Just Practising

by John Maxwell

Charles Lindbergh, pioneer aviator, made his solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean by a team effort, since he had the backing of nine businessmen from St. Louis and the help of the Ryan Aeronautical Company, which built his plane. For more than thirty-three hours, he flew alone and covered an incredible distance of 3,600 miles.

That's not the kind of task a person just goes out and does. He has to work up to it. How did Lindbergh do that? A story from his friend Frank Samuels gives insight into the process. In the 1920s, Lindbergh used to fly mail out of St. Louis. Occasionally he would go out to San Diego to check on the progress of his plane, the Spirit of Saint Louis, which was being built there. Samuels sometimes went along with him, and the two men would stay overnight in a small hotel there. One night Samuels woke up shortly after midnight and noticed that Lindbergh was sitting by the window looking at the stars. It had been a long day, so Samuels asked, "Why are you sitting there at this hour?"

"Just practising," answered Lindbergh.

"Practising what?" asked Samuels.

"Staying awake all night."

When he could have been enjoying a well-deserved rest, Lindbergh was putting forth the effort to improve himself. It's an investment that paid off for him- and it can do the same thing for you.

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This article is adapted from Go for Gold by John C. Maxwell (Monday, Week 20).

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