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Sports have molded my development since I was a child, and the skills I learned from competitive sports are priceless. They’ve helped me focus on and see through obstacles as my career progressed. As important, countless hours with teammates and in practice taught me how to lead others and the value of attention to detail. At early ages, and throughout college, I learned life lessons that have directly contributed to both my personal and professional success.

Our business environment has changed immeasurably since 2020, and we’ve often tried to be proactive rather than reactive. The need to communicate effectively, demonstrate empathy, and adapt are at higher levels than ever. I don’t believe you’re born with these traits; you hone them over time. Not coincidentally, these skills are part of our value system here at Blue Sky Network.

Looking back, I now recognize the advantage I gained because of the ‘extra’ time I spent in the pool or on the football field. Not only did I have a support group of peers who looked out for me, but I was also fortunate to have mentors who were invested in helping me mature from a very young age and continue to do so today.

Here are three skills that sports taught me that I use every day:

1. How to compete

There are two types of competition: competition with others and with yourself. Football and swimming teach both, albeit very differently. When you face an opponent, you have to study film (research) and think critically about how to beat them (game theory), come up with a game plan (planning), and make that plan come to life (execution). In the water, you have to be thinking critically and moving fast at the same time, otherwise, it’s very easy to lose ground (in the pool or open water). Training and preparation are essential because it takes so much effort to make up distance once you’ve lost it. Did I mention you do this while holding your breath?

Individually, you need grit and determination. Nothing comes easy. In fact, the better you become – or the more you put yourself out there – the more people will try to knock you out of the way. That, in itself, is pressure enough to improve.

2. How to be disciplined

From the schemes our coaches drew up, to early-morning pool workouts, to the focus required to keep my grades above a certain level, I needed discipline for every aspect of my life; otherwise, I’d fail. By the time I finished college, I had no choice but to understand discipline and reinforce it throughout the rest of my life.

I struggle every day to be more disciplined. Stress affects each of us in different ways and a solid foundation will help you re-center. Take the time to step back, breathe, meditate, or disconnect. The cumulative benefits of a break are amazing – and supported by data.

3. How to work (really) hard

It’s cliché and it’s not. Ninety-nine percent of resumes say “hard-working” somewhere on them. This isn’t to say sports are the only way to learn hard work, but it’s a great start. One builds a reputation by outworking their teammates and colleagues. It’s a life lesson that’s accessible to everyone by simply changing one’s mindset.

In summary, when you pursue greatness, you’ll inspire those around you to align or select out. It’s simple and builds a great culture—a vibe we all want to share in. Since I joined Blue Sky Network, we have matured as a company and significantly altered our roadmap. This journey has been both exciting and necessary.

I think about sports each day and I draw upon my experiences to ‘win the day.’ When I lose, I reset. This helps me cope with the obstacles (big or small) that bubble up every hour, every day, and every week. Keep up the great mindset and I hope my story resonates with you. Thank you.

True or False? The 2022 hurricane season is predicted to be more active than normal.

True. According to weather forecasting company AccuWeather, there may be between 16 and 20 named storms this season, with 3 to 5 expected to be major hurricanes.¹ Tornado season is already well underway; in fact, 2022 produced a record-breaking 210 tornadoes in March.²

With this information in mind, are your operations prepared for severe conditions? Read on for tips to help your organization weather the storm.

1. Secure ample supplies before severe weather begins.
Although the Atlantic hurricane season does not officially begin until next month, AccuWeather veteran meteorologist Dan Kottlowski recommends starting your hurricane prep now as early-season storms are predicted to occur.

And while supplies like water and batteries are usually easy to obtain, global supply chain issues may make a few items harder to find, such as lumber for window boarding, sandbags to prevent flooding, and generators. Proactively buying these necessities for your office is one less task on your to-do list and it gives you enough time to secure everything before a storm is actually on the radar.

2. Refine your business continuity plan for remote operations
Depending on the extent of the storm’s aftermath, your office may be inaccessible for several days up to multiple weeks. Minimize downtime and maintain operational continuity by having a thorough plan in place and performing regular checks to verify that all information is accurate and aligned.

The past two years have prepared many organizations for remote work, but in case your employees have returned to the office, set them up for a seamless transition in the event of a natural disaster by ensuring they have the proper equipment as well as access to the business network, file sharing systems, etc.

3. Maintain regular staff communications
Maintaining a reliable means of communication before, during, and after severe weather is crucial to the effective management of your operations. There are plenty of apps for businesses that can be useful; however, when land-based cellular networks fail, you still need a dependable communications system.

Instead, empower your asset operators, monitor trip patterns, and enable emergency response systems with an affordable Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite solution. These SATCOM products are more beneficial during emergency situations, as they provide continuous global coverage for voice, data, and GPS tracking, even in non-remote locations.

4. Equip your search & rescue team with the right tools for the mission
If your organization will assist with disaster or emergency response, it’s imperative that personnel have what they need to be successful. Satellite communications and fleet management technology can prove critical when local services are impacted by hurricanes, tornadoes, or other severe weather events.

