How can I be well educated?

Captain “Sully” had only 208 seconds to land the Airbus A320 in New York’s freezing Hudson River following a bird strike that induced the loss of both engines.

Here are the 208 seconds from the black box recording:

3:27 pm

The plane is at an altitude of 3,000 feet directly above The Bronx and traveling at 250mph when it encounters a flock of Canada geese. The birds are sucked into both of the plane’s engines which fail immediately.

3:27 pm

Air traffic controller Patrick Harten, based at New York’s Air Traffic Control Center in Long Island, eight miles from LaGuardia, contacts Flight 1549, whose call-sign is “Cactus”, to request a routine course-correction.

Sullenberger, who has just taken over the flight from his co-pilot, who has spent the previous seconds trying and failing to restart the engines, responds. “Ah, this is, uh, Cactus 1549, hit birds. We lost thrust in both engines. We’re turning back towards LaGuardia.” Harten confirms and contacts LaGuardia to clear both runways for an emergency landing.

3:28 pm

Sullenberger quickly considers his options. With no thrust and little altitude, he decides that a turn and glide back to LaGuardia is not a viable option. “I am not sure if we can make any runway,” he tells Harten. “What’s over to our right? Anything in New Jersey? Maybe Teterboro?”

A few seconds later the controller comes with the confirmation. “Cactus 1549, turn right two eight zero. You can land Runway 1 at Teterboro.” But by now Sullenberger had decided that this too was not viable. “We can’t do it.”

Harten: “O.K. Which runway would you like at Teterboro?”
Sullenberger: “We’re gonna be in the Hudson.”
Harten: “I’m sorry, say again, Cactus?”

3:28 pm

Without thrust Sullenberger begins his glide towards the Hudson. The only major vertical obstacle in his way is the George Washington Bridge, which Sullenberger clears with about 900 feet to spare.

3:30 pm

Sullenberger makes his only announcement to the passengers. “Brace for impact.” Inside the cabin, the flight attendants repeat the instruction. “Brace! Brace! Heads down! Stay down!”

3:31 pm

With its nose raised and traveling at 150mph US Airways Flight 1549 completes an unpowered ditching in the Hudson.

Sullenberger gives the evacuate command.

All 155 passengers and crew on board US Airways Flight 1549 survived.

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Now, tell me, what are the odds of a rookie pilot to accomplish this landing? Close to zero, right? Why?

There’s a common misconception that considers “educated” people those with technical skills. These skills are focused on HOW to do the job, NOT on WHAT jobs to do.

Let me explain.

If you go to college (flight school), you’ll be trained on HOW to fly a plane, NOT on making Captain “Sully’s” split-second decisions.

• Why do intercontinental-flight captains get paid top dollars?
  To make safe decisions, not necessarily to fly the plane.
• Why do CEO’s get paid top dollars?
  To make smart decisions, not necessarily to do the work.
• Why do cardiologists get paid top dollars?
  To make wise decisions, not necessarily to execute the surgery.
• How do real estate investors make money?
  By knowing which property to buy, not by merely buying a property.

So, let me answer your question, how can I be well educated?

STOP obsessing on improving your technical skills, that’s a worker’s mindset. Strive to become a decision-maker.

Become an expert in the context of WHERE your skills are used. The value (the money) is found in your ability to make smart, strategic decisions, NOT on the same technical expertise that thousands of people can execute.

In brief, stop chasing worthless degrees — pursue knowledge.