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An informal, stream-of-consciousness reflection on business ideas, events and issues in modern business, modern life and with some specifics to the web-software industry by Paul Tomori, Internet Entrepreneur

Somebody's Hero US Airways Pilot Becomes A Hero In 10 Minutes By Paul Tomori Friday, January 23, 2009 at 17:08:20 (EST) Captain Sully and a happy little survivor I have been reading the reports of the US Airways pilot (Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger) and how everyone everywhere is hailing him as a hero. No doubt the man is a hero. But, is he a hero because he water-landed the plane safely within minutes of the double bird-strike or is he a hero because for 40 years, he garnered expert status in aviation, specifically in aviation emergency response? Think about it. While others were squandering their time over the last decades, this guy was studying. While others went through their lives without definite purpose and passion, he was indulging his. While others were content to live in mediocrity, this guy became the consummate pilot. He's the kind of person you want in the cockpit. He's a similar kind of person to the one you want holding the scalpel to your ailing body. What drives such people has always been a fascination of mine. I admire them and aspire to live by their example. For forty years, he was "nobody's hero"... but a HERO nonetheless... and in ten minutes he became "somebody's hero" to 155 very relieved passengers... and an international hero to people who admire greatness from afar. Return To Blog Index