“Some people will aim for ten and get eleven. Some people will aim for ten and get eight. But if you’ll always end up in that rough area, why not aim for 100?!”
Today’s guest is Gearóid Ó Briain.
Gearoid decided he wanted to join the Irish Air Corps when he was 15. His dream was to be the Presidential Pilot.
The first step was to get in… He researched the admission process – the aptitude test, the physical assessment, the interview. He was determined to excel in each area but there was one thing missing…
He learned that the interviewers liked to see that you’ve had some life experience – a project you led or another achievement. He needed a story – something to talk about in the interview – so he entered the BT Young Scientist Competition with his school. He worked hard for a few months on the project and nailed it.
Well Gearoid didn’t just stop at the BT Young Scientist Competition. Since then, he kayaked from Ireland to Scotland, he set a world record, and set up several businesses.
But did he ever get to fly the president? Press play to find out.
Selected Links
- Gearoid’s businesses:
- Parnells Athletic Club, Rathdrum, Wicklow
- Irish Air Corps
- Hurdling
- Larne, Northern Ireland
- ‘The 4-Hour Body: An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat-loss, Incredible Sex and Becoming Superhuman’ by Timothy Ferriss
- ‘Pilot pays tribute to memory of colleagues with record run’ – Irish Independent Article
- Sesna 172
- The Irish Government Jet – Bombardier Leer-jet 45
- Mary McAleese
- Michael D Higgins
- ‘How Ireland’s Collison brothers turned seven lines of code into a €9.2bn tech startup’ – Irish Independent article
Everyday People 