Who’s Packing Your Parachute

Captain Charles Plumb graduated from the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland in the US and went on to become a fighter pilot of distinction. Flying the F4 Phantom jet Captain Plumb had aced his vocation and was drafted into the raging Vietnam War. He already had 74 successful combat missions under his belt and was taking his 75th mission just 5 days before he was to travel back home. He hardly knew what was in store for him and that his journey bound home was going to be rather delayed.

On his 75th mission, Captain Plumb’s plane was shot down. He ejected from the aircraft with the help of his parachute, but landed in enemy territory. He was captured and  imprisoned as a POW for 6 long years. However Captain Plumb survived those painstaking years and emerged as one of the  heroes of the Vietnam War. The delay in reaching home had taken more than 2000 days from a mere 5. Captain Plumb always believed that  his successful ejection from a burning  plane had kept him alive to fight another day.

A few years later on returning home, Captain Plumb met a stranger who had recognised him. He greeted Captain Plumb, asked him of his well being and also about the plane  he flew in the Vietnam War.  Surprised, Captain  Plumb had a few questions of his own for the stranger, who had a confident reply  “ I had packed your parachute Sir, I guess it worked “. “ Oh sure it did “. Captain Plumb thanked the stranger no end. Had the parachute not functioned well, he would not have been alive. The stranger was unknown to him though he was  part of the team which was responsible for the mission he was on and he had surely played his part to perfection.

This is exactly how good  teams function and influence the outcome. Every team player, every cog in the wheel has to play his role to perfection, however small that may be. Every team members effort is critical and has to be acknowledged and appreciated. Only then great teams can be made and outstanding results achieved, is a lesson learnt.

Captain Charles Plumb is now a famous motivational speaker in the US. His experiences of the war and his survival in the most difficult of circumstances have won accolades and inspired a many in the corporate world.

In our lives both personal and professional there is always someone packing our parachutes . It is  because of them we are able to live and pursue our dreams. We owe them a lot. We need to acknowledge and thank them for the effort they have made. This will go a long way in building a purposeful, happy relationship and a result oriented and victorious team.

So please find…Who’s Packing your Parachute.