Meet Scott Firsing

We were lucky to catch up with Scott Firsing recently and have shared our conversation below.

Scott, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?

My wife often asks this question, especially in the mornings after I’ve had my coffee and I’m full throttle, pardoning my aviation lingo. Genetics does play a role, like some people and their natural talents. Personally, I’m one of those people who really values hard work and gets a kick out of it more than most. I genuinely enjoy what I do, whether it’s aviation, aerospace, cutting-edge tech, or international relations related work.

I’m also sure “nurture” has something to do with my work ethic. I watched both my parents work hard when I was younger. They were both “blue collar” workers. However, its deeper than this. It’s important for people to remember that often good comes from bad. For instance, I was more of the black sheep of the family. This pushed me to work harder as a young man, to try to gain recognition and to set high personal standards. However, this motivation dissipates as you get older and is replaced with other motivations like working hard so your own kids don’t have to struggle. Nevertheless, the strong work ethic remains and for this I am grateful.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

Hmm, good question because I’m involved in many things. I have my own global aviation and aerospace consultancy called Scott Sky Advisors. We essentially help foreign companies enter American and Canadian markets. I’m also a Senior Researcher for a think-tank doing work on topics ranging from American foreign policy to global space diplomacy. Additionally, I sit on multiple boards of companies and associations.

To summarize, the bigger picture is I help companies and individuals better understand issues, or utilize my network to find people who can, and then provide solutions. My unique background includes living overseas for 10 years and being an International Relations professor. This allows me to offer insights and solutions from multiple perspectives, which is particularly relevant in today’s interconnected global world.

As far as passion projects are concerned, I recently ran for political office for the first time and have a deep love of education. I really enjoy investing in future generations and often speak at high schools and universities.

I’m at a point in my career where “work” is not really about the money. It is about making a difference. Every day feels like contributing to a narrative much larger than your own story. It’s about legacy, influence, and the profound satisfaction of knowing your efforts resonate beyond your office, echoing into the future.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

If I must pick only three, for younger folks, I’d say persistence, travel and networking. All three will help hone your knowledge and skills over time, as well as open doors.

Remember that life is full of setbacks and failures. Persistence enables you to push through these obstacles, learn from them, and to quote Rocky Balboa, “keep pushing forward. That’s how winning is done!” Being persistent is how I got my second wife who is just awesome. She told me that BTW, that she likes persistence, not quitters.

Since being a professor in my late 20s, I’ve always said that travel is the best way to learn. You get to see things with your own eyes. You experience different cultures and business practices, while enriching your life and your understanding of so many elements. New environments and experiences can spark creativity and innovation, and provide fresh ideas. Travel also usually pushes you out of your comfort zone and leads to some fantastic stories. And people like good stories, especially over a cold adult beverage.

Those good stories will help you network and build personal connections. When you network, you never know what it can lead to. Job offers, partnerships, or collaborative projects. This is also very basic, but we learn from other people. From your peers to leaders in your field, people via networking can enhance your own career strategies and/or your understanding of industries. In my life, many of these “people” have become my closest friends and you can’t put a price on that!

To help with the above, I can’t stress the importance enough of being personable and simply listening to others. God gave us two ears and one mouth. Always remember this, especially Americans who tend to want to talk only about themselves.

If you do the above, there is gold at the end of the rainbow. Reaching a point in your career where the focus shifts from financial gain to the quality of the people you work with and the broader impact of your work is immensely fulfilling.

How would you describe your ideal client?

An ideal client is someone who I share a vision and passion with. It is a huge bonus if that person or people are what I term “good people.”

To articulate, my ideal client understands the collaborative nature of success and why we are doing it. They bring positivity to every interaction, which breeds a positive work environment. Their honesty and integrity ensures trust, making dealings smooth and fulfilling. They are responsive, respectful of deadlines, and appreciative of hard work. Moreover, an ideal client is “good people” at heart, they prioritize relationships alongside results, making the journey not just productive but also fun, where you are excited to wake up the morning and get cracking!

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