Fighter Pilot Debrief Secrets Every Business Needs | Michelle "Mace" Curran on Imposter Syndrome
Fighter pilot Michelle "Mace" Curran joins Dwayne Kerrigan to unpack what it really takes to go from an F-16 cockpit to founding a business and why imposter syndrome doesn't disappear just because you've "made it."
In this episode, Michelle breaks down the Air Force debrief process that turns every flight into a lesson the whole squadron learns from, and how she's translated that consistency and structure into her own company. She also opens up about the "control freak" instincts that made delegating almost impossible as a solo entrepreneur, and the surprising business dip that hit right after her book The Flip Side became a USA Today bestseller.
If you've ever felt like you have to do everything yourself to trust it gets done right, this conversation is for you.
In this episode:
● The Air Force debrief system: why fighter squadrons review every single flight regardless of rank, and how "root cause" analysis turns mistakes into one clear, actionable lesson learned
● Why consistency and structure matter more than the length of the debrief and how any business can adopt a scaled-down version, even just 30 minutes a week
● The difference between running toward a goal and running from failure: Michelle's honest account of losing her "pull" motivation and replacing it with fear-driven performance early in her career
● How imposter syndrome showed up even after years of high achievement, and the identity crisis that came with being a beginner again in a high-stakes career
● Why she wrote children's books before writing a national bestseller, and the moment at the Smithsonian that sparked it
● The hard lesson in delegation: going from single-seat fighter jet control to realizing her business needed a team she could actually trust
● What happened when book launch success didn't translate to speaking revenue and the mistake of taking her eye off sales while focused on marketing
● Building SOPs, integrating a new CRM, and creating the systems she wishes she'd had from day one as a solo entrepreneur
⏱️ Time Stamps:
00:00 Imposter Syndrome
00:21 Meet Michelle "Mace" Curran
02:41 Why She Wrote Kids Books
05:34 From Wisconsin to Fighter Jets
07:07 Advice on Exposure and Pivots
09:26 Pull vs Push Motivation
15:40 Japan Assignment Identity Pressure
19:36 Reputation Ego and Legacy
22:38 Finding Your Role on the Team
27:42 Debriefs and Root Cause Learning
33:39 Debrief Cadence Matters
36:25 Preparation Beats Luck
38:14 Solo Entrepreneur Reality Check
41:19 Delegation and Control
46:10 Trust Built by Systems
51:25 Building SOPs and CRM
55:03 Book Launch Revenue Dip
59:25 Entrepreneur Fear and Freedom
1:01:33 Imposter Syndrome Full Circle
1:01:56 Closing
💬 Subscribe for Part 2 of this conversation next week. What's one "debrief habit" you could start using in your business or team this week? Let us know in the comments.
More from fighter pilot turned entrepreneur Michelle "Mace" Curran on imposter syndrome, business systems, and the pull vs. push of chasing a goal.
Connect with Michelle:
Website: https://macecurran.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mace_curran
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/macecurran/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/macecurran/
Connect with Dwayne Kerrigan:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedwaynekerriganpodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwaynekerriganpodcast/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dwayne-kerrigan-998113281/
Website: http://www.dwaynekerrigan.com
Disclaimer: The views, information, or opinions expressed by guests during The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of Dwayne Kerrigan and his affiliates. Dwayne Kerrigan or The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of any of the information contained in the podcast series. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. Listeners are advised to consult with a qualified professional or specialist before making any decisions based on the content of this podcast.
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