The Aerospace Executive Podcast

Million Dollar Careers: Why Quiet Quitting is More Trouble Than It’s Worth

In a post-pandemic world of work, the frustrations and concerns that led to The Great Resignation have morphed into a more passive aggressive trend.

Quiet quitting has emerged as the way unhappy employees express their job dissatisfaction, but does it actually do more harm to the worker than the employer?

In this episode of Million Dollar Careers, we’re going to talk about why quiet quitting destroys your own career, and the more productive way to deal with any career frustrations.

 

Setting boundaries is the alternative to quiet quitting. -Rob Houghton

 

Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode 

• Why hard work doesn’t have to come at the expense of our personal lives
  How can we give 110% at work without burning ourselves out?
  
  
• Why the solution is often setting better boundaries
  Quiet quitting is often driven by well-founded concerns about the job. How do we communicate how we truly feel instead of being passive aggressive?
  
  
• The importance of mentorship
  If you can’t afford a coach, how can you still get the guidance of an expert in your corner?

 

Learn More About Your Host:

Co-founder and Managing Partner for Northstar Group, Craig is focused on recruiting senior level leadership, sales and operations executives for some of the most prominent companies in the aviation and aerospace industry. Clients include well known aircraft OEM’s, aircraft operators, leasing / financial organizations, and Maintenance / Repair / Overhaul (MRO) providers.

Since 2009 Craig has personally concluded more than 150 executive searches in a variety of disciplines. As the only executive recruiter who has flown airplanes, sold airplanes AND run a business, Craig is uniquely positioned to build deep, lasting relationships with both executives and the boards and stakeholders they serve. This allows him to use a detailed, disciplined process that does more than pair the ideal candidate with the perfect opportunity, and hit the business goals of the companies he serves.

The Tugboat Theory: Are You in the Right Vehicle for Success?

Big ships and tugboats are entirely different machines, and the captains who steer them serve very different roles.

This rule shows up in our careers -  it’s hard for someone who thrives in a start-up to excel in a large corporation, and the people who are great in corporate would struggle in a more entrepreneurial environment.

There’s nothing wrong with either path, but the key is knowing yourself and placing yourself in the right environment.

What are the key differences between corporate-oriented people and those more suited to startups? In today’s edition of Million Dollar Careers, we talk about the Tugboat Theory and how to use it to get the most out of your career.

 

Everybody brings skills to the table, you’ve got to know where you sit. If you’re a small company person at heart, don’t go looking for jobs at big companies. -Craig Picken

 

Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode 

 

• The root of career friction
  Why do many entrepreneurial people drown in the corporate world?
  
  
• Why you don’t have to bite off more than you can chew
  Can you set up your career path in such a way that you get the best of both worlds?
  
  
• Why startups offer an amazing opportunity
  How can a corporate worker make the switch to a startup and what makes it such a great move?

 

Learn More About Your Host:

Co-founder and Managing Partner for Northstar Group, Craig is focused on recruiting senior level leadership, sales and operations executives for some of the most prominent companies in the aviation and aerospace industry. Clients include well known aircraft OEM’s, aircraft operators, leasing / financial organizations, and Maintenance / Repair / Overhaul (MRO) providers.

Since 2009 Craig has personally concluded more than 150 executive searches in a variety of disciplines. As the only executive recruiter who has flown airplanes, sold airplanes AND run a business, Craig is uniquely positioned to build deep, lasting relationships with both executives and the boards and stakeholders they serve. This allows him to use a detailed, disciplined process that does more than pair the ideal candidate with the perfect opportunity, and hit the business goals of the companies he serves.

Million Dollar Careers: Throwing the Red Flag Makes Your Business Better

In football, throwing a red flag allows a coach to contest the ref’s decision. It installs an extra layer of accountability and fairness. In military operations, we red team our strategies to identify weaknesses that can be improved upon.

Corporate organizations and businesses can benefit from the same approach. Having someone on the team who can interrogate a decision or call BS on a potential move, makes the business stronger.

How does this show up in companies? Who are the people we should really be listening to before we proceed on a plan?

In this episode of the Million Dollar careers series, we talk about the power of a red team strategy.

 

"Throwing a red flag provides outside input, accountability, empowerment, and it can help you avoid a lot of bad decisions." -Robert Houghton

 

Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode 

 

• Why accountability improves a business
  Does throwing the red flag subconsciously make everyone better at their jobs?
  
  
• The importance of having a frenemy in the business
  Some people find finance roles like accountants and auditors annoying, but why are they so critical to our success?
  
  
• How to red team our own lives
  What’s one simple thing we can do to keep ourselves from making bad decisions?

