Pilot Vision

An ex-pilot for the US military describes the traits that make a good pilot and shows how people in business can use the same ideas and approaches to become leaders. He throws in many anecdotes and metaphors. No index or bibliography. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

A must-read for entrepreneurs and everyone in business
PRAISE FOR PILOT VISION and author JOHN MICHAEL MAGNESS

BUZZ ALDRIN, Astronaut on Apollo 11, moonwalker, CEO of Starcraft Enterprises - "Whether you're flying to the Moon or doing business on Earth, you need Pilot Vision."

BARRON HILTON, Chairman of Hilton Hotels Corporation - "If you love aviation like I do, the flying analogies in Pilot Vision are a pure delight. But you don't have to be a pilot to appreciate the philosophy of my late father, Conrad Hilton, and the other business principles referenced by John Michael Magness. He charts a course for personal success in the pages of Pilot Vision."

FRANK BORMAN, Apollo astronaut, Chairman of the Board, Database Technologies Inc. and former chairman and CEO, Eastern Airlines - "A thrill ride of a book that helps us reach for the stars! Pilot Vision combines wit, wonderful stories, and a lot of good commonsense ideas that make reading it both enjoyable and thought-provoking."

WALLY SCHIRRA, Astronaut on Mercury 8, Gemini 6 and Apollo 7 - "Everyone in business on Earth can benefit from reading Pilot Vision. I really enjoyed the book."

T.K. MATTINGLY, Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy (retired), NASA astronaut Aerospace executive - "Many aviators have recognized the similarity between the procedures they use to fly safely and the techniques successful leaders use to pilot their enterprises. Now, John Magness has used his easy style and personal cockpit experiences to relate these observations to our ground based friends."

DICK RUTAN, Pilot of Voyager, the first nonstop, nonrefueling flight around the world - "For this fast-paced world, Pilot Vision offers a far reaching flight plan adaptable to any profession-a flight plan that, if fueled by desire and determination, can get you where you have only dreamed of going."

JOHN WEST, CEO, System One Technical, Inc. - "John Magness's approach to leadership and success will work equally well for leaders of big and small companies alike. I encourage you to strap into the cockpit and hold on!"

TOM HOPKINS, Master sales trainer, Author of How to Master the Art of Selling and Selling for DummiesTM - "This book forces you to answer some tough questions about how you are 'piloting' your business. In fact, you must be able to answer them in order to fly high in today's competitive marketplace. I commend John Michael Magness for providing us nonpilots an opportunity to benefit from Pilot Vision."

ROSS PEROT, Jr., Chairman, Hillwood Development Corporation Former Air Force pilot, first person to pilot a helicopter around the world - "The pace of business today demands a fresh approach to leadership. Pilot Vision takes the wonder and excitement of aviation and applies it to a rapidly changing corporate world. Once you read Pilot Vision, you'll never look at your company or team the same again."

TWYMAN TOWERY, Author of The Wisdom of Wolves: Principles for Creating Personal Success & Professional Triumphs - "The metaphors and quotes contained in this book are valuable to us all-whether we fly or just dream about it."

J.P. HOAR, General (retired), President of J.P. Hoar and Associates - "Whether you are just starting up the organizational ladder or just need a boost somewhere along the way, this book provides valuable insights for anyone who wants to be successful. Clear, concise, highly readable! John Magness is right on target."

GEORGE A. THORNTON, III, Real estate developer, Executive Vice President, Rhodes Furniture - "In Pilot Vision John Michael Magness provides a clear, concise, and exciting analogy for business leadership. His insight will prove invaluable to those seeking to meet the number one challenge in business today: providing effective leadership in a rapidly changing environment. Read Pilot Vision and see for yourself."

HARRIET BRISCOE HARRAL, Ph.D., Principal, The Harral Group, Executive Director, Leadership Fort Worth - "Just as a plane flies directly from one location to another, Pilot Vision gets the reader right to the point: how to be a better leader. John Magness has pulled together a wealth of inspirational instances, resources and analogies to keep the reader focused and motivated. The book is a pleasure to read."

T. ALLAN McARTOR, Former combat pilot and member of U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds precision-flying squadron, former head of the Federal Aviation Administration CEO and founder of Legend Airlines - "John Magness offers his readers a unique insight into the common characteristics of good pilots and good business leaders. Magness reminds us that really good pilots stay focused and committed. Their relentless preparation combined with confidence and courage sets them apart. Good business leaders are the same. Anyone faced with today's business challenges will find several things in this book to add to their "preflight checklist."

Why readers need PILOT VISION

Recognizing that most people are fascinated with flying, author and pilot John Magness seizes an appealing metaphor to inspire today's topflight achievers in business, be they entrepreneurs, sales professionals or other business leaders.

PILOT VISION invites the business reader to look at the world through a pilot's eyes--to think, plan and act with the daring and the discipline, with the confidence and the precision of a highly-trained pilot. Taking the analogy further, author John Michael Magness compares a business leader with a pilot; the business team or work group with the aircraft; and the customers with the passengers.

Magness presents seven secrets of successful pilots that the reader can adopt to become a "pilot-leader" at work. He starts with "pilot vision," the unique, three-dimensional perspective that sets all pilot-leaders apart. He also shows how pilot-leaders can:

o soar with technology

o organize for success

o communicate their vision

o fly with trust

Readers will enjoy Magness' accessible wisdom as well as his entertaining aviation anecdotes and analogies. Readers will be inspired to fly higher in the world of business.

Author's Bio

John Michael Magness is a professional speaker, international consultant and helicopter pilot. A Desert Storm veteran as well as a former special operations pilot, he flew with the most elite helicopter force, the fabled Nightstalkers, conducting secret missions around the world. He has an aerospace engineering degree from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and a Masters in Business from Boston University.