Smooth Landings Start with Tough Calls

One of the best lessons I ever learnt was from a company where I spent 50% of my work life - Western Outdoor Interactive (WOI)

(Yes, the name sounds like it should be making something outdoors. And for a while, they did build Outdoor Interactive Electronic Dashboards. But soon, they pivoted to inflight entertainment software. Because why stay grounded?)

It was 1998 or 1999. American Airlines came calling.

Big name. Big budget. Big expectations.

They wanted an interactive menu with snazzy animations - something close to the desktop experience of Windows 95 / 98. Remember flying folders, ripple effects, and the kind of screen transitions that made your 90s heart skip a beat?

Just one problem.

The onboard hardware in airplanes back then was… how do I put this gently - embarrassing. Think less "Intel Inside" and more "Please Don't Overheat."

FAA regulations kept the processing power intentionally low, so the aircraft didn’t end up doubling as a microwave.

The client was insistent. But Anil Nanavati, our CEO, stood his ground - politely, firmly, and respectfully. And most importantly, with a simpler alternative that actually worked within those constraints.

He didn’t say “No” with ego. He said “No” with clarity.

And more importantly - he said “No” with a solution.

That stuck with me.

The result? The final product was a hit.

The menu worked beautifully on those clunky systems. American Airlines thanked the team later - not just for delivering, but for guiding them.

(This story happened a few months before I joined, so pardon the mix of “we”s and “they”s - I may not have been there then, but I’ve retold it enough times to feel like I was.)

Sometimes, knowing your constraints - technical, ethical, or even thermal - and standing by them is the most professional thing you can do.

Saying yes to everything may win the sprint.

Saying no at the right time wins the marathon.