Teamwork

When I was a firefighter in the Air Force, one of the bases I was stationed at was Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro, North Carolina, and the last name of a good friend of mine from the fire department was Williams. Hiss family often invited me to their house for supper, and oddly…

Effective communication is the foundation of any successful interaction, whether in your fire department, during a public education event, or at home. Clear communication allows people to share ideas, understand one another, and collaborate efficiently. Even though this sounds simple, effective communication is frequently complicated. Why is Clear Communication Important? Clear communication is vital because…

This week we celebrate the New Year of 2025. Are you reflecting on 2024 before flying into 2025? Why should you even bother to take the time to mull over the year? To grow we need to reflect on where we have been, what we have experienced, and what we have learned from those experiences.…

I took the above photo during a half-day fishing trip that departed from Atlantic Beach, North Carolina. The sun was rising, the fishing poles were ready, and the lines were not tangled up. In less than a month, 2025 will be the rising new year. What will the next twelve months look like for each…

The product label reads, Liquid Leadership: Guaranteed to Fix All Your Leadership Needs! Do you desire more responsibility on the job or a promotion to the next level in your organization? But you are not sure that your leadership skills measure up and you do not know how to fix the problem. Well…I have the…

The Marine Corps leadership traits define endurance as, “The mental and physical stamina measured by the ability to withstand pain, fatigue, stress, and hardship.”1 Think about the following scenarios: These scenarios and others demand both mental and physical stamina to successfully perform the various tasks that confront firefighters. Leaders set the example of endurance. Are…

In the photo above, firefighters are walking through smoke. The smoke is acrid, it stings the eyes and makes them water. Prolonged exposure may produce a headache from the carbon monoxide contained in the smoke. Visibility becomes difficult and more so when the smoke becomes thicker. There are times when career development may feel like…

This week, Thanksgiving is on November 28th. Who and for what are you thankful? Although Christmas 2021 has passed, the memories have not. Two weeks prior, my mother-in-law became gravely ill and the Sunday afternoon before December 25th an ambulance transported her to the hospital. Given the draconian and illegal Covid restrictions, my wife could…

My November 7th blog asked the question, are you trustworthy? I wrote about Yvonne “Missy” Woods, a former employee of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) who simply put, destroyed the trust people and the organization had in her. Steven Covey said, “Trust is the glue of life. It’s the most essential ingredient in effective…

November 10th and November 11th. What is their significance to the United States? November 10th, 1775 The United States Marine Corps was formed 249 years ago on November 10, 1775, at Tun Tavern in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The original building no longer exists but a plaque marks the location where Tun Tavern once stood. Much has…