Essay on Leadership: Story of Phoenix Flew High in Blue Sky

This essay, titled "Phoenix Flew High in the Blue Sky," uses a personal storytelling approach to explore themes of leadership, aspiration, and personal development. The author recounts a childhood fascination with the sky and a dream of flying, which ultimately leads to becoming a pilot. The experience of flying, particularly the first solo flight, is portrayed as a transformative event, fostering a sense of responsibility, empowerment, and the importance of teamwork and continuous learning. Drawing parallels between piloting and leadership, the essay emphasizes the need to embrace challenges, learn from mistakes, and respect the contributions of others. The narrative connects early childhood dreams with the realities of adulthood, highlighting the enduring power of curiosity and the pursuit of one's aspirations.

Story Telling Essay
Student Name:
Institute Name:

“Phoenix Flew High in the Blue Sky”
Sky always interested me as a child. The figures that clouds made, the birds who could see
everything from the top and the changing colours during sunrise and sunset. As a child, my
curiosity knew no bounds. I had all the wild imaginative ideas of how actually the sky looked
like. For me, the blue that we could see was simply the gateway to the mysteries only he
could imagine. Maybe there is a palace like the one mentioned in the story Jack and the
Beanstalk, or maybe there is a secret laboratory run by aliens! I did not know till what age
and time I would harbour these ideas, but I for sure harboured an aim to go up there and
find for himself what exactly was there beyond the blue gateway (Trivedi, 2017).
I was always a young inquisitive child with a curiosity that knew no bounds. It was difficult to
convince me with something mediocre for an answer, still, he never gave up. In my free time
I would run in the fields chasing the planes and thinking to be up there; and a few later,
when I finally was, I remembered doing just the same thing!
"Let's go up." I blinked and thought to myself "but we only just started!"
Next thing you know I was up in the air, living a dream I had since I was six and first
determined I would be a pilot.
Living like a pilot was an entirely new experience. The plane was not just a vehicle for me to
fly, it was a part of me (Gaskell, 2016). Checking the knobs and the control is almost
involuntary and so is seeing the clouds when up in the air, flying!
My best experience was my first solo flight, something imprinted in my memory so vividly as
if it happened just yesterday. I remember flipping the switches and staring down at the
runway as I throttled and lifted off the ground. My heart beats as it did that day! My single
engine Cesana ride soon made me aware of my responsibility as the sole operator. I
welcomed this challenge head-on. It was going to be the most beautiful experience of my
life.
The plane was as excited as I was, flying swiftly, almost running out of my control. I
experienced each and every bump and push that the take-off had to offer, and I cherish it
just well (Madanchiana & MitraMadanchianaNorashikinHussein, 2017).

The thrill of flying a plane solo, without my instructor, was the same as the time I first learn
swimming without pads or when dad first left me to ride the bike on my own. The world
seemed different to me. I knew this 10% lighter aircraft was my destiny and I had all the
controls to it. Funny, it felt so empowering and overwhelming at the same time. That time I
knew I had to let go of my past mistakes and embrace new ones (for there is no growth
without them), I understood I cannot work alone and I have to respect my team (or my
aircraft, in this case) and most importantly, I have to learn from the better one and move on
with dignity and pride (Welsh, 2018)
References
Welsh, J. (2018). What Have Leaders Learned About Themselves In 2018? Retrieved from
https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnwelsheurope/2018/12/21/what-have-leaders-
learned-about-themselves-in-2018/#7664429f187e
Madanchiana, M., & MitraMadanchianaNorashikinHussein. (2017). Leadership Effectiveness
Measurement and Its Effect on Organization Outcomes. Procedia Engineering.
Trivedi, A. (2017). How Curiosity Can Elevate Your Leadership Game. Retrieved from
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2017/08/21/how-curiosity-
can-elevate-your-leadership-game/#7a56d28d7ceb
Gaskell, A. (2016). Why You Should Reignite Curiosity At Work, And How To Do It. Retrieved
from https://www.forbes.com/sites/adigaskell/2016/01/21/re-igniting-curiosity-at-
work/#2046e5d8483b