue Angels or is this-. So, I got to go straight Georgia. Blue Angels' John "Gucci" Foley. I've heard about you, I've seen some of your stuff, and you surprise me the entire time because of so many different facets of you and who you are. If someone missed something, then you point it out to them. I appreciate you, my friend. Not that I'm telling you, you're not good enough. How do you increase that sense of focus? I don't care how bad you want it. Now, for me, personally, so when I left the team, it was not a big deal. I think that's so critical. As I think about though, with the jets, and maybe this is a good metaphor with your climbing, is we don't start as a Blue Angel. Even the, if you've ever seen a briefing of the Blue Angels, the boss's tone of his voice is exactly what we're going to experience together. And thanks to all of you for listening. Now I love my dad. Either you step up to that challenge, okay? You are not going in the midway." Let's continue to help others, serve others with that. Jeff:That's sweet of you to talk about me like that, bro. I'm with you a hundred percent. John is a former lead solo pilot of the Blue Angels, where he consistently performed in an extreme, high-stakes environment, flying an F-18 at speeds of more than 500 miles per hour and in formations as close as 18 inches apart. $ 30.00. Okay. John Foley is a former lead solo pilot of the Blue Angels, Sloan Fellow at Stanford's Graduate School of Business, entrepreneur, venture capitalist, leadership expert, speaker and Gratitude Guru. Or, you know what? John Foley:No, no. I mean, you got the energy of the crowd, the noise of the jets going overhead. Because I'm not trying to teach people to be a Blue Angel pilot. Then you start all over again because you've just raised the game. Do you sort of put a flavor of that pocket into your personal practice as well as the way you teach it? John Foley, a former naval aviator with the Blue Angels was on with Chaz and AJ to talk about the coordinated flyover of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut with the Thunderbirds. Whoever's the leader got to speak first. Erik Weihenmayer:And does that lead sometimes to reaching out to a friend or something like that, somebody who you know is hurting or struggling or just needs you? Your brain and your hands aren't that dialed in yet. I mean, that would be the obvious sort of reach on that. That's not good. Usually not. And we have a framework that we teach about that. Let's take that even to the next step for somebody who's perhaps not a climber or an aspiring pilot or an athlete, or in any way, but is someone who gets up, puts their pants on, brushes their teeth, and goes, and knuckles down at work for a 10 hour shift. They just run by so quickly that I'm seeing a continuum. I'm from the south, so I'm torn, but all my buddies are all Auburn, so I can't stand Alabama as a result. And it's my new mantra. You're just to land the jet, and then, it's a definitely step by step approach and lots of hours go into it. Join Erik and Jeff for this high energy chat with John Foley. Erik Weihenmayer:It's easy to talk about the successes, but what doesn't get talked about enough is the struggle. Erik Weihenmayer:That's part, back to the gratitude thing, because you were grateful to be there and growing with this person. Plus, he admitted the origin of his call sign "Gucci," helping out on the original "Top Gun," and some of the . You get to see us visualizing. Jeff:What's the Gucci over under tonight? This fosters gratitude and new perspectives to recognize opportunities versus simply focusing on challenges. Then the same thing in fear, let's use business as an example is, am I going to start my new digital course? So, I like to put a nuance in there, Erik, and that's about being scared. Jeff:Yeah. John Foley:Now, if I get outside of those parameters, let's say I move three feet and I don't clear the formation, but when you move that far off, you have to get out of the way because you're not stable. I know they are by two points. We go around the table and everybody first gets a chance to say that, the general safe. There must be a lot of things like that, that you've really tried to take with you from being a Blue Angel. Well, look at See the sleeve there, glad to be here. Well, then I want to ask you a little bit more about that debrief because that's something that I'm You guys have a persona and it's tough. Erik Weihenmayer:Yeah, so what Analyze me here. Climbing, flying jets, that's not hard. You surprised me in so many different ways, but I wouldn't imagine that glad to be here, other than just the realization like, holy, man, I lived through some things. How exactly did guest John Foley become a Blue Angel and what was his motivation? Jeff:Well, I guess the question I would have is, it's kind of twofold. PENSACOLA, Fla. - The U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, released their 2023 air show schedule at