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Take F.L.I.G.H.T.

Following are just a few examples of people who demonstrate “Take F.L.I.G.H.T.” values. Think of other historic people, or friends and relatives in your own life who demonstrate these values. As you continue to develop these traits, you will find that life becomes more fulfilling.

Fearlessness
  • Nelson Mandela – A native of South Africa, Nelson Mandela risked his own life, endured more than 25 years of imprisonment, and taught the world that courageous determination could eventually lead to change. Nelson Mandela was among those in his country who finally stopped South Africa’s “apartheid,” or separation between races that reserved power in military, government, education and wealth only for white people.
    • Take F.L.I.G.H.T. Lesson: Have courage in standing for what is fair and right, even if others try to discourage you.
  • Stephani Victor – Not long after graduating from the University of Southern California in film, Stephani suffered devastating injuries after a car crashed into her, which resulted in the amputation of both her legs. A few years (and several surgeries) after her accident, she decided to try downhill skiing, using adaptive equipment. She soon started competitive racing and has since won world champion races and even Paralympic Gold in Torino, Italy. As an aspiring actress and filmmaker, she turned the grueling recovery into an opportunity to make a documentary about her life and has been featured on ESPN and ABC’s 20/20.
    • Take F.L.I.G.H.T. Lesson: Face the fear that may come from life’s challenges, and overcome through determination and hard work.
Leadership
  • Martin Luther King, Jr. – One of the most influential leaders of the civil rights movement in America, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., inspired Americans to seek for better equality among races. Encouraging everyone to find peaceful ways to bring about change, he bravely led protests that led to the overturn of laws that discriminated against black people. In all, he traveled over six million miles and spoke more than 2,500 times to protest injustice and inequality, including his famous “I Have a Dream” speech.
    • Take F.L.I.G.H.T. Lesson: Dare to see the world as it should be, and work toward that vision.
  • César Chavez – César Chavez founded and led the United States’ first successful union for farm workers and later became president of the United Farm Workers of America, AFL-CIO. As the son of migrant farm workers from Arizona, he worked hard from the age of 10 to help earn money for his family. Later, as a husband and father of eight children, he left the fields to help protect other farm workers from cruel working conditions. He said, “If you’re outraged at conditions, then you can’t possibly be free or happy until you devote all your time to changing them and do nothing but that.”
    • Take F.L.I.G.H.T. Lesson: Have the courage to help others; dare to be a leader.
  • Nicole Malachowski – Nicole Malachowski made history as the first female pilot to join the elite United States Air Force aerial demonstration squadron known as the Thunderbirds in 2005. Ranked as an Air Force Major, Nicole graduated from the Air Force Academy and served in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
    • Take F.L.I.G.H.T. Lesson: Just because something has not been done before, does not mean it can’t be done. Be one who breaks through barriers to accomplish something new.
Imagination
  • Albert Einstein – A famous scientist and mathematician, Albert Einstein applied his active imagination to science, and by doing so, changed the way everyone saw the world. For example, he questioned the current Newtonian theories and eventually developed the “special theory of relativity,” known as e= mc2. Albert Einstein wrote, “I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.”
    • Take F.L.I.G.H.T. Lesson: Dare to see things in a new way.
  • Paul Arizin – Have you seen basketball players use the “jump shot?” Paul Arizin is an NBA Hall of Famer from the 1950s who is credited for developing the jump shot. He said he started using the special shot during high school games when the slippery floors made it tough for him to make his hook shot—jumping seemed to help.
    • Take F.L.I.G.H.T. Lesson: Use a little imagination to solve a problem, and others just might benefit from your solution.
Gratitude
  • Bill Gates – As the co-founder of Microsoft, the company that produces the operating systems for many of the world’s computers, Bill Gates has been named one of the richest men in the world. Bill and his wife Melinda have demonstrated that showing gratitude for good fortune can make a difference. Together they have founded the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which has given billions of dollars to charitable causes, including efforts to end poverty, hunger, diseases, and illiteracy worldwide.
    • Take F.L.I.G.H.T. Lesson: Use whatever gifts or talents you have to make the world a better place.
Honesty
  • Abraham Lincoln – The sixteenth president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln was known as “Honest Abe.” There are tales of his going the extra mile, literally, to be honest. For example, when he managed a country store, he was counting the cash late at night and realized he had charged a customer more than he should have. He walked a long distance to give the few cents back. He also demonstrated Tenacity, and it was said of him, “His ambition was a little engine that knew no rest.” And later during his presidency, his Fearlessness led to the eventual end of slavery, despite opposition and war.
    • Take F.L.I.G.H.T. Lesson: Honesty allows others to develop trust in you. With others’ trust, together you can accomplish great things.
Tenacity
  • Wright Brothers – In 1903, the Wright Brothers built the first “heavier-than-air, powered aircraft,” which marked the beginning of “flight” for man. But helping man take flight was no easy task. The Wright Bros. started with bicycle designs in the late 1800s, followed by the 1899 Wright kite, the 1900 and 1902 Wright gliders, and finally the 1903 Wright Flyer, which proved piloting a flight could work. Had they given up on earlier attempts, the world’s history would have been different.
    • Take F.L.I.G.H.T. Lesson: Failure is almost always part of the learning process. Learn from mistakes, build on successes, and reach your goals.
  • Thomas Edison – Credited for inventing the modern electric light bulb, Thomas Edison and his team worked tirelessly to find the right combination of materials that would illuminate bulbs and bring electric light to houses and buildings. In all, they tried (and failed) with more than 1,500 materials. Edison’s persistence paid off, and he eventually invented the incandescent light bulb, along with more than 1,000 other patented inventions.
    • Take F.L.I.G.H.T. Lesson: Stick to your goal and never, ever give up.

The above profiles on noteworthy individuals who exemplify “Take F.L.I.G.H.T. “ values are based on several sources, including Time Magazine’s “Time 100 The Most Important People of the Century”; www.nobelprize.org; www.cnn.com; www.hoophall.com; www.gatesfoundation.org; and others. The information is provided merely as suggestions of exemplary individuals and actions, and does not imply Southwest Airlines’ official endorsement of these individuals or sources. Nor does it imply endorsement by these individuals of Southwest Airlines or the “Take F.L.I.G.H.T.” values.

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