Have you ever been in an
airplane and experienced turbulence? The most common cause of turbulence is a
sudden change in air movement causing the aircraft to pitch, yaw, and roll.
While planes are built to withstand far greater turbulence than anything you would
encounter on a regular flight, it still may be disconcerting to passengers.
What do you suppose pilots do when they encounter turbulence? A student pilot
may think that increasing speed is a good strategy because it will get them
through the turbulence faster. But that may be the wrong thing to do.
Professional pilots understand that there is an optimum turbulence penetration
speed that will minimize the negative effects of turbulence. And most of the
time that would mean to reduce your speed. The same principle applies also to
speed bumps on a road. Therefore, it is good advice to slow down a little,
steady the course, and focus on the essentials when experiencing adverse
conditions.
One of the characteristics of
modern life seems to be that we are moving at an ever-increasing rate,
regardless of turbulence or obstacles. Let’s be honest; it’s rather easy to be
busy. We all can think up a list of tasks that will overwhelm our schedules.
Some might even think that their self-worth depends on the length of their
to-do list. The wise resist the temptation to get caught up in the frantic rush
of everyday life. They follow the advice “There is more to life than increasing
its speed.” In short, they focus on the things that matter most.
The new NAIFA year
brings some new educational opportunities with it. As a fundamental principle of NAIFA,
education is a key component of being successful. I encourage you to form a class in the New Year,
to help foster engagement within your local membership, especially the new YAT
members. 