the International Council of Air Shows convention, Dec. 7, 2021. I'm so glad that we could share, and that you guys, your community, your audience is so powerful, and they've got stories that are way more powerful than ours when it comes to overcoming adversity and making a difference, and that's what I want to acknowledge, is that everybody has a great story. I'll go off there to get very clear on how long I can hold my focus because I need a break. It's something that defines who you are and your impact in the world. And it was a light bulb moment, Erik. I don't mind that. It's the mental side and the emotional side, probably is, you'll have to tell me, but in flying and with the blues, I like to say you needed to connect the heart and the head because it wasn't enough to be just in your head. To answer your question, is I definitely believe we can't multitask. I know Erik, you don't always see this, okay. The Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron today announced their schedule for the 2005 show season. Play Audio. But the point is, is there's a lot more that is intangible, that sits within us, and that's exactly what you captured right there. I want to appreciate it. So, coming around, and I go down again a third time, bolter again. So, I went heli-skiing yesterday. I could sense the space between my heartbeats. John Foley:Oh, music, just what we're talking about. They probably visualize dreams way better than we did, at least I remember as a little kid doing that. Well, I was going to ask, speaking, I mean, you and I are both out there, and Jeff too, at the highest levels. So, here's the Gucci feel. and cookie policy to learn more about the cookies we use and how we use your What I think the key is, is can you call that up on demand? At some point, you've got to snap out of that and snap into pure focus. It's not happening. Don't you wish you would've had that back when you were doing all these crazy maneuvers. Audiences discover how to inspire success, create commitment, align teams toward a common goal and build unprecedented levels of trust. The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement. He called me up, and we were actually using some of the video I'm in. To me, that's a feeling statement. In what was once thought to be an impossibility, the Blue Angels made history in 1992 by becoming the first United States flight team to fly over the skies of Moscow, Russia. I had the privilege this week to hear John Foley, former lead solo pilot for the Blue Angels flight demonstration squadron, as one of the keynote speakers at a technology conference I was attending. John Foley:No, actually, Erik, it's just the opposite. JOHN FOLEY - BIOGRAPHY In 2015, John Foley has been recognized as one of the top 10 most in demand speakers. I wasn't even thinking about this, but I was kind of flirting with this idea of, being in the military, being a blue angel, I could imagine that your heart gets left behind because you have to be perfect. They have more to win. 0 bids. I said, I don't need to be an airline pilot. I'm in Sun Valley. Now you can go straight precision, straight clinical once you're in that moment. Because they probably know it anyhow. Because I'd love to swap some stories with you. Visit our updated, Distributor/Logistics Provider of the Year, Food Automation & Manufacturing (FA&M) Conference & Expo. It's perhaps like you have to have this veneer that exists to keep you in that pocket. Jeff:Yeah, or kayaking, right? But you're exactly right, that's exactly the zone I'm in when I'm in a maneuver. Yeah, I got you. Maybe he didn't understand he was out of parameter, right? I mean, I do fly for fun, but it's no big deal. this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and With Curd Jrgens, May Britt, Theodore Bikel, John Banner. Or maybe he didn't realize it. You can actually smell the smoke oil in the air. John has performed these death-defying stunts for . You don't want to take more than a minute. Foley eventually got swept up in the dot-com boom, which had spread to Los Angeles from San Francisco. Otherwise, it's over.". 0:00. John Foley Keynote Speaker to over 1500 Organizations Worldwide, Blue Angel Lead Solo Pilot, Stanford Fellow, Bestselling Author and 'Gratitude Guru' Request Speaker Marketing Toolkit Fee Range $30,001 - $50,000 * * This specific fee falls within this range. His charismatic and enthusiastic presentations stimulate audiences emotionally and intellectually with a whole new perspective on their ability to excel. It's moving away from you. John Foley:I'm going to do that. Then we give it away. Jeff:You're welcome for all that work I've done with you. March 25 to 26: Barksdale Air Force Base . I'm actually seeing things in frames. I'm going to actually have a voice command and I'll actually move. John Foley was a solo pilot for the Blue Angels aerobatic formation, a Sloan Fellow at the Stanford School of Business, a Gratitude Guru, and