I was among the millions of people who flocked to movie theaters recently to see “Top Gun: Maverick.” It’s one of the best movies I’ve seen in a few years.

My friend Lt. Col. Rob “Waldo” Waldman is an American author, motivational speaker, leadership consultant and founder of the Wingman Foundation. He is a decorated fighter pilot and retired Air Force officer and combat veteran, having flown 65 combat missions. He loved the movie because “it demonstrates how important it is for us to coach, mentor and lead our youth though challenge and fear.”

“Top Gun: Maverick” is loaded with business and life lessons. This movie speaks volumes about values: Values that lift, inspire and encourage and say "I have your back no matter what."

Among the other core values that I picked up in the movie:

Trust -- The most important word in business is trust. It takes years to build up trust, but only seconds to destroy it. Trust is central to doing business with anyone. I can only imagine the level of trust that fighter pilots, flying at dizzying speeds and performing mind-bending maneuvers, must have in each other. Lack of trust could mean a life-or-death situation.

Commitment -- No one gets in the cockpit of one of these jets without total commitment. When you’re committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results. Commitment is a prerequisite of success. Commitment is the state of being bound –- emotionally, intellectually or both -- to a course of action. Commitment starts with a choice and is sustained by dedication and perseverance.

Courage -- It’s easy to be ordinary. Courage is what sets you apart from the crowd. Courage is regarded as one of the major human virtues. Courage is bravery, valor, guts and nerve all rolled into one. I’m not a soldier, a police officer, a doctor or a relief worker; I’m a businessman. So, what does courage have to do with running a business? Plenty. I admit that most folks’ daily lives are not filled with Hollywood-style dramatic challenges. We all face situations that require us to reach down deep within ourselves to do what is right and brave and occasionally difficult. Courage can involve making decisions that are unpopular or time-consuming or even expensive.

Camaraderie/Friendship -- I've heard this quote many times, including from my good friend, Muhammad Ali: “Friendship is the hardest thing in the world to explain. It's not something you learn in school. But if you haven't learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven't learned anything.”

Adversity -- I have never met a successful person who hasn’t had to overcome a little -- or a lot -- of adversity. The impact and ultimate result depend on what you do with the difficulties that come your way. The adversities I’ve experienced have made me stronger, more fearless and, ultimately, more successful.

Perfection -- The old saying that practice makes perfect is not true. You have to add one word: Perfect practice makes perfect. It doesn’t matter whether you are practicing a presentation, a golf swing or flying a jet, you want to improve your performance, not repeat practice mistakes.

Passion -- Passion is at the top of the list of the skills you need to excel in any profession. If you don’t have a deep-down, intense, burning desire for what you are doing, there’s no way you’ll be able to work the long, hard hours it takes to become successful. However, if you are not very good at what you are passionate about, it won’t matter.

Mackay’s Moral: As Waldo Waldman says, “There is a time and a place for us to be a 'Top Gun.'”

A high school student landed her first summer job, working in a drugstore. As she arrived at the store for her first day, the phone was ringing. Everyone was busy, and the manager asked her to please answer it.

“Good morning,” she said in a cheery voice.

“Do you stock Bengay?” asked the caller.

“I’m not sure.”

“Well, does your store carry Vicks VapoRub?” queried the customer.

“I don’t know,” said the new clerk.

“Do you have Pepto-Bismol on hand?”

“I couldn’t tell you for sure if we do or don’t.”

“You don’t know much do you, young lady?” said the caller.

“No, I guess I don’t,” the new employee responded. “In fact, when I said, ‘Good morning,’ I told you everything I know.”

Obviously, this new hire had not been trained to actually help customers; there's no excuse for that. But that she was put in a position to potentially drive customers away was not her fault.

Responsible businesses understand that customer needs come first, and that staff must be capable of meeting them. Because so much interaction is dependent on the phone, let’s start there.

Good phone skills are crucial for customer service. At least this young worker was cheerful, sincere and had a positive tone -- three important ingredients in telephone communication skills. When you answer the phone, you want to project an enthusiastic and natural tone, making the customer feel comfortable in carrying on a conversation.

Listen and try your best to understand the problem and then resolve it as quickly as possible. Studies show that a call under five minutes is a success.

Put a smile in your voice. A person’s voice sounds and feels friendly and warm when you speak with a smile. A study by the University of Portsmouth found that people can hear whether a person is smiling on the phone.

Enunciate your words and speak as clearly as possible. I realize it is frustrating for many people when they call customer service and reach a person who can be difficult to understand. Because call centers are located all over the world, it’s important to make sure your representatives are understandable and patient when callers ask for information to be repeated.

