Advanced Maneuvers vs. Basics

An AA friend who is taking flying lessons told me that he did badly in his last session. His instructor said he did just super on his "advanced maneuvers" but was forgetting to apply the "basics." When speaking or chairing at various meetings throughout town, I talk a lot about what I've read recently in self-help books; I apply poetry to several of our Steps; I quote lines verbatim from our literature. But do I remember the basics?