One of the things I have learned in my study of aviation is that the term "Stall" does not mean the engine has quit. For most of my life I have heard about small planes that get into a "stall" and it has made me wonder why the engines do this so regularly. It sort of freaked me out.
(FYI, the term has to do with the reduction of lift and the airflow around the wing. The angle of attack that the wing takes is the critical part, it is not referring to the engine).
In talking with pilots they often ask what I am learning, and when I share this nugget they always nod and chuckle. Apparently this is a common misconception about general aviation (people thinking the engine cuts out, or that the instructor will make you turn off the engine as part of your lesson).
Since I tend to compare my flight training with entrepreneurship, this statement that "a stall does NOT mean the motor has stopped" is just as meaningful in business as it is in flying.
As someone who is growing a small solo-business I often see great successes followed by periods that seem to be setting me backwards. But just because not everything is going correctly, it does not mean my engine has stopped. It seems in business our angle of attack in regards to "lift" is just as important as it is when flying a plane.
When approaching a stall in flight there are warning signs. The controls will feel slow and sloppy, and if you are not careful you can go into a spin. The same thing is true when running a business. You have to know how to avoid such situations, and if you do get into a stall, you have to be aware how to recover.
In business I feel good as long as my motor (motivation and enthusiasm) are still running. I can pull up and keep flying even when I have a minor stall. As for flight... I have not got that far yet!!!
Have A Great Day
thom singer
