What does it look like in this environment? Erik Weihenmayer:It's easy to talk about the successes, but what doesn't get talked about enough is the struggle. See, that's why this is what's Great. It's not a long diatribe, right? I mean, just take the complexity of what some people would think would be hard, which is landing an airplane, which I don't think so. Add to Playlist. I remember thinking to myself, I'm going to do that. Not one to quit, he attended University of Colorado for his freshman year of college before successfully transferring to the United States Naval Academy where he graduated in 1982. This is really the ethos of what we're talking about. But my whole point is that I fell into what I do now, which is I went to a seminar on personal growth, and I'm always trying to improve myself. That's even worse. The Blue Angels have the unique ability to highlight the importance of naval aviation while honoring its historical significance. Jeff:All right. I just want to do something that's personal. I'm thinking about you hanging on to a lift, right? Do we have the right setup? John Foley:It wasn't about calling out somebody yet. Just stop in the present moment because your mind's taking you somewhere where you don't want to go. John Foley:When I start to hear the G of the go, I'm starting to push back on my stick. Jeff:That's three times in a row, three misses on the same John Foley:Yeah. Here's the big difference. Second night landing, I miss all the wires, it's called the bolter. So, yes, I think that's the glad to be here. Then the same thing in fear, let's use business as an example is, am I going to start my new digital course? John Foley:Yeah. I know I need to execute on this command. ", - John Foley, Former Lead Solo Pilot, Blue Angels. There are few examples where this is more dramatically demonstrated than with the Blue Angels. It snaps me out of that downward spiral. I think Erik also, and I, have had many, many conversations because we practice as well, but I wish I would've had that skillset back when things were really, really hectic, whether it was climbing or life or anything else, but I didn't really know it. The U.S. Navy Blue Angels will transition to the Super Hornet platform for the 2021 season. Erik Weihenmayer:John, backing up, one thing I kind of missed in my thought process talking to you was, you were on that track to be a Blue Angel, and you talked about your dad who was an officer. There are few examples where this is more dramatically demonstrated than with the Blue Angels. Scared to me means I'm aware, I'm present. You know what I mean? But I do remember that distinct moment. He retired from active duty after 27 years of distinguished service and joined Check-6, a global leader in optimized performance and safety solutions serving the most demanding industries, where he directed business development and corporate strategy for the North American Division. I'm scared all the time. John Foley:That's basically what he was saying. Welcome to our No Barriers podcast. He is the former lead solo pilot of the Blue Angels, Bestselling Author of Fearless Success, an expert in the How of High Performance teams and 'The Guru of Gratitude.'. But again, that was just academics. 0:00. And we have a framework that we teach about that. I'll get back there, if I'm still alive, I'll sign some autographs. I think that's, what's going to happen with Georgia tonight, and I think you and I are going to be prognosticators, extraordinaire here in few weeks when this thing airs, because Georgia's going to suck them, get them dogs going. Jeff:Okay. An 18 year journey that began after a visit to an airshow as a young boy peaked when he was selected to join elite Blue Angels squadron. My big change came from leaving the Navy. John Foley:It's exactly that, but it's not just the coffee, right? It causes stuckness. As we evolve as athletes and precision professionals doing heady shit, that we get to a point where we realize what is my That's the completion of the hero's journey. We know that you've got a lot of choices about how you can spend your time, and we appreciate you spending it with us. The significance of these events were not lost on the Blue Angels Lead Solo Pilot, John Gucci Foley, who joins this episode of Blue Angel Phantoms to share insights and behind the scenes stories from that now famous 92 European tour, as well as his naval career that spanned 17 years and saw him ascend to the rank of Commander. I'm in Sun Valley. Thank you for that. I got this meeting after this. He says, "You know those orders to the midway? Now I'm understanding. 