 

Learn More About Your Host:

Co-founder and Managing Partner for Northstar Group, Craig is focused on recruiting senior level leadership, sales and operations executives for some of the most prominent companies in the aviation and aerospace industry. Clients include well known aircraft OEM’s, aircraft operators, leasing / financial organizations, and Maintenance / Repair / Overhaul (MRO) providers.

Since 2009 Craig has personally concluded more than 150 executive searches in a variety of disciplines. As the only executive recruiter who has flown airplanes, sold airplanes AND run a business, Craig is uniquely positioned to build deep, lasting relationships with both executives and the boards and stakeholders they serve. This allows him to use a detailed, disciplined process that does more than pair the ideal candidate with the perfect opportunity, and hit the business goals of the companies he serves.

Million Dollar Careers: The Best Resumes Tell Stories

Most resumes, even the ones with the most impressive accomplishments, are nothing more than a list of boring bullet points. If you’re trying to get a great job with a profile that’s devoid of personality and storytelling, it’s going to be really hard to stand out.

Everyone has an incredible story to tell about their lives and careers, the more we tell them, the more people want to bring us into their worlds.

In this episode of the Million Dollar Careers series, Robert Houghton and I talk about what the history of America teaches us about storytelling.

 

When you’re doing a resume, you’re telling your story and the story has to be informative, inspiring and it has to be entertaining. If it’s just a bunch of bullet points, no one will read it. -Craig Picken 

 

Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode 

• Why we have to create career vignettes
  How do you transform an accomplishment on your resume into a mini story?
  
  
• How to balance humility with pride
  Can we talk about our proudest accomplishments without coming off braggy and arrogant?
  
  
• A storytelling lesson from Bill Gates
  How did the founder of Microsoft use mosquitoes to tell a memorable story?

 

Learn More About Your Host:

Co-founder and Managing Partner for Northstar Group, Craig is focused on recruiting senior level leadership, sales and operations executives for some of the most prominent companies in the aviation and aerospace industry. Clients include well known aircraft OEM’s, aircraft operators, leasing / financial organizations, and Maintenance / Repair / Overhaul (MRO) providers.

Since 2009 Craig has personally concluded more than 150 executive searches in a variety of disciplines. As the only executive recruiter who has flown airplanes, sold airplanes AND run a business, Craig is uniquely positioned to build deep, lasting relationships with both executives and the boards and stakeholders they serve. This allows him to use a detailed, disciplined process that does more than pair the ideal candidate with the perfect opportunity, and hit the business goals of the companies he serves.

Attracting the Next Generation to Aviation w/Andy Priester

Recruiting the next generation of professionals is a big concern for the aviation industry. It is now mandatory that aviation companies, large and small, to paint a clear picture of attractive career opportunities. 

How can the industry accomplish this? 

Andy Priester, Chairman and CEO of the world's largest and oldest family-owned Management and Charter company talks about navigating challenges surrounding recruitment, how to attract the right team members and make team members feel more valued. 

 

The more we’re connected, the more job satisfaction our team members can get. - Andy Priester

 

Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode 

 

• How to make your company an employer of choice
  What are the different ways to make your team members feel more valued?
  
  
• How aviation companies can attract top pilot talent
  How can we project an image of career consistency that is attractive to pilots?
  
  
• How to hire the right team members
  What qualities should you look for when hiring applicants?

 

Guest Bio-

Andy Priester serves as Priester Aviation’s Chairman and CEO. He is the third generation of Priesters to lead the business, the world's largest and oldest family-owned Management and Charter company. The Priester family has a rich aviation history starting in 1945, including owning Palwaukee Airport – KPWK (now renamed Chicago Executive Airport), operating a flight school, operating multiple FBOs, providing 145 maintenance services, and operating an aircraft sales division. During Andy’s tenure at Priester, he has grown the fleet from seven to over 65 aircraft they manage from 15 bases globally today. Andy currently sits on the board of the Air Charter Safety Foundation, is current Chair of YPO Chicago – Windy City, and is past Chair of the National Air Transportation Association (NATA). Andy is a proud University of Dayton Flyer and holds a Master’s degree from Concordia University.

To find out more, go to: https://www.priesterav.com/about-us/priester-team/. You can also email Andy directly at andyp@priesterav.com or call his office at 847-537-1133.

 

Learn More About Your Host:

Co-founder and Managing Partner for Northstar Group, Craig is focused on recruiting senior-level leadership, sales, and operations executives for some of the most prominent companies in the aviation and aerospace industry. Clients include well-known aircraft OEMs, aircraft operators, leasing / financial organizations, and Maintenance / Repair / Overhaul (MRO) providers.

Since 2009 Craig has personally concluded more than 150 executive searches in a variety of disciplines. As the only executive recruiter who has flown airplanes, sold airplanes, AND run a business, Craig is uniquely positioned to build deep, lasting relationships with both executives and the boards and stakeholders they serve. This allows him to use a detailed, disciplined process that does more than pair the ideal candidate with the perfect opportunity and hit the business goals of the companies he serves.

