About this episode

In this episode, Michael Bernoff interviews fighter pilot Justin Lee about applying fighter pilot principles to business execution and leadership.

Most people don’t fail because of bad luck — they fail because they can’t think clearly or execute under pressure. In this powerful episode of the Average Sucks Show, Michael sits down with Justin “Hasard” Lee — combat-proven F-16 fighter pilot with 82 missions, former F-35 Chief of Training Systems, and author of the bestselling book The Art of Clear Thinking. From dreaming of becoming a fighter pilot at age 5, getting rejected by the Air Force Academy, fighting his way through prep school, surviving the brutal 9G centrifuge, to flying high-stakes combat missions — Hasard shares the raw lessons of performing at the absolute edge of human capability. He reveals how fighter pilot principles — clear decision-making under pressure, building a culture of ownership, ruthless debriefs, and decentralized execution — can transform any business or team. This episode dives deep into: Why most leaders and entrepreneurs lose 20 IQ points in high-stakes moments How to build a “nameless, rankless” debrief culture where admitting mistakes is rewarded Turning operational drag into execution speed The power of mission-based leadership Why preparation and brutal after-action reviews are the real…

People in this episode

Host: Michael Bernoff

Guest: Justin “Hasard” Lee

Topics covered

• clear thinking
• business execution
• leadership
• decision-making
• performance under pressure
• team culture

Keywords

• fighter pilot
• business execution
• leadership
• decision-making
• high-stakes
• team culture
• after-action reviews

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Air Force Academy

Books & works: The Art of Clear Thinking

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