The day after surviving the Miracle on the Hudson, Dave Sanderson walked into his office to let his company know he was alive. His manager’s first question was, “You’re going to Michigan next week, right?” Dave had survived a plane crash. Now he was questioning the career he had built.
In Episode 369 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy speaks with Dave about surviving US Airways Flight 1549, helping fellow passengers escape, and the preparation that helped him act under extraordinary pressure. Drawing on his sales career and years working with Tony Robbins, Dave explains how to lead without a title, manage your response to uncertainty, and choose your best next step when you cannot control the outcome. He also shares how surviving the crash pushed him to reconsider his definition of success and begin finding a way out of the golden handcuffs.
What You’ll Learn
1. How leadership can begin with taking responsibility before anyone gives you authority.
2. How your focus, internal dialogue and physical state influence your response to pressure.
3. Why choosing the best next step can help you act when you cannot solve the whole problem.
4. How anticipation and resourcefulness help you support a team when circumstances change.
5. Why Dave measures freedom through time, money, mission and relationships.
6. How mentors helped Dave move from a successful sales career into speaking and entrepreneurship.
Chapters
00:00 Surviving a plane crash and returning to work
01:17 Introducing Dave Sanderson
02:52 Dave’s early life and entrepreneurial beginnings
04:17 An unexpected mentor and a promise to pass on his lessons
06:47 Working with Tony Robbins and learning through proximity
08:44 The four freedoms Dave realized he was missing
10:29 Surviving the Miracle on the Hudson
15:04 Leading without authority
17:25 Managing your state under pressure
22:01 Choosing your best next step
23:31 Why anticipation matters in leadership
26:54 Acting despite fear
29:37 Resourcefulness, decisions and improving your processes
31:46 Leaving the golden handcuffs behind
35:38 Building a speaking and coaching career
39:04 Connecting with Dave
Connect with Dave Sanderson
Dave works with leaders and organizations through speaking, coaching and advisory work focused on resilience, decision-making and leadership under pressure.
Website: https://davesandersonspeaks.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hiredavesanderson/
Explore Dave’s books, including Moments Matter and From Turmoil to Triumph, and his Moments Matter magazine:
https://davesandersonspeaks.com/books/
Support Foxx and Our Family
Our one year old son Foxx is currently fighting cancer. If you are able to donate or share our GoFundMe, our family would be incredibly grateful.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-shelby-kelly-during-foxxs-fight-against-cancer
Thank You to Our Sponsors
Thank you to Colin Harms and our title sponsor, Hypervac Technologies, for your steadfast support of The Business Development Podcast. We are also grateful to Hyperfab for helping us continue to bring these conversations to listeners.
Hypervac Technologies builds professional duct cleaning equipment, including duct trucks, portable vacuums and tools for contractors in the field.
Hyperfab provides custom fabrication and specialized solutions for industrial applications.
https://hyperfab.ca/
Join The Catalyst Club Community
The Catalyst Club brings business development leaders, entrepreneurs, executives and senior professionals together for live sessions, recorded conversations and practical support.
https://www.kellykennedyofficial.com/thecatalystclub
If Dave’s story made you think of someone facing a difficult decision, share this episode with them. Follow The Business Development Podcast for more honest conversations about what it takes to build and lead.
Mentioned in this episode:
Hypervac - Revolution Vacuums