an expert on "how to" in high performing teams. I want to go into the entrepreneurial world. It's at an angle. Free shipping on many items | Browse your favorite brands . But we're only moving, hopefully between three and six inches, not feet. Part of the equation is diving into the learning process and trying to illuminate the universal elements that exist along the way. 0:39. John Foley:Oh yeah. Visit our updated, This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. Tax ID Number: 06-1693441. And I'm going to say, wow, that was a really awesome conversation. If I'm complacent, that's what I got to worry about. Jeff:That's three times in a row, three misses on the same John Foley:Yeah. He shares how to center a team around shared goals, strengthen relationships, and create unity that leads to consistent and effective results. Our first conversation of this new year is with a former Navy jet pilot, an 18 year journey that began after a visit to an air show as a young boy, piqued when he was selected to join the Elite Blue Angels Squadron. John Foley:Yeah. You can't do it forever. Today, Foley is a high performance keynote speaker that helps both corporations and individuals reach their full capabilities through lesions he learned while flying with the Blue Angels. Erik Weihenmayer:How do you handle that, John? As a Blue Angel, Foley consistently performed in an extreme, high-stakes environment, flying at speeds of more than 500 miles per hour in formations as close as 18 inches apart. John Foley:You learn first off, your emergency procedures, you practice on simulators. Having developed a strong bond with his opposing solo, Ken Switzer, for the 1992 season, the two explored implementing new maneuvers including the Section High Alpha Pass and the Solo Section Take-Off. Jeff:I think you're right. So, we're constantly in a state of hiring. You're not having debriefs where you say like, "Okay, let's talk about our feelings and sing kumbaya.". Erik Weihenmayer:I've had a few perfect runs, but a lot of them are just reacting and responding to chaos. But is it similar to that? John Foley:JB, more from, I'd say, a psychiatrist standpoint or psychological standpoint. Here are the suggestions we received and where we donated (click through to view) . I was doing it before them. I've never given a public speech in that regard before. The inspiration our keynote speaking and consulting provides,supported by experience and a proven process, enables people to closethe performancegap and transform energy into focused action. I think if you were to ask Erik and I, when we were 15 years old, do you want to ascend to the highest climbing level and climb Everest? I'm not good enough. High performance teams, how to turn them into business results. I don't know. It doesn't have to be this intense stuff that the three of us are doing. The cool part is, what you were just talking about, JB, is I think by going through that discipline way of learning and then being successful at it and not being successful, learning from your failures and then going back in, it's all resiliency. And then the work goes in and you start to realize that yo won't know unless you go, you won't know unless you tried. I'm okay with being scared. Erik Weihenmayer:I lose my sort of my micro coordination. So, the idea of calling somebody out is not the first stage. The point is, I want to know just your general feeling. What's hard is to be aware of the situation. What does John Foley suck at? This is built around tactical or strategic CenterPoints. Every organization depends upon the performance of their people and their teams. Like, they take you under their wing and they say And you're expressing gratitude, and because of that, they want to work with you more, right? I think that's it in a nutshell, right there. I just said, I bet you, I could be decent, but do I have the natural skills to be a musician? So, you're trying to keep your airplane within a three inch circle on the other airplane. They can't do it forever. That's the first part of the question. Then you get in the cockpit and you see we're moving like crazy. He demonstrates how learning to focus prepares individuals for action and increases successful outcomes. If we back up to your adolescence and you started your training, and someone would've told you you're going to be a Blue Angel when you were like 20-years-old, you would've been obviously happy, but would that have been believable or were you just, in your mind, fast tracking and you knew exactly where you were going and how you were going to get there? Didrik Johnck:The production team behind this podcast includes producer, Didrik Johnck, that's me, sound design, editing, and mixing by Tyler Cottman, marketing and graphic support from Stone Ward, and web support by Jamlo. In the SEC. You have to be focused, but if your heart isn't in it, if you're not doing it for what I call a purpose larger than self, then it's not the