Are You The Office Naysayer? Why Whining & Gossiping Is Ruining Your Career w/Robert Houghton

One of the fastest ways to tank a career with a lot of potential is to be the guy or gal known for gossiping, whining and loudly airing discontent. It drags down the morale of the whole office and you become a cancer the company desperately wants to cut out.

Instead of being the resident naysayer on the team, how do we show up ready to pull our weight and get the job done with minimal grumbling?

In this episode, Robert Houghton returns for our Million Dollar Careers series. Today, we talk about the danger of being the negative person in the office. 

 

"If you take someone who is gossiping, whining and complaining - the opposite is someone who makes a mistake and extremely owns what they do, they are accountable. Those are the leaders a company needs." -Robert Houghton

 

Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode 

 

• The other side of gossiping and complaining
  What can we learn from a gas station attendant’s act of extreme ownership?
  
  
• What rudderless companies have in common
  If a company is failing to weed out the gossipers and complainers, what does it say about the organization?
  
  
• How to increase your chance of promotion
  Could refusing to show up to the office be keeping you from the promotion you want?

 

Learn More About Your Host:

Co-founder and Managing Partner for Northstar Group, Craig is focused on recruiting senior level leadership, sales and operations executives for some of the most prominent companies in the aviation and aerospace industry. Clients include well known aircraft OEM’s, aircraft operators, leasing / financial organizations, and Maintenance / Repair / Overhaul (MRO) providers.

Since 2009 Craig has personally concluded more than 150 executive searches in a variety of disciplines. As the only executive recruiter who has flown airplanes, sold airplanes AND run a business, Craig is uniquely positioned to build deep, lasting relationships with both executives and the boards and stakeholders they serve. This allows him to use a detailed, disciplined process that does more than pair the ideal candidate with the perfect opportunity, and hit the business goals of the companies he serves.

What Does a Great Employer-Employee Relationship Look Like?

Over the last few years, what people expect from an employer-employee relationship has shifted significantly, and leaders have to keep up.

The days of the traditional clock-in-clock-out, 9-5 job are over. People want real meaning, equity and trust out their companies.

How do we progress towards happier workplaces? What are the employees of today seeking from their leaders, and how do so many companies get it wrong?

In this episode, solopreneur, strategy consultant, speaker, trainer and author of “The Lovable Leader”, Jeff Gibbard joins me for a great conversation on becoming a leader people will happily follow.

 

Leaders underestimate how simple it is to make progress toward better. To move towards environments where more people are happy requires small shifts. -Jeff Gibbard

 

Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode 

 

• Why trust is key to a great employer-employee relationship
  Why does micromanaging say a lot more about the leader than it does the employee?
  
  
• How to deal with activist employees
  What's at the root of the employer vs. employee friction we see in so many organizations?
  
  
• Why a leader’s first month is mission-critical to their success in the role
  If the first month of leading a team is rough does that mean it’s the wrong fit?

 

Guest Bio

Jeff Gibbard is a solopreneur, strategy consultant, speaker, trainer and author of The Lovable Leader. Commonly known as the World's Most Handsome Strategist and Professional Speaker. Jeff has noticed that our culture of work glorifies profits over people, burnout over quality of life, and dominance over autonomy. He believes that we can no longer pretend that our work is separate from who we are. Our work is a part of who we are. What we do and how we do it, should be in alignment with who we want to be.

For more information and to sign up for Jeff’s newsletter, visit https://jgibbard.com/ and buy his book “The Lovable Leader: Build Great Teams with Trust, Respect, and Kindness” here. 

 

Learn More About Your Host:

Co-founder and Managing Partner for Northstar Group, Craig is focused on recruiting senior level leadership, sales and operations executives for some of the most prominent companies in the aviation and aerospace industry. Clients include well known aircraft OEM’s, aircraft operators, leasing / financial organizations, and Maintenance / Repair / Overhaul (MRO) providers.

Since 2009 Craig has personally concluded more than 150 executive searches in a variety of disciplines. As the only executive recruiter who has flown airplanes, sold airplanes AND run a business, Craig is uniquely positioned to build deep, lasting relationships with both executives and the boards and stakeholders they serve. This allows him to use a detailed, disciplined process that does more than pair the ideal candidate with the perfect opportunity, and hit the business goals of the companies he serves.

How Can We Help Veterans Transition Back to Civilian Life? w/General Odie Slocum

Over the last 2 decades, the needs of veterans have come into the spotlight more than ever before, and there’s still a huge need to understand the challenges that come with military service.

How do we make the transition out of service less difficult? What can civilians and the private sector do to better support the men and women who have served our country?

