Description
Whether for real or metaphorically, John Craig can teach you how to live your life so you can soar above the clouds without making the mistakes he’s made along the way.
Life Lessons Learned the Hard Way is John’s insightful memoir about growing up in Montana, being in a college fraternity, working for Boeing, and being a husband and father. His stories are filled with hilarious antics, but also common sense, compassion, and wisdom learned that you can put into practice to make your life better.
Here are just a few of the things you will learn in these pages:
- Why it’s best to tell cops the truth
- Why you should always carry cash
- Why you should listen to your mother-in-law
- How to deal with bullies and not back down
- What you should never write down
- How to live a life others will want to read about
Whether you are curious about how airlines figured out how to dispose of diapers, or you are nostalgic for a time when life was slower and neighbors watched each other’s kids, Life Lessons Learned the Hard Way will entertain and educate you.
Lori Salazar –
John has the unique ability to examine complex cabin avionics problems, and through teamwork, planning, and implementation, he has expeditiously arrived at the best solution while meeting Boeing requirements. He possesses a vast knowledge of airplane cabin avionics systems and was always a creative thinker and sought-after problem solver.
Software Support, TimeTap,
Former Vice President of Product Management, Thales Avionics
Fred Schwien –
John Craig is the recognized expert for the United States. I always appreciated his ability to work effectively with different government entities and help frame the industries’ cyber framework for aviation. He was respected and able to bring different government agencies together to address the cyber threat to commercial aviation.
Director Government Affairs, Boeing
Faye Francy –
John was the best leader I encountered at the Boeing Company. Folks who worked for him all loved and appreciated his endearing style. He is both a can-do, tactical manager and a strategic visionary who easily operates in both of those dissimilar worlds. He was my customer at one point and my manager at another. During my darkest hour at Boeing, John saved my career. I shall always be grateful for his ‘Braveheart’ maneuver that kept me at Boeing, ultimately creating a crucial strategy and building an indispensable global, non-profit organization to secure the aviation industry. The Aviation Information Sharing and Analysis Center (A-ISAC) has been the reason the aviation industry has not had a cyber 9-11. Enjoy John’s storytelling and no-nonsense, clever manner in communicating his wisdom.
Executive Director, Automotive Information Sharing and Analysis Center
Former Boeing Director
Monica Maher –
I first met John when I worked at the Department of Homeland Security and quickly became impressed with his ability to communicate and work across many different stakeholders involved in aviation and cybersecurity. He was recognized as a thought leader in the space and was instrumental in building an early framework for a joint public-private sector approach for securing the aviation industry from cyber threats.
Senior Vice President Goldman Sachs,
Former Director of Operations, Department of Homeland Security
Pascal Andrei –
As surprising as it may sound, friendships exist even between competitors in business. My and John Craig’s mutual trust has been the basis of our long relationship and has never wavered. We have both always worked for the good cause—that of better air transport safety—both for our customers and for passengers. I keep the image of John as an excellent traveling companion, one on whom it is easy to rest, not only thanks to his stature but above all for his professionalism and his increased knowledge of the systems on board our beautiful flying machines and his experience as a benchmark engineer. Cyber threats have no borders; we both understood it, and we have been united to challenge them together.
Chief Security Officer, Airbus
Todd Zarfos –
John frequently demonstrated his unique ability to tell a story while weaving it into a higher-level message, often with a morality tale. He was able to couple his gift of storytelling with a wealth of experiences from his rural upbringing to frame a ‘big picture’ that resonated with his intended audience. At Boeing, he had a variety of assignments that allowed him to experience many of the different aspects of designing and building airplanes along with navigating other aspects of the aviation ecosystem. Over the years, he had many unique experiences and contributions that only those within the aviation community were aware of or could appreciate. In his book, John relates some of these experiences with a twist of humor, and as he is prone to do, with an underlying message. John was a capable and respected leader at Boeing and enjoyed support from his peers and coworkers. I think you will greatly enjoy the lessons he has learned from his stories of growing up in Montana to his time spent at Boeing.
Retired Boeing Engineering Vice President,
Washington Design Center
Tyler R. Tichelaar, PhD –
John Craig’s insider stories about working at Boeing will please any fan of aviation. From designing safety features to owning his mistakes and marveling at the wonder of man able to fly, John propels the reader forward, making it hard to put the book down. Plus Life Lessons Learned the Hard Way makes the lessons not only easy but fun to learn.
Award-Winning Author of When Teddy Came to Town
Nicole Gabriel –
Life Lessons Learned the Hard Way is filled with nuggets of truth hidden within John Craig’s enjoyable stories about his many experiences from growing up in Montana to working with Boeing. You’ll find out how he learned why not to lie to the police, how to be a good manager, and how to stand up to bullies, whether you are a kid or an adult. This book will have you flying high with its humor and honesty.
Author of Finding Your Inner Truth and Stepping Into Your Becoming
Patrick Snow –
John Craig’s tales from his impressive career at Boeing alone make this book worth reading, but on top of that, there are stories of growing up in the 1970s, fraternity antics, cantankerous people he’s had to deal with throughout his life, and some homespun truths you won’t want to miss. Life Lessons Learned the Hard Way will be a great tool to help you on your own path through life.
Publishing Coach and International Bestselling Author of Creating Your
Own Destiny and The Affluent Entrepreneur