Life Lessons from an Air Force Ace – Bruce Speaks

Several months passed, and I let go of that initial prejudice. I eventually decided to work with Bruce—and I’m so glad I did. Through our collaboration, I discovered not only his editorial skills but also his kind heart, deep compassion, and gentle nature. I also learned that Bruce
is an author himself. His book, , offers a powerful blend of professional insight and personal reflection.

That’s why I was thrilled when Bruce agreed to open up in an interview with me.

Adria: Bruce, you’re the author of the acclaimed book Aim Point, in which you share your experiences in the Air Force and how they shaped your personal journey. Can you tell us more about the book and what inspired you to write it?

Bruce: After completing a thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding 30-year Air Force career, serving as a pilot and in other leadership positions, I retired from the military at the rank of colonel in
2007. I then began work as a software development program manager at a large technology company in San Diego, California. In 2015, I voluntarily went to part-time status with my employer to focus on a more inspirational activity: writing my story.

My intent was to put in words all the amazing events and people in my life, especially family, friends, and all the people and adventures surrounding my Air Force career. I expected my book to focus on the wonderful people I met and the exciting experiences I had, and that’s
where I started. What I discovered was that I was compelled to write about traumatic events that occurred in my life, often when I was a child.

My book is a combination of these two motivations: shining a light on traumatic events in my life to heal myself; and expressing a deep appreciation for the extraordinary people I met, experiences I had, and places I lived as an Air Force officer and pilot. To start, I was inspired
to explore the feelings and emotions surrounding some deeply painful events I experienced early in life: growing up with an alcoholic mother, enduring a humiliating incident with a beloved six-grade teacher, going through a wrenching divorce in my late 20s, and other painful experiences. As I talked about each of these experiences, I focused on what I learned from them and how they helped me succeed in my Air Force career and beyond.

Throughout it all, I refused to see myself as a helpless victim.
My book is also a deep appreciation for the wonderful people in my life: my wife, my children, the family I grew up with, and all the very special people I became friends with in the Air Force. I describe numerous experiences from both inside the cockpit and while I was
in leadership positions. Within each story I tell, I talk about what I learned from the experience and how that helped me grow as a leader and a person. I finish my book with a description of the eight leadership principles that have guided me throughout the years.

These principles form the acronym AIM POINT, where

A = Appreciation, 

I = Integrity, 

M = Make a decision, 

P = Play, 

O = Objectives and goals, 

I = Inspiration, 

N = Nurture, and

T = Trust.

Adria: What is the most important lesson you hope readers will take away from your book?

Bruce: The most important lesson I hope to convey to each reader is the importance of believing in yourself. Be brave and follow your intuition. Know that you carry within you the wisdom, insight, and ability to succeed. Whatever you are inspired to focus upon, you can absolutely
make it a reality.

Adria: When can we expect your next book?

Bruce: This is a wonderful question. I am partially through my next book right now. It is an expansion of what I covered in my first book. Recently, I had some insight into a solution to a problem I was struggling with regarding the focus of this book. I think I have the answer, so I
hope to reengage soon.

Adria: Who is Bruce beyond the roles of author and retired Air Force officer?

Bruce: I love this question. Like all of us, I am a complex person. Beyond being an author and an Air Force officer – both roles I enjoyed immensely – I am very blessed to be husband to a loving and supportive spouse, the father of two wonderful adult children, the grandfather to
three very special grandchildren, and a very committed and engaged coach and content editor for an incredible group of authors (including and especially you, Adria!). I love this last role. I wake up in the morning eager to see what the day brings and what my fantastic authors have provided me with to read today.

Adria: You’ve worked with many authors. Based on your experience, what’s the best advice you would offer to readers who want to better understand the challenges authors face?

Bruce: 80% of adults in the United States feel they have an amazing book within them – and they’re right. Yet only a fraction of 1% ever complete their books and publish them. People have legitimate reasons why they don’t follow through on their desires – I’m not questioning that – but at the heart of their reasons, it almost always comes down to one thing: fear of failure.
They are afraid that they will be judged, especially by family and friends. They are afraid that what they write won’t be engaging and people won’t find them interesting.
They are afraid of committing to completing their books and not finishing because it’s too hard and there are too many unknowns.

And the list goes on. My advice is to ignore these fears – the vast
majority will never materialize and those that do will be far less of a problem than you imagined. As you write, write from your heart. Your readers want to hear from your heartfelt self. If you can incorporate the emotion you feel along with what you’re thinking along the way, you will be able to create something that your readers will embrace. I promise.

Adria: What book would you recommend to our audience, and why?

Bruce: My gosh, this is a hard one to answer. It really depends on what their interests are. For example, I am a fan of historical fiction. When I was in college, I discovered the book From Here to Eternity, a book about a soldier’s experiences in the U.S. Army prior to World War II.
The book itself is well-written and not very subtle, and there are elements of emotional and physical violence. Yet it sparked a great deal of wonder and questioning within me about the meaning of life, the values I need to hold to be true to myself, and the importance of
standing up for what I believe is right. Of course, From Here to Eternity may not be something that everyone in your audience would be interested in. Yet, I strongly encourage your readers to find a book that interests them and causes them to ask the same type of important questions about life and values that I asked myself as I read this novel. It will help them define themselves.