In this episode, Fighter Pilot, Military and Veteran Advocate, Consultant, Speaker, and Coach, Brigadier General Odie Slocum, shares how his organization Others Over Self is helping veterans.

 

Guest Bio

General Odie Slocum is a Fighter Pilot (ret), Military and Veteran Advocate, Consultant, Speaker, and Coach. He works with the organizations Others Over Self and Warriors With Warriors.

For more information head to https://othersoverself.com/ae/.

 

Learn More About Your Host:

Co-founder and Managing Partner for Northstar Group, Craig is focused on recruiting senior level leadership, sales and operations executives for some of the most prominent companies in the aviation and aerospace industry. Clients include well known aircraft OEM’s, aircraft operators, leasing / financial organizations, and Maintenance / Repair / Overhaul (MRO) providers.

Since 2009 Craig has personally concluded more than 150 executive searches in a variety of disciplines. As the only executive recruiter who has flown airplanes, sold airplanes AND run a business, Craig is uniquely positioned to build deep, lasting relationships with both executives and the boards and stakeholders they serve. This allows him to use a detailed, disciplined process that does more than pair the ideal candidate with the perfect opportunity, and hit the business goals of the companies he serves.

Million Dollar Careers: The Measure of a Great Organization

The mark of a great organization is a leader who empowers their people to make decisions at a tactical level; and employees who can advocate for change within the system.

When business owners micromanage and smother their top talent, they make progress impossible. When employees complain about the shortcomings of the company without coming up with real solutions, they can’t thrive in their roles.

How do both sides of the business relationship set themselves up for success?

In this edition of the Million Dollar Career Series, Robert Houghton and I discuss the entrepreneur trap from two different perspectives.

 

"It’s your job to figure out how to give the best results in the environment you’re in, with the dollars you have and communicate what the strategy is. If you keep telling people your baby’s ugly, you’re going to fail." -Craig Picken 

 

Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode 

 

• How to empower your entire organization
  What can the military teach us about the danger of extremely hierarchical organizations?
  
  
• What new recruits get wrong
  How do we advocate for change in a new company without disparaging the people and the system?
  
  
• How to get buy-in from the start
  We have the most leverage during an interview, but how do we actually use it?

 

Learn More About Your Host:

Co-founder and Managing Partner for Northstar Group, Craig is focused on recruiting senior level leadership, sales and operations executives for some of the most prominent companies in the aviation and aerospace industry. Clients include well known aircraft OEM’s, aircraft operators, leasing / financial organizations, and Maintenance / Repair / Overhaul (MRO) providers.

Since 2009 Craig has personally concluded more than 150 executive searches in a variety of disciplines. As the only executive recruiter who has flown airplanes, sold airplanes AND run a business, Craig is uniquely positioned to build deep, lasting relationships with both executives and the boards and stakeholders they serve. This allows him to use a detailed, disciplined process that does more than pair the ideal candidate with the perfect opportunity, and hit the business goals of the companies he serves.

Million Dollar Career Series: If It’s Not a Hell Yes!! It’s a No

Too many people find themselves stressed and burnt out - not because their lives are too busy, but because they’re piling on way more BS on their plates than they need to.

Our lives would be way easier if we followed this simple golden rule: if it’s not a hell yeah, it’s a no. Whether it’s jobs, business opportunities or even social commitments, we need to value our time by saying no to what doesn’t serve us.

How do we escape the trap of overcommitting? When we actually do want to say no, what’s the best way to say it?

In this episode, executive recruiter and the President of MR Fairfax, Robert Houghton returns for our Million Dollar Career Series, and today we talk about valuing our time by getting used to the word no.

 

"If you want to say no to something, tell them why it’s a no straight up. It has to be one reason, not two, three or four." -Robert Houghton 

 

Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode 

• Why so many give their power away by overcommitting
  When it comes to valuing our time, what can we learn from Warren Buffett’s approach?
  
  
• The importance of valuing your time
  How do we avoid being someone’s patsy and getting taken advantage of by overcommitting?
  
  
• The root of burnout and frustration
  How does overcommitting impact the way we show up in different areas of our lives?

 

Learn More About Your Host:

Co-founder and Managing Partner for Northstar Group, Craig is focused on recruiting senior level leadership, sales and operations executives for some of the most prominent companies in the aviation and aerospace industry. Clients include well known aircraft OEM’s, aircraft operators, leasing / financial organizations, and Maintenance / Repair / Overhaul (MRO) providers.

Since 2009 Craig has personally concluded more than 150 executive searches in a variety of disciplines. As the only executive recruiter who has flown airplanes, sold airplanes AND run a business, Craig is uniquely positioned to build deep, lasting relationships with both executives and the boards and stakeholders they serve. This allows him to use a detailed, disciplined process that does more than pair the ideal candidate with the perfect opportunity, and hit the business goals of the companies he serves.