Fighter Pilot to Business Execution: The Art of Clear Thinking
Most people don’t fail because of bad luck — they fail because they can’t think clearly or execute under pressure.
In this powerful episode of the Average Sucks Show, Michael sits down with Justin “Hasard” Lee — combat-proven F-16 fighter pilot with 82 missions, former F-35 Chief of Training Systems, and author of the bestselling book The Art of Clear Thinking.
From dreaming of becoming a fighter pilot at age 5, getting rejected by the Air Force Academy, fighting his way through prep school, surviving the brutal 9G centrifuge, to flying high-stakes combat missions — Hasard shares the raw lessons of performing at the absolute edge of human capability.
He reveals how fighter pilot principles — clear decision-making under pressure, building a culture of ownership, ruthless debriefs, and decentralized execution — can transform any business or team.
This episode dives deep into:
- Why most leaders and entrepreneurs lose 20 IQ points in high-stakes moments
- How to build a “nameless, rankless” debrief culture where admitting mistakes is rewarded
- Turning operational drag into execution speed
- The power of mission-based leadership
- Why preparation and brutal after-action reviews are the real secrets to winning
Whether you’re a founder, executive, or leader who wants to operate at a higher level, this conversation will sharpen your thinking and elevate your standards.
Average teams hide mistakes. Above-average teams weaponize them.
If you want to make better decisions, build unstoppable teams, and execute faster under pressure, this episode is for you.