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. John Foley:Yeah. It's just so hard and so intense. I know why it works and that allows you to do the how. John Foley:But what hits me is, oh, okay, well, do I have the right personnel behind it? But you add in bad weather on a ship. As long as I'm staying within those parameters, and then I'm in parameters, I'm moving around, but you just can't tell. You know what the biggest one, Erik? John Foley:Thumper and I, two opposing solos. Don't you wish you would've had that back when you were doing all these crazy maneuvers. I'm going to learn this. John consistently performed in an extreme, high-stakes environment, flying at speeds of more than 500 miles per John Foley:Yeah. At first, you're like, I wouldn't say you black out, but everything goes by so fast. John Foley:Oh, I like what you're saying, Jeff. Yeah. When I snap my fingers, 65 frames hit your eyeballs. . Foley eventually got swept up in the dot-com boom, which had spread to Los Angeles from San Francisco. Business people, we don't necessarily know. To date, TCV has raised more than $15 billion in capital and emerged as a leading provider of growth capital to technology companies. Like, glad to be here. So, coming around, and I go down again a third time, bolter again. John "Gucci" Foley, a U.S. Navy aviator and Blue Angels pilot, John "unpacks" the special mindset and practical framework for achieving High Performance and sustaining a true Culture of Excellence. Maybe he didn't understand he was out of parameter, right? If you've ever been at an air show, it's visceral, right? We've acquired all these things, and now we want to give it to you, and to you, and to you to be a better version of yourself. John Foley:A couple of things. Subscribe 3K views 2 years ago John Foley is a top leadership keynote speaker and former lead solo pilot of the Blue Angels that delivers keynote experiences to inspire leadership, improve. When you get selected for the Blue Angels, you have either a two year tour or a three year tour, and then you know that you will be reassigned to another Navy squadron, and it just won't be the Blue Angels. You've really tapped into it, and I think this is good news for everybody, right? It's not even in your control. Play Audio. It was during these deployments that Foley received the Top Nugget Award for first-tour pilots in Carrier Air Wing Eleven, and was also recognized as one of the Top 10 of all air wing pilots. All that's inside your brain. I know you do and facilitate, you do personally, but also facilitate a lot of breathwork and meditation with clients, and you do it yourself. In Good Condition. Now you can go straight precision, straight clinical once you're in that moment. But it was a dream that I remember in my heart. In this brand new interview, Gucci candidly dives into his navy experience and opens the discussion with his upbringing as a German born army brat and the influence his father had on him to pursue a military career. I have all this. With a desire to fly with an F/A-18 Hornet squadron, Foley was selected for jet training at NAS Chase Field in Beeville, Texas. data. There's a lot of opportunity here. Because you can't do the middle part without the pre and the post, right? And thanks to all of you for listening. And behind many of those awe-inspiring stunts and scenes was John Foley, Blue Angels pilot, entrepreneur, real estate investor, public speaker, and all-around inspiring human being. All Rights Reserved BNP Media. I know they are by two points. Part of it is because I haven't put the work in. The Blue Angels Foundation's mission is to support wounded veterans and provide a path of transition back to the . Yeah. I'm going to be proactive. 0 bids. Jeff:You're welcome for all that work I've done with you. True to his word, Foley applied to the military academies but was initially rejected for having too much protein in his urine. Then you climb into the, we call it a water wagon, but you climb into the vehicle that's going to take you out to the jet. They leave the event not only transformed, but also with a set of concrete tools to immediately begin a high performance climb. I have the skills to do this. I feel grateful and a lot of pride for the men and women who are doing that. Each year the team typically selects three tactical (fighter or fighter/attack) jet pilots, two support officers and one Marine. During the 1950s in a small German town, high school Professor Immanuel Rath falls in-love with a young cabaret entertainer, with dramatic consequences. We started with this, what I call general safe. Copyright 2023. What we're talking about, I don't think you can learn from a book. You give, then you learn, and you grow. You're just trying to survive the airplane. 