How This Fighter Pilot Makes Life-or-Death Decisions at 500 MPH (And What It Teaches Us About Business)
My interview with Michelle "Mace" Curran
In this explosive episode, we sit down with Michelle "MACE" Curran, a former F-16 fighter pilot and member of the elite Thunderbirds demonstration team, to uncover the mental frameworks that enable split-second decision-making when lives are on the line.
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Michelle “Mace” Curren
Website: https://macecurran.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mace_curran/
Book: The Flipside: How to Invert Your Perspective and Turn Fear into Your Superpower
From the cockpit of a fighter jet traveling at 500 miles per hour to the boardroom of your business, the principles of high-stakes decision-making translate in ways that will revolutionize how you approach challenges, overcome fear, and build unstoppable teams.
Michelle's journey from a young pilot with no flight experience to flying combat missions and performing death-defying aerial demonstrations offers a masterclass in resilience, preparation, and the art of staying present under extreme pressure.
But this isn't just a military story—it's a blueprint for anyone looking to elevate their performance, make better decisions faster, and turn their biggest fears into their greatest strengths.
After transitioning from military service, she became a speaker, consultant, and author of the upcoming book "The Flip Side: How to Invert Your Perspective and Turn Fear into Your Superpower."
Her unique perspective as a woman in one of the most demanding and male-dominated fields provides insights into leadership, resilience, and peak performance that few can match.
Key Takeaways
1. Master the Art of Compartmentalization
Michelle learned early in pilot training that survival depends on your ability to compartmentalize—to set aside what went wrong and focus entirely on the next critical task. When flying an F-16 at 500 miles per hour, there's no time for rumination or self-doubt when the next decision could determine whether you live or die.
"You have to compartmentalize," Michelle explains. "When you're flying a fighter jet at 500 miles an hour and something goes wrong, you have to do what you can with that situation and purposely focus on moving forward and the next task that you have to handle. You cannot let that thing snowball and impact your next decision."
For business leaders, this translates to preventing setbacks from cascading into larger problems. When a deal falls through or a product launch fails, acknowledge what happened, extract immediate lessons, then deliberately shift focus to the next critical task. The deeper analysis can happen later, in a controlled environment where it won't compromise performance.
2. Focus on the "Next Closest Alligator to the Boat"
One of Michelle's instructors taught her to "focus on the next closest alligator to the boat"—a vivid metaphor for effective prioritization under pressure. Instead of becoming overwhelmed by everything that needs attention, identify the most immediate threat and pour all your energy into addressing that single challenge.
"Just focus on what you need to do to prepare for that flight that's tomorrow," Michelle says. "Stop worrying about your checkride that's three weeks from now. Stop worrying about the next block of training. Just dial in and focus your time, your energy, everything on the next thing that's going to kill you."
This approach forces ruthless prioritization in business. Instead of juggling multiple major initiatives, identify what could most damage your business if left unaddressed and tackle that first. Everything else becomes secondary until that primary threat is neutralized.
3. Preparation Enables Presence
Michelle's ability to make rapid decisions under extreme pressure wasn't about natural talent—it was about preparation. Countless hours in simulators, running through emergency scenarios, and mentally rehearsing flights created a library of experiences she could draw from when real crises emerged.
"The preparation allows you to make a decision with the limited information because in your mind, you've already been there and done that when you weren't at 500 miles an hour and you weren't at nine G's," she explains.
Successful business leaders apply this same principle. They think through scenarios, develop contingency plans, and mentally rehearse their responses during low-stakes periods so they can perform when pressure mounts. They do the work when stakes are low so they can execute when stakes are high.
4. Treat Fear as Information, Not Instruction
Throughout her career, Michelle battled fear, self-doubt, and imposter syndrome, even while achieving remarkable success. Her breakthrough came in learning to treat fear as information rather than instruction. Fear signals that something matters and that preparation is needed—but it doesn't mean you should avoid the challenge.
"Being able to zoom out and realize when you're finding yourself in that situation and recognizing that your thoughts are not necessarily facts," Michelle notes. "I call it the 30,000 foot view—being able to zoom out and be like, okay, I recognize what's happening here. Here's the external evidence of what's really going on. And I need to set my feelings of inadequacy aside and focus on the facts."
For entrepreneurs facing uncertain decisions, this reframe is powerful. Instead of letting fear paralyze decision-making, use it as a signal to increase preparation, gather more information, or develop better contingency plans.
