| We are all told that we need to make decisions in | | | | others that have traveled the path you are now |
| order to move forward. Many times a decision | | | | on. By doing this, you can avoid making similar |
| that a person makes can save or cost lives. How | | | | mistakes. When you want to make more |
| would you respond when a crisis hits you? | | | | effective decisions, especially when facing a crisis, |
| Captain Sullenberger, the hero pilot of the Miracle | | | | then learn how others dealt with it. |
| on the Hudson in January 2009 was interviewed in | | | | When I went through the Community Emergency |
| which he described how he and his co-pilot had to | | | | Response Team (CERT) training sponsored by |
| make a decision in a very short time. He stated | | | | the Los Angeles Fire Department from August to |
| that from the time the birds hit the engines of his | | | | October 2009, I learned that preparation in the |
| plane to the time he landed it in the Hudson was | | | | event of a major disaster is important. Part of |
| 208 seconds. Imagine having to make a decision | | | | that preparation was the training I went through. |
| that would either kill 155 people or one that will | | | | Other trainings and experience that will help me if |
| save their lives in that short of time? In 208 | | | | a major disaster did occur was what I went |
| seconds he had to evaluate all available options | | | | through in the Marines and the Los Angeles Police |
| before coming to the decision to glide into the | | | | Department. All this will help me make better |
| water of the Hudson. | | | | decisions if I had to respond. |
| When he was asked how he was able to make | | | | Don't assume that you already know how to |
| such a quick decision that worked out, Capt. | | | | make effective decisions in the time of crisis until |
| Sullenberger stated that it took over 2 decades | | | | you specifically train for it. You may be good at |
| of training, education, and experience. He went on | | | | day-to-day decision making, but crisis decision |
| to say that a smart man learns from his own | | | | making is much different. Become a lifelong |
| experiences and that a wise man also learns from | | | | student in your area, especially in dealing with a |
| the experiences of others. He was a student of | | | | crisis. Practice how you would deal with a possible |
| every aspect of flying. He constantly studied | | | | crisis. This can be done through visualization or in |
| others in similar situations - both the successes | | | | actual practice. |
| and failures. | | | | The more you practice and study others in similar |
| Success comes when preparation meets | | | | situations, the better your decision-making will be |
| opportunity. Sure, you should learn from your | | | | if a crisis were to hit. |
| own experiences and you should also learn from | | | | |