Posts
Last week in Part I, we looked at the question, is there a difference between being goal oriented and growth oriented? In that blog post I described two types of people: the Certificate Collector and the Balanced Firefighter. Part I also described the bricks and the mortar. The bricks are certifications, but what is the…
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Is there a difference between being goal oriented and growth oriented? I believe there is and I believe there is an answer to this question without throwing out one or the other. The goal-oriented person All of us need to have goals in life: personal and professional. However, there are people who are so goal…
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The photo shows a fire department ladder truck at the scene of a small fire. Notice the size of the two hoses. The larger yellow hose is 5” diameter and supplies the pump with water from the fire hydrant. The small green attack hose is 1¾” diameter and the water flowing through this hose extinguishes…
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Today is Labor Day and this is a fitting question: as a fire officer are you competent with your job skills? Unfortunately, many are not, including those in both the paid and volunteer fire service. On the paid side of the house are those individuals (including officers) who proclaim the mantra of payday and four…
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I read an online article from Fast Company, Inc. titled Why no one on your team wants to be a manager anymore – and how to change that1. The article cites a survey from CareerBuilder “of over 3,600 workers” claiming that “most people don’t want to be managers.” I agree with the author’s assessment that…
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Two cups of coffee. The one on the left is light colored, watered down, and weak. The one on the right is darker colored, robust, and full flavored. The cup on the left is disgusting, you spit it out, and say “No more!” The cup on the right has a pleasant aroma, tastes good, and…
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On Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pennsylvania, there was an assassination attempt on the life of President Donald Trump. Fortunately, the assassin failed, Trump lived, and the assassin was neutralized. Almost immediately, the head of the U.S. Secret Service, Kimberly Cheatle came under criticism and scrutiny for not providing an adequate level of protection…
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People often ask if my book, The Furnace of Leadership Development is for firefighters only and the answer is no. My book is written for those who want to develop their leadership skills and abilities regardless of profession, age, or status in life. Questions to ponder. Still not sure if the book is for you?…
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The last two blog posts were titled, Are You Listening and Are You Practicing the Skill of Listening. This post addresses the rude and inconsiderate behavior of interrupting someone else while they are speaking. Mark Twain said, “There is nothing so annoying as to have two people talking when you’re busy interrupting.” Two Examples Unless…
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The title of last week’s blog was Are You Listening? Listening is an active skill, and the process goes far beyond staring at the other person when they are speaking. In his book, Situational Awareness for Emergency Response, Dr. Richard B. Gasaway writes, “The act of listening requires a substantial amount of cognitive horsepower.” He…
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