When determining which tool is best for your team, it’s important to consider product size, weight, and portability. Similar to the first tip, be proactive in acquiring these items, keeping in mind supply chain issues. There is currently a major shortage of satellite phones, for example. Search for SATphone alternatives, such as our SkyLink TOC BOX, to achieve complete global coverage.

Conclusion
Whether you’re in Tornado Alley or the Gulf Coast, early preparedness can help you achieve operational awareness, safety, and workforce connectivity in the event of a natural disaster. At Blue Sky Network, we’re proud to offer innovative SATCOM solutions for any business continuity and emergency contingency plan. We’d love to assist you in finding the perfect one for your needs!

References
¹ Byrne, Kevin. (2022, March 30). AccuWeather’s 2022 Atlantic hurricane season forecast.
https://www.accuweather.com/en/hurricane/accuweathers-2022-atlantic-hurricane-season-forecast/1164507

² Livingston, Ian and Feuerstein, Jacob. (2022, April 5). 2022 generated most March
tornadoes on record in U.S. The Washington Post.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2022/04/05/march-2022-tornado-record-us/

Trade show season is officially upon us here at Blue Sky Network! We’re extremely excited to meet with customers, attend engaging workshops, and network with other industry professionals.

But with so much to do in only a few short days, we know the experience can seem a bit overwhelming. Veteran trade show attendee and Vice President of Sales, Nick Tucky, shares a few tips on how to survive your next one, including what’s going in his survival kit.

1. Create a game plan
According to a 2020 survey¹, the average trade show attendee will spend 8.3 hours visiting exhibits. Make the most of your time by knowing which booths you’d like to stop at beforehand. Most trade show websites post an online map, and larger events have a free app you can download to help you navigate the floor. When you walk in through the event doors, try not to get distracted by booths and companies that aren’t on your radar; however, allocate a block of time at the end of the show to check out new technologies.

It’s also important to note that the person you wish to speak with may not be the same one who’s manning the booth when you visit. If there’s a company you are particularly eager to meet with, you may want to book a meeting with the appropriate team member ahead of time.

2. Make your business cards versatile
Got a burning question for an exhibitor at a busy booth? Write it on the back of your business card and give it to a representative. This should reduce the possibility of it getting overlooked by preoccupied staff and ensure you get an answer, even if it’s after the show.

With this in mind, take more business cards than you think you need, but give them out wisely—otherwise, you’ll receive a deluge of emails from more people than you want to hear from.

3. Spend time with your enemies
You know the saying about keeping your enemies closer. If your competition will be at the show, this is the perfect opportunity to scope out what products they’re offering and see if there’s anything to be concerned about. Take it one step further by inviting them to a dinner or happy hour.

4. Use pictures to jog your memory
By the end of the event, chances are your bag will be full of literature from companies that you may not remember too well now. Taking pictures of the booths that interest you will help match the brochures and business cards with the organizations you visited and people you spoke with. Photos can also be useful during the show when determining which booths to circle back to at the end.

5. Look after your liver
There will be way too many opportunities to indulge after hours, and possibly even during the event! Though fun at the time, a noisy, bustling trade show environment and constant conversation will not pair well with a next-day hangover. If you do overindulge, be on the lookout for booths offering free bottled water and hydration tablets. Better yet, be the booth you wish to see in the world and hand out those goodies yourself (it was quite the hit the year we did)!

So, what’s going in Nick’s survival kit? A business card holder and a significant number of cards, for reasons stated above. Snacks to get through the day; event food is usually pricey, not always healthy, and there can be long lines. Plenty of gum (no explanation needed) and ibuprofen to help with the long days of walking will also be in there. Finally, a travel-size bottle of hand sanitizer will come in handy during these COVID times.

Overall, Nick says, try to enjoy it as much as possible. With recent data² showing that more than 90% of attendees are on the hunt for new products, it’s easy to see why your presence at the event is so important. Whether you’re offering or searching for the latest and greatest, use the time as strategically as possible to make the most out of your attendance.

Meet us at our next show!
Would you like to meet with Nick, our CEO Tucker Morrison, or one of our other sales members at an upcoming show?
From March 7-10, come visit us at HAI Heli-Expo booth 8007 in Dallas, TX, where we’ll be showcasing several of our innovative aviation solutions.

From March 21-24, we’ll be at Satellite 2022 in Washington, DC, with our award-winning SkyLink device.
Use this link to schedule a meeting time at either show > https://bit.ly/BSN-Scheduler

References
¹ The Tradeshow Network Marketing Group. (2020, November 12). 20 Powerful Stats on the
Value of Trade Shows and Expos.
https://www.thetradeshownetwork.com/trade-show-blog/20-powerful-stats-on-the-value-of-trade-shows-and-expos.
² Darko. (2020, January 20). 22 Important Trade Show Statistics. Jobsinmarketing.io. https://jobsinmarketing.io/blog/trade-show-statistics/.