Michelle 'Mace' Curran

How do you go from that to making a leap? Like, oh, hey, let me jump into the dark again and start over as an entrepreneur, having no idea. And I'll be a rookie again and start over. Like what thrusts you into wanting to do that again?

So a couple of things. There was the assignment I had before joining the Thunderbirds, which is when I had to decide to apply to the team. I went through some very intentional self-work, I guess you would call it, mindset shifting, because I was coming off of that time in Japan that I mentioned where I was just filled with self-doubt and struggling with that.

So a couple of things. There was the assignment I had before joining the Thunderbirds, which is when I had to decide to apply to the team. I went through some very intentional self-work, I guess you would call it, mindset shifting, because I was coming off of that time in Japan that I mentioned where I was just filled with self-doubt and struggling with that.

So a couple of things. There was the assignment I had before joining the Thunderbirds, which is when I had to decide to apply to the team. I went through some very intentional self-work, I guess you would call it, mindset shifting, because I was coming off of that time in Japan that I mentioned where I was just filled with self-doubt and struggling with that.

And I was over it as I got to this next vibe. I was not the person I wanted to be. I was sick of pretending. And I just got to a point where I realized no one was coming to save me, that I had to save myself. And that was such... a scary realization, I think, but then it rapidly became extremely empowering.

And I was over it as I got to this next vibe. I was not the person I wanted to be. I was sick of pretending. And I just got to a point where I realized no one was coming to save me, that I had to save myself. And that was such... a scary realization, I think, but then it rapidly became extremely empowering.

And I was over it as I got to this next vibe. I was not the person I wanted to be. I was sick of pretending. And I just got to a point where I realized no one was coming to save me, that I had to save myself. And that was such... a scary realization, I think, but then it rapidly became extremely empowering.

And so I went through this time of just promising myself, I would say yes to things that came up because I'd recognized earlier in my career, there were times when, you know, an opportunity to go to some specialized training or lead a big high profile project or something like that, and where they're looking for volunteers. And I knew I should do it.

And so I went through this time of just promising myself, I would say yes to things that came up because I'd recognized earlier in my career, there were times when, you know, an opportunity to go to some specialized training or lead a big high profile project or something like that, and where they're looking for volunteers. And I knew I should do it.

And so I went through this time of just promising myself, I would say yes to things that came up because I'd recognized earlier in my career, there were times when, you know, an opportunity to go to some specialized training or lead a big high profile project or something like that, and where they're looking for volunteers. And I knew I should do it.

This is going to make me a better pilot, a better leader, whatever. but I wouldn't volunteer because that fear of a chance of failing and vulnerability that comes with putting yourself out there would overpower that. And so as I got to this new, I, you know, I moved from Japan to Texas. So Physical change of location, entirely a new group of people that helped, of course, act as a catalyst.

This is going to make me a better pilot, a better leader, whatever. but I wouldn't volunteer because that fear of a chance of failing and vulnerability that comes with putting yourself out there would overpower that. And so as I got to this new, I, you know, I moved from Japan to Texas. So Physical change of location, entirely a new group of people that helped, of course, act as a catalyst.

This is going to make me a better pilot, a better leader, whatever. but I wouldn't volunteer because that fear of a chance of failing and vulnerability that comes with putting yourself out there would overpower that. And so as I got to this new, I, you know, I moved from Japan to Texas. So Physical change of location, entirely a new group of people that helped, of course, act as a catalyst.

And that new squadron had that culture of trust that I mentioned. But I made a conscious promise to myself, which I feel like sounds so cheesy, that I would make the bold choice when those chances, when those forks in the road came up. And they were so obvious because I would feel that initial draw, but then I would feel that anxious doubt creep in almost immediately.

And that new squadron had that culture of trust that I mentioned. But I made a conscious promise to myself, which I feel like sounds so cheesy, that I would make the bold choice when those chances, when those forks in the road came up. And they were so obvious because I would feel that initial draw, but then I would feel that anxious doubt creep in almost immediately.

And that new squadron had that culture of trust that I mentioned. But I made a conscious promise to myself, which I feel like sounds so cheesy, that I would make the bold choice when those chances, when those forks in the road came up. And they were so obvious because I would feel that initial draw, but then I would feel that anxious doubt creep in almost immediately.

So I became acutely aware of what that felt like. And I made a promise to start making those bold decisions. And it was little things. It was like signing up for a marathon. I traveled to Nepal by myself and trekked Everest Base Camp. I started doing technical mountaineering. I became an instructor pilot. I deployed for the first time.

So I became acutely aware of what that felt like. And I made a promise to start making those bold decisions. And it was little things. It was like signing up for a marathon. I traveled to Nepal by myself and trekked Everest Base Camp. I started doing technical mountaineering. I became an instructor pilot. I deployed for the first time.

So I became acutely aware of what that felt like. And I made a promise to start making those bold decisions. And it was little things. It was like signing up for a marathon. I traveled to Nepal by myself and trekked Everest Base Camp. I started doing technical mountaineering. I became an instructor pilot. I deployed for the first time.

all of these things that are fairly insignificant by themselves, but it's almost like you train your body when you're learning a new sport or when you're working out and you get stronger and stronger or faster and faster. You can do that with your mind and with your level of discomfort that you can tolerate, right? Like you walk into a really cold pool and you're It sucks at first.