same. Through their interdependence as a team, members are also challenged and stimulated to achieve higher levels of individual performance. True to his word, Foley applied to the military academies but was initially rejected for having too much protein in his urine. All of a sudden, as the complexity goes up, so do your skills. However, after receiving his Wings of Gold in 1984, and in alignment with the needs of the Navy, Foley would initially be assigned to Attack Squadron 22 (VA-22) flying the A-7 Corsair II. Stop. I think I was looking at it as a bigger timeframe. I was doing the Red Bull thing, how Red Bull created air races. John Foley:I'm just going to reinforce that in my body. Then the environment, I think what's critical about flow states is the higher you challenge yourself, you increase the environment, and you guys have to tell me if this is true in climbing, but it isn't flying, is one of two things are going to happen. You didn't get it for all you know. Now I get scared. It's been a struggle to live what I call a no barriers life, to define it, to push the parameters of what it means. That's one of the rare professions that, that's true. Because we've already each other on the G of go. The Blue Angels must be closely aligned in thought and action in order to accomplish their mission. There's also a link to shoot me an email with any suggestions for the show, or any ideas you've got at all. You kayaked the Grand Canyon, you needed perfection. Sometimes I'm a little bit ahead, sometimes a little bit behind, but I'm talking inches instead of feet. I believe, in all our jobs, we got to paint the picture of what the extreme looks like first. Well, absolutely. You know what I mean? It evolves over time, but we need that pocket. The eye can't see that, but as you're learning, you're moving a lot. Special thanks to The Dan Ryan Band for our intro song, Guidance. If you do not agree to the use of cookies, you should not navigate These fundamentals are incredibly important because that's what we all learn from, we got to have a process, but I think the difference when you're talking to somebody who's actually done it and done it at a high level. You got a chance to let the whole, we call it, lay it on the table, let the whole team know that A, you're number one, aware that you have made a mistake. I think it's a blessing to have parents, and my mom too, in a different way, but they taught me integrity, and just trying stuff, not to be afraid to fail. Scared to me means I'm aware, I'm present. Because think about when you're teaching someone to climb. I know it'll happen. And then I execute on that, Gucci's clear, Thumper's clear, and then guess what happens? John Foley:Well, guys, I want to say the honor's mine, and the thanks are for you. I want to know first off, are they even aware? With his signature Glad to be Here mantra, Foley discusses the power behind gratitude as a way of thinking, working, and living. This exhilarating film showcased the almost unbelievably intense reality of being an elite pilot in the military. Generally, how did I feel? When you call them out, because you did all that front load work of, I really care about you, you're my colleague and I love you, how do you do that effectively when you call someone you out and say, "You screwed up," but without doing it in a threatening way? In his dynamic presentations, Foley addresses the essential elements of exceptional team performance and makes them relevant, simple, and immediately actionable. Aboard the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) Foley and VA-22 deployed to the Western Pacific, Mediterranean and Indian Ocean in 1986 and later to the Persian Gulf in 1988. Does the gratitude negate that or overtake that in some way? See, that's more important to me because I want to know if they're aware. You know it, every kid does it better than us. Or you're going to quit, or you're going to move on to something else. I didn't do great, but at least I finished. It took me 18 years, and I did. Do you get the same, is that the same for you in front of a big audience? Part of it is because I haven't put the work in. Jeff:You got nervous, you and I have known each other for decades, you got nervous a few months ago playing in front of me. I get it. This was after the two had a strained pre-flight brief on the tarmac that was famously documented in the film The Blue Angels: Around the World at the Speed of Sound. Now, to answer that gut feeling JB that you asked about. #gladtobehere stickers (50/pk) $ 17.99. Well, both. I think that Georgia has the advantage. The Refrigerated Foods Association (RFA) is excited to announce the keynote speaker for their 41st Annual Conference & Exhibition in February, 2022: John Foley. Ending Tuesday at 3:15PM PST 1d 19h. So, I was thinking of the bigger picture of the flying. Nov 3, 2020. John Foley:And you learn from them. