Posts
Many of you began 2024 with goals and New Year’s resolutions (resolutions that are quickly broken). To help you develop into a better leader, create a leadership journal using your computer, phone, or yes, even paper. Pour a cup of coffee and ask yourself the following questions: Moving forward from this point, it is important…
Read More
My blog for November 22, 2023, was titled Brick and Mortar: Certified or Qualified? I compared bricks to certifications and qualifications to the mortar that holds the bricks together to build a solid career structure. Walking through the smoke In the photo above, notice the firefighters walking through the smoke. The smoke is acrid, stinging…
Read More
In two weeks, we will be into the first week of January 2024. Are you reflecting on this past year before flying into 2024? Why should you even bother to take the time to mull over the year? Taking time to reflect To grow we need to reflect on where we have been, what we…
Read More
I am often asked if my book, The Furnace of Leadership Development is only for firefighters and the answer is no. My book is written to 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…
Read More
The photo shows one of the anchors for the battleship U.S.S. North Carolina (BB-55) now on display in Wilmington, North Carolina. The length of the ship is 728’, she has a 103’3” beam, and a draft of 35’. Standard displacement for the vessel is 36,000 tons and 44,800 tons fully loaded.1 That is a tremendous…
Read More
The afternoon of February 1, 2017, was sunny and pleasant, but by sundown the temperature began dropping, a light rain fell, and then quickly turned to snow. The wet road surfaces formed a sheet of black ice and there were multiple motor vehicle accidents over the next few hours, including the one in the photo…
Read More
The photo above is a small oven made from brick and mortar. If the oven were only made from stacked bricks, the structure would quickly fail from the weight of the material, strong winds, or something bumping into it. The strength of the oven comes from the mortar that holds the bricks together. But I…
Read More
The title of this blog is my life purpose, relating to Luke 12:48, “For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.” Much is Given These words involve my purpose in life and what God has given…
Read MoreDo you have a Headless Horseman of the Sleepy Hollow Fire Department in your organization? The organizational monster Although Halloween has passed for 2023, there are many Headless Horsemen (and women) roaming through the fire departments of the world. We can also include other organizations such as business, non-profits, and various government entities (elected, appointed,…
Read More
Esprit de Corps is a French term meaning “spirit of the body”1 or also spirit of the corps. Esprit de Corps is a good measure of unit or organizational morale, camaraderie, teamwork, and cohesiveness. World War II Battle of Midway In 1942, Rear Admiral Raymond A. Spruance assumed command of Task Force 16 prior to…
Read More