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. In that unexplored terrain between those dark places we find ourselves in summit, exists a map. John Foley:Once you finish this, you actually are going to deploy. . I'm starting to get what you and Erik are talking about. Jeff:Like what? The bottom line is I knew how it worked, I knew how to do it, but I didn't know why it worked now. I have to come up on the radio, and I got to say six is clear. In the briefing room, you're going through their procedures, very scripted. There's a moment that crystallized for you like that? Erik Weihenmayer:That's part, back to the gratitude thing, because you were grateful to be there and growing with this person. John Foley Inc. and The Glad To Be Here Foundation asked where $10,000 could help others in a direct and imminent way during the pandemic. John Foley:No, it's great. What are we going to do going forward? Or am I just present with you right now going, hey, this is the best, this is the best thing I can do is to be present. It's like, oh my God, this person's mad at me. AI was so excited, and I know that's probably super annoying to have to talk to people's family members because you only have a little bit amount of time and you John Foley:Actually, Erik, not to interrupt you that made my whole day. John Foley:Yeah. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. But I spent six months working for three for that individual learning the business. 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? You're upside down, you're rolling. It goes, woo. By a trigger, I mean a positive trigger that told myself, okay, that's done. He shows how a culture of thankfulness engages employees on an intellectual and emotional level to create deeper commitment and raise levels of performance. Fortunately, I have a lot of video of me in the briefing rooms and the debriefing rooms and actual flying. Guess what? There has to have been a time during that process that you got completely shit on, or you were like, oh, well Or somebody said, "Forget it, Foley. I used a trigger. Then I try to get outside, I look up and I say, can I get into my body? This goes quick. I have been training. I was doing it before them. They have more to win. It's something that defines who you are and your impact in the world. They're not going to be the Blue Angel necessarily, right? Using Blue Angel methodology as a model, Foley has developed a unique approach that equips others to make the same journey toward excellence in execution. Team Oneness Yeah, and let me tell you the story, is my dad was an army officer and he took me to an air show when I was 12-years-old. I mean, it's just not meant to be. Bottomline is, we fly jets off aircraft carriers. What separates the best of the best and makes for elite teams? During . Then just this year, Georgia brought me in. Foley demonstrates a simple, systematic, yet exciting approach for how to develop the clarity, focus, commitment, and trust that are necessary to achieve ever-higher levels of performance. We were talking about everyone else on my team is a musician in some way, shape, or form. What's the minuses? Research shows that teams and individuals that embrace a positive mindset as a core belief improve communication, inspire commitment and buy-in to group objectives. And I love it. 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. More like this. 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. You're not sick of them dogs? As a Blue Angel, John 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. At some point, you've got to snap out of that and snap into pure focus. We get a choice of how we want to perceive a situation. And I'm going to say, wow, that was a really awesome conversation. LINKS TO JOHN FOLEYS SOCIAL MEDIA AND WEBSITE:Website: https://www.johnfoleyinc.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JohnGucciFoleyInstagram: @johnguccifoleyTwitter: @johnguccifoleyINTERVIEW TIMESTAMPS0:00 Intro1:14 How \"Gucci\" Got His Callsign3:05 Upbringing5:22 Attending the Naval Academy6:48 Jet Training in Beeville, TX8:09 Flying the A7 Corsair12:21 Operational Deployments 13:45 Joining the Blue Angels21:35 Opposing Solo22:20 Lead Solo23:38 New Maneuvers26:35 1992 European Tour32:20 Historic Moscow Visit 47:11 Blue Angel Reunions49:28 Blue Angels Foundation51:30 Glad to Be Here 2016 Glad To Be Here. B, that it's out of parameters, so you get to decide as an organization what's in parameters and what's out. That's where you go, okay, what is it going to take to get to where I want to go? Erik Weihenmayer:I got my accelerated free fall license as a civilian to skydive. What I've learned is, it's like two sides of the same coin, operational excellence, process, briefs, debriefs, preparation, focus, trust, and then you add in this glad to be here mindset. They say like, "I put in six years, but it was the best six years of my life in certain ways." I'm going to guess ask, were you doing breathwork and meditation when you were with the Blue Angels or is this-. I didn't realize what I realize now, how powerful that really was. What I think the key is, is can you call that up on demand? Because that's where I'm going to make a mistake, right? The Navy's really good about debriefs, and the LSO, landing signal officer, walked in that day and he goes, it was very clear, he