5. Sustainable High Performance Requires Boundaries
Despite operating in one of the most demanding environments imaginable, Michelle learned that sustainable performance requires intentional recovery. During her Thunderbirds tenure—240 days per year on the road, performing physically demanding flights multiple times weekly—she created non-negotiable boundaries around rest and recovery.
"I don't think it should be a badge of honor to be like, the hustle culture of like, no days off, we work seven days a week," Michelle argues. "The whole point of building something and making enough money to have freedom of schedule and flexibility is so that you can go spend that time with your family."
Even high-achievers need sustainable practices. Michelle's approach included protecting time for exercise, creating boundaries around social obligations, and scheduling deliberate downtime—even when there were constant demands for her attention.
Military Culture and Team Building
Michelle provides valuable insights into building high-performing teams, drawing from her experience in military aviation where trust and coordination can mean the difference between life and death. She discusses the fine line between appropriate team-building challenges and problematic behavior that undermines performance.
"The diversity of thought that comes with different backgrounds is very powerful on a team," she explains, sharing examples from Afghanistan operations where female soldiers accomplished mission-critical tasks that male soldiers couldn't due to cultural considerations.
Her perspective on military culture reveals how effective teams push each other to improve while maintaining mutual respect and shared commitment to excellence. The principles of clear communication, defined roles, and mutual accountability translate directly to business environments where team performance determines success.
Overcoming Self-Doubt
One of the most powerful parts of the conversation occurs when Michelle discusses her internal battles with imposter syndrome, even while achieving external success. She describes periods of questioning whether she belonged in elite military aviation, despite repeatedly proving her capabilities.
Her journey from self-doubt back to confidence provides a roadmap for other high-achievers facing similar challenges. The key was learning to separate feelings from facts, gain perspective on her situation, and focus on evidence rather than emotions when evaluating her capabilities.
This insight resonates particularly with entrepreneurs and business leaders who often struggle with the gap between external accomplishments and internal confidence. Michelle's experience shows that even the most successful people face these challenges—and that they can be overcome through deliberate mental frameworks.
Actionable Applications
Implement Compartmentalization
Create clear boundaries between problem-solving and problem-processing. When crises hit, focus immediately on damage control and next steps rather than analyzing what went wrong. Schedule specific times for post-mortem analysis when emotions have cooled.
Adopt "Next Closest Alligator" Prioritization
Each day or week, identify your biggest immediate threat—what could cause the most damage if left unaddressed. Focus your best energy on that single item until it's resolved, then identify the next alligator.
Build Preparation-Based Confidence
Develop scenario planning as regular business practice. Think through potential challenges, market changes, and operational problems before they occur. Create response protocols you can reference when pressure situations arise.
Reframe Fear as Strategic Information
When you feel fear about a business decision, use it as a signal to gather more information or increase preparation rather than avoiding the decision altogether. Ask: What specifically am I afraid of? What can I do to reduce the likelihood or impact of that outcome?
Create Sustainable Performance Practices
Implement non-negotiable boundaries around rest and recovery, even during busy periods. Recognize that sustainable high performance requires intentional recovery periods to maintain peak performance when it matters most.
Key Quotes
"Focus on the next closest alligator to the boat. Just focus on what you need to do to prepare for that flight that's tomorrow. Stop worrying about your checkride that's three weeks from now."
"The preparation allows you to make a decision with the limited information because in your mind, you've already been there and done that when you weren't at 500 miles an hour and you weren't at nine G's."
"I don't think it should be a badge of honor to be like, the hustle culture of like, no days off, we work seven days a week. The whole point of building something is so that you can go spend that time with your family."
"The diversity of thought that comes with different backgrounds is very powerful on a team. And I think anyone in the business world would agree with that."
Final Thoughts
Michelle "MACE" Curran's insights offer a unique bridge between military precision and business success.
Her frameworks for decision-making under pressure, overcoming fear, and building sustainable high performance aren't just theoretical—they're battle-tested strategies proven in life-or-death situations.
Whether you're facing major business decisions, dealing with competitive pressure, or working to build higher-performing teams, Michelle's principles provide a roadmap for maintaining clarity and effectiveness when stakes are high.
The question isn't whether these frameworks work—it's whether you'll implement them consistently enough to see results in your own business and life.