Give customers the time to vent any frustration. Don’t interrupt them, as they can get more upset if they aren’t allowed to tell their story.

Watch your language and avoid slang. And it should be obvious: Don’t chew gum, eat or shuffle papers during a call. Give callers your undivided attention.

Never argue with customers. Remember that they are the most important people in any business. The customer is not dependent on you or your company; you and your company are dependent on them. They are part of the business and not outsiders. They bring you their wants, and it’s your job to fill those wants. If that is not possible, be honest and explain what you are able to do, rather than focusing on what you can’t.

Try to learn the caller’s name and use it naturally in your conversation. Doing so reinforces that you are focused on them.

In customer service, your ultimate job is to leave the customer satisfied, so do whatever you can to make that happen and finish any conversation in a positive manner.

I don’t know anyone who likes being put on hold. Although you may have to ask a client or customer to hold, it doesn’t have to be frustrating for the caller. Here are a few courtesies that can make the wait time a little more tolerable for the caller:

-- Don’t multitask. When you try to do two things at once, you’ll be more likely to miss something important a caller is trying to tell you.

-- Ask before placing a caller on hold. Don’t just tell customers to “please hold.” Ask if they can hold. Wait until they respond, and then thank them.

-- Don’t tell customers you’ll put them on hold for “just a second.” Instead, give them a reasonable estimate of how long you’ll be away from the phone and why they’ll be on hold.

-- Faster doesn’t always mean better. Speed should always be second to carefully attending to a caller’s needs.

-- Take notes. Don’t rely on your memory.

The next time your phone rings, let your customers know you mean business!

Mackay’s Moral: Taking care of customers is taking care of business.

A father on his deathbed gave a watch to his son. “Here is a watch your grandfather gave me,” he said. “It is almost 200 years old. Go to the jewelry store and see how much they offer you.”

The son went to the jewelry store, came back to his father, and said, “They offered $100 because it is so old.”

The father said, “Well, try the pawnshop.”

The son came back later and said, “The pawnshop offered only $20 because it has a scratch.”

The father then asked his son to go to the museum and show them the watch.

The son silently questioned his father’s judgment, but still, willing to act on his last wishes, he went to the museum. When he came back, he said to his father: “The curator offered me $375,000 to include this very rare piece in their precious antique collection.”

The father responded, “I wanted to show you that the right place will value you in the right way. Don’t find yourself in the wrong place and get angry because you are not valued. Never stay in a place where someone doesn’t see your value, or you don’t feel appreciated.”

I share this advice with my own children and grandchildren, people whom I mentor and anyone who is wondering what to do next with their lives. As this season's crop of graduates ventures forth into adulthood, it's something to keep in mind.

I feel so strongly about it that I wrote a book, “You Haven’t Hit Your Peak Yet,” filled with encouraging examples of what can be possible when you collect your confidence and take inventory of your unique skills and abilities.

We might feel that we are worthless, but no matter what has happened or what will happen, we will never lose our value. We are still priceless to those who love us. The worth of our lives comes not in what we do or whom we know, but in who we are. We are special. Don’t ever forget it.

We can all use a boost in our self-confidence or self-worth occasionally. Lately, I’m sensing this even more with the state of our country and the economy. Even the great ones need a pat on the back at some point.

What is really important to you? How do you want to conduct your life? What are you willing to do -– or not do -- to have the life you want?

It is reasonable to expect that most adults will do their best to do the right thing. And that has taken on a new importance in the world we live in, where our words and deeds are often subject to cameras and shared online for the world to see. But having an established value system goes beyond that -– it takes the guesswork out. Because you have already thought about how you want to live and be perceived, your responses and reactions can often be automatic. You won’t even have to think about your actions.

Newly minted graduates, the ink barely dry on their diplomas, are starting careers and hoping their educations have prepared them for the challenges ahead. Will they know their value -- and their values -- as they move into the work world and face questions that they have never had to answer?

Job hunters of all ages, flaunting years of experience and the battle scars to prove it, wonder what direction their work lives should be taking and whether a career change could best fulfill their goals. Many already know their value, but are they prepared to defend their values in a new environment?

And on the other end of the spectrum, those who are preparing for retirement after years of both stunning achievements and utter disappointment, reflect on what they are proud of and what they wish they could change. Do they realize the value they brought to their workplaces and the people they worked with? Are they satisfied that their values were evident and respected?

No matter what stage of life you are graduating from, you have value. It cannot be calculated only in dollars or job titles or awards. Your value, and your values, matter to those around you.

Mackay’s Moral: Stay true to your values and your value will shine through.