goes, Gucci, Gucci's my call sign. I started to emotionally well up a little bit. Part of the equation is diving into the learning process and trying to illuminate the universal elements that exist along the way. Thatsthewayukshop. What does John Foley suck at? It can mean so many different things depending on who you ask and what day of the week it is. Jeff:Wait, are you rolling & talking tonight? No one has to teach you how to visualize. Because my mind is starting to take over my body. Because now that you're not flying, aren't there some activities you're like, I suck at this? The famed Blue Angels regularly take to the skies for maneuvers that bring their jets within mere feet of each other. Peloton founder John Foley stepped down from his CEO role on Feb. 8 following a tumultuous period for the connected fitness company. I get better at focusing my mind, knowing that I'm not perfect. You have to move on in some way at some point. John Foley:No, actually, Erik, it's just the opposite. You do, in a way, you have to, I don't know, maybe you have to suspend the gushy parts because you've done all that hard work. $19.50. You kayaked the Grand Canyon, you needed perfection. 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 that's great. I think we're getting to the essence again, of what we do and why we do it. I can't teach climbing right now. However, not all the jets in the team fly at the fastest speeds. 109K views 5 months ago Blue Angels Podcast 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. If you do not agree to the use of cookies, you should not navigate I think that's what's unique about the Blue Angels and why it's such a great metaphor for a company and a high performance team is we do this every year with new people. My manager, Skyler, was always like, "Dude, the audience would've never known. Jeff:What's the Gucci over under tonight? Jeff:You have been up on stage for countless hours and thousand, tens of thousands of people, but you're shit at guitar right now, but you're getting better. That's why this podcast is so important. Scared to me means I'm aware, I'm present. By closing this banner, scrolling this page, clicking a link, or continuing to browse this site, you agree to this use. I don't mind that. And that kind of stuff. So, you must have those clear mentors, direct mentors, but also maybe some accidental mentors. It didn't mean I didn't question myself in between. I was actually told this that we have 65 frames a second. There's fear out there. You're flying six inches apart from each other. So, I got to go straight Georgia. Jeff:Okay. The eye can't see that, but as you're learning, you're moving a lot. Erik Weihenmayer:And what's an example of a fear-based belief that maybe you have had that you had to struggle with or work through? Coming out of the new Top Gun; Maverick movie and I'm emotionally moved. That's the first part of the question. To answer your question, is I definitely believe we can't multitask. Our first conversation of the new year is with a former navy jet pilot. You're you're in that focused state. 01:18:45. 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. Vintage Pair of Old Foley James Kent White Plate with Red Floral and Bird Pattern 10 Inch Plates. John Foley:I remember it was something just clicked. It's moving away from you. 14K views, 488 likes, 72 loves, 29 comments, 149 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Blue Angels Association: John Foley, #5, USN (Ret.) It doesn't have to be this intense stuff that the three of us are doing. But you're exactly right, that's exactly the zone I'm in when I'm in a maneuver. Even like right now, as we're talking, am I thinking about, well, when is this over? As a thought leader on high performance, John created the "Glad To Be Here" Mindset Methodology and the Diamond Performance Framework. If you acknowledge that empathy, that compassion, and then actually take the action to reach out to them, amen. I actually suck at it. John Foley:Yeah. In one way, it's kind of nice. Then we give it away. You're in the zone. help you have the best experience while on the site. And not only being with you, but having a chance to connect with your dad at a heart level, that was very powerful. The other new members include an events coordinator, a C-130J Super Hercules pilot, an aviation maintenance officer and a flight surgeon . That gives me way more joy than the actual climbing or the flying. I'll go off there to get very clear on how long I can hold my focus because I need a break. Or you're going to quit, or you're going to move on to something else. My hope is that those four words will have a deeper and richer meaning to everyone who reads this article. they have even more significance to me today. Most of my flying was the joy of pushing yourself to absolute limits and connecting back to why you're doing that. What was that like for you? The team, composed of six Navy and one Marine Corps demonstration pilot, fly Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornets . How do you increase that sense of focus? So Nick Saban and Alabama brought me in a few years ago. 