Recently, I had the honor of speaking to the Ohio Air National Guard at Huntington Park, home of Columbus’s AAA baseball team. Standing before some of the sharpest, most fearless individuals I’ve ever met, one truth rang loud and clear: innovation thrives on the willingness to experiment and explore.
I challenged them with a simple message: Let your competition be prisoners to patterns, routines, and the status quo. While others cling to “the way we’ve always done it,” the Ohio Air National Guard continues to lead by fostering a Culture of Innovation—a mindset that values courage, curiosity, and bold thinking.
So, the next time you see a fighter jet slicing through the air, remember this: you’re witnessing the product of a team that’s not just skilled and brave—but relentlessly innovative.
Photo by Jacek Dylag on Unsplash
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Chad J. Willett (MA, SAG-AFTRA) is a nationally recognized innovation and leadership speaker, TEDx presenter, and two-time author. Blending his background in acting with real-world corporate experience, Chad delivers high-energy keynote speeches and interactive workshops that are truly one-of-a-kind.
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