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. I've recreated my whole career two decades ago. The foundation of elite performance is the . John Foley:Oh, I like what you're saying, Jeff. Even like right now, as we're talking, am I thinking about, well, when is this over? I do that through meditation in the mornings. That's where you go, okay, what is it going to take to get to where I want to go? Now you have breakthrough performance. Erik Weihenmayer:Yeah, for sure. John Foley:I know how to do that. It's what Shakespeare was talking about when he says, to be or not to be. I don't need that anymore. We're constantly in a state of mentoring each other and we're in a constant state of basically up and out. Just stop in the present moment because your mind's taking you somewhere where you don't want to go. . So, landing jets on aircraft carrier is truly, probably the most challenging thing a pilot can do. Then the debrief, what you're specifically asking about, which I think is really critical, is we go through stages, right? You have to be What's crazy is though I practiced and practiced and practiced and know these songs, it's just, when I get in front of the group, it's when everything sort of falls apart, I forget what I'm supposed to do. I mean, Erik, on the debrief, we start on the Blue Angels with a feeling statement. Reaching that level of excellence required commitment, discipline and trust. Guess what? I feel, like my kid's 16, and he's a pretty high level athlete now. Jeff:Okay, so let's back up a little bit. I'm coming down for the shoot for my first night landing, and it goes okay. John 'Gucci' Foley, the legendary Blue Angel's lead solo pilot, has perfected the art of inspiring and instructing organizations big and small to achieve more using the very practices he learned and mastered with the Blue Angels. That's why this podcast is so important. And there's three tools. If you enjoy this podcast, we encourage you to subscribe to it, share it, and give us a review. While I had known about the Blue Angels, I hadn't ever heard of John Foley. In 1997 he started working at Citysearch, an online city guide later bought by Ticketmaster. That's a good question, because I was thinking about that in a similar way, but a little bit differently. There's a bigger show. What if I knew this back when I was on the team? I do that every morning and only it takes a couple minutes. Like me, I'm going to be thinking of you guys' faces, I'm going to be thinking about this conversation. Our first conversation of the new year is with a former navy jet pilot. Music. The National Naval Aviation Museum is open Monday through Sunday from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. to current Department of Defense (DoD) ID cardholders. I've been doing this for about six months now, learn, grow, give. Erik Weihenmayer:Jeff, Imma slap you on the back. There are few examples where this is more dramatically demonstrated than with the Blue Angels. Half the pilots are new every year. And then I just kept trying to improve on. We actually can only focus on one thing at one time, but because it's like a movie, you have different frames, we're seeing things in frames. Let's say something challenges you, and it's a challenge. They shut me down. John Foley:Well, I was the second one. Well, they go slow. In this insightful program, he emphasizes the development of trust and respect among team members as essential to execution, and demonstrates proven ways for teams to achieve deep levels of trust. Even if Alabama is a better, let's say team, proven by the earlier performance, the chances of repeating that are so hard at this level. Scared to me means I'm aware, I'm present. Actually, the glad to be here is a proactive way to not only snap you out of that downward spiral. My manager, Skyler, was always like, "Dude, the audience would've never known. John Foley:But yeah, so that's for sure. Not that I was out of parameters that I didn't clear. And what discoveries does he continue to make today? I'm not a pilot anymore. So, yes, I think that's the glad to be here. I know there's difficulty and I'm aware of it. John Foley:Sometimes that bar is raised by weather. block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. There's a lot of crowds trying to get in there, the parking. And can I share that knowledge now? You give, then you learn, and you grow. Thank you for that. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. I have to come up on the radio, and I got to say six is clear. You're just trying to survive the airplane. (singing). Erik Weihenmayer:Yeah. That was a big leap. I think we're getting to the essence again, of what we do and why we do it. That's even worse. Jeff:I'm just, I'm trying to get my head around that though, because in a way, I think maybe we frame things up to see its either clinical precision or its emotion love, and sort of heart. 18 seconds, it takes nine seconds for the hit to happen, and then we have a clear for nine seconds.