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. And then I execute on that, Gucci's clear, Thumper's clear, and then guess what happens? I don't care how bad you want it. Absolutely. I don't think I ever said to my colleague, I love you, on the Blue Angels, but they knew it. Erik and I are like old aged salty mountain guys. Erik Weihenmayer:Hey, everybody. Is that Jeff:That's maybe what the difference is. Jeff:The difference though is 10,000 hours. They said, generally, here's what I thought about the evolution. I get that. John Foley:I mean, that's what saying. 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. They continually have a process that wins. However, if we were to look at success as improvement upon what ever it is you are, whether that be your life, your career, or your business, then there. I mean, when you're flying 18 inches from a 22 ton jet at 500 miles per hour, you got to be focused. That was the basketball team, not the football team, but it's still the athletic department. If someone missed something, then you point it out to them. I get energy through my fingertips, but I don't get paralyzed by fear by speaking. John Foley:Well, now here's the challenge I have. You can't necessarily hack it from somebody else. I'm appreciative to have this opportunity in my life, to do things that most people don't get a chance to do, but more importantly, to benefit others. 500 mph with former Blue Angels pilot John Foley 00:00 01:06:31 about the episode Happy 2022 everyone. I'm not waiting to see if the boss's airplane moves or not. You finally get in the airplane and that's totally different. You have this interesting mindset around focus and how it's really Is it hard to multitask, or we think we're multitasking but we're really not, we're really focused on one thing at a time? Can you tell yourself, okay, I've got something very challenging to do. I mean, Erik, on the debrief, we start on the Blue Angels with a feeling statement. "Glad to Be Here" was a statement of belief that we Erik Weihenmayer:John, you guys were talking about these parameters, but how big of a can you make? I've been doing this for about six months now, learn, grow, give. We believe that transcendent potential for performance lives withineveryindividual and organization. John Foley:You learn first off, your emergency procedures, you practice on simulators. I mean, of course, I want to continue to grow and continue to learn in areas that, like we said earlier, JB, if I can teach someone how to meditate, how to focus now, like I speak to of sports teams all the time. - John Foley, Blue Angels. I got goosebumps because yeah, it's no longer about me. I want to do stuff that I've never done before, and I didn't know how to do it. Gone. Copyright 2023 Collaborative Agency Group, John Foley | Performance and Leadership Keynote Speaker - Collaborative Agency Group, John Foley | Performance Beyond Blue Angels Keynote - Collaborative Agency Group, JOHN FOLEY| Teamwork Speaker - Collaborative Agency Group. Like me, I'm going to be thinking of you guys' faces, I'm going to be thinking about this conversation. I'll just be very too transparent as I'm closing here. Happy 2022 listeners. 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. Glad To Be Hereis a mindset that enables higher performance. I know there's difficulty and I'm aware of it. I think that's a rare combination. I liked it. Both of you have been my heroes too. I know Erik, you don't always see this, okay. I think the first thing, Erik, that I've learned over time is I like to say there's two beliefs. I'm coming down for the shoot for my first night landing, and it goes okay. As lead solo pilot of the heralded Blue Angels, keynote speaker John Foley had to consistently perform as part of team in an intense, high-stakes environment. Actually, the glad to be here is a proactive way to not only snap you out of that downward spiral. Like, I was thinking about the folks that work for Apple or something, and they invent the iPhone, and Steve Jobs is hard as hell on this team. 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 just don't need to do it at the level I used to. You bring the best athletes you can, but it's not about an individual. As a Blue Angel, John 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. In the SEC. I mean, you got the energy of the crowd, the noise of the jets going overhead. 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. When people are deeply engaged in their work and feel valued, they are more productive and effective, leading to a positive impact on the bottom-line. Here are the suggestions we received and where we donated (click through to view) .