In 2016, The Global Air Drone Academy faced a pivotal moment during one of first summer camps ever, in Columbia, Maryland. Some middle school-aged future drone pilots eagerly anticipated a public drone showcase before the community and local media, but there was one big problem… none of their drones would take flight! To address this setback, my co-founder Eno Umoh and I had to think on our feet.

Now, a few months prior, I along with one of our instructors Abraham Attenoukon had been waking up at 5 a.m., to meet with a drone building instructor so that we would be well-versed in drone building for future classes. We invested a lot of time and money into our own education. But in this case, that did not prepare us for the malfunctions that occurred in the camp.

To solve the problem we decided to provide students with drones we'd used for demonstration, which were similar in size and mechanics to the ones which they had built. Unsure if they would be disappointed, we were pleasantly surprised when the students embraced the opportunity to fly(and take home) brand-new drones! This adaptability marked a turning point in our journey as business owners.

We redesigned our curriculum and set out to find the perfect equipment to help students build and take home their own drones.

Today, we've educated over 10,000 students worldwide, empowering them to build and fly their drones. The key takeaways from my experience are clear:

🔑 Adaptability is essential in business. We had to first be willing to adapt to meet the needs of our students.

🔑 Identify problems first, then the solutions will come.

🔑 Necessity fuels change and innovation. If we didn’t have that first bout with failure, we might never be where we are today.

Our objective has always been to leave a lasting impact, and that day's challenges led to one of my favorite moments on this journey when one of our students upon completing our camp told us that she now wanted to be an engineer.

Embrace change, solve problems, and stay focused on your goals. It's these unexpected turns that often lead to the greatest success.

By the way, If you are looking to take the next step in your drone business, and want to avoid some of the early pitfalls that others have faced, shoot me a DM and I would love to connect and tell you about the Drone Business Masterminds program.

Whenever you're ready, there are 4 ways I can help you:

1. The Drone Consultant’s Blueprint: Enroll in our flagship video course. I've aggregated 8 years of drone business expertise, proven methods, and actionable strategies into The Drone Consultant’s Blueprint. This course sets the stage for a new era of focused, innovative, and sustainable drone businesses.
2. Done-For-You Drone Business Branding Package: Revitalize your brand with our comprehensive package. In 1 week, get a logo makeover, LinkedIn banner, carousel template, one-page flyer, lead magnet, business cards, and letterhead, all tailored to elevate your drone business's market presence.
3. LinkedIn Done-For-You Content System: Elevate your LinkedIn presence with the system that's proven effective in my journey to over 5k followers and counting. We'll optimize your profile, create professional banners, and assign a social media expert to manage your posts, transforming your LinkedIn into an automatic lead magnet.
4. Drone Business Masterminds: Since 2021, I've coached over 60 drone entrepreneurs, helping them to develop winning strategies, enhance operational efficiency, and achieve significant growth in their businesses. Join this elite group and receive personalized guidance to propel your drone business to the next level.