Leadership lessons on confidence, resilience, adaptability and why every business owner eventually needs a wingman.

You may already know that I’m slightly obsessed with Top Gun.

And with the original film celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, it felt like the perfect excuse to revisit a film that, underneath the fighter jets and iconic one-liners, still has a surprising amount to say about leadership, confidence and growth.

Because while Top Gun is technically an action film, at its core it’s really about people.

⫸ It’s about backing yourself when your confidence has taken a hit
⫸ Learning as you go
⫸ Handling pressure
⫸ Recovering from mistakes
⫸ Navigating difficult relationships
⫸ And realising that even the most capable people still need support around them.

Which, honestly, sounds a lot like running a business.

Over the years, I’ve realised some of the best leadership lessons don’t come from corporate textbooks or motivational quotes. They come from real experiences, uncomfortable moments and sometimes even unexpected places.

Including an 80s film about fighter pilots.

Charlie ✈️