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A New Year Is Upon Us
In these days between Christmas and New Years, nothing ever seems to get done. The day after Christmas in Canada (and Ireland and England, I think) is St. Stephen's Day or Boxing Day and I have heard it's the day on which everyone boxes up the stuff they got and tries to find a home for it somewhere among the already cluttered existence they already enjoy. I had to work on St. Stephen's/Boxing Day this year, and in anticipation of the changes coming up for me in a shift transfer associated with my promotion, I spent the day moving files and just working with the team I have been with for years, and thinking about the last 10 years that I have been the commanding officer of Truck 6.
As I said, its a time for finding a home for things and likewise, we should all use this time to reflect a little on the "clutter" of our current lives and thinking about organizing, setting goals, and looking to the future. What kinds of changes do you see coming in the New Year?
Can we go one year without a LODD associated with not wearing a seatbelt? Can we find an innovative way to deliver our service? Can we use our collective will to find a candidate for office that will support our greater emergency services mission? Or should we just muddle through this year and hope for the best?
Success requires direction and direction needs a path. To get from Point A to Point B, you need to know where Point B is and WHAT it is. This requires introspection; reflection, honest self-analysis, and knowing what the solution is if one is even needed.
I'm flattered that I have been listed as a blogger to watch, especially since it has me in the ranks of Tiger and FASNY and xchief. But the main reason I'm happy about that is because it means I may have an opportunity to better spread this message and if someone out there reads my work and finally gets "it" (as Tiger, etc. have referred to IT), then maybe my goal to impact this bigger picture will be recognized.
What will you do for the big picture? Will this be the year you get IT, if you haven't already? How will YOU impact our greater body of work? These are questions you really need to look into your heart about and say, I may not know what I did in 2007, but 2008 will bring a New Year and it's MY year.
Have a great New Year and let's make this a better world to live in during 2008.
Add a Comment
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Comment by Mike Sullivan on January 2, 2008 at 12:51am
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Mick,
First off, congratulations on your promotion..... although it will bring on a new set of challenges, it will also offer a new set of opportunities.
Secondly, I think your post should be "required reading" for every officer in the fire and emergency services.
We, as officers, bear a responsibility to lead our troops into battle day after day yet many of us never take time out to look at the big picture.
Where are we now ? Our dept ?, Our company ?, Our own personnel development ? .....
Where do we want to be ?..........
What steps do we need to take to get there ? What can we do as officers to to get the troops headed in the right direction ?
Just my thoughts....
Have a Great Year, and one again Congrats !!!
Be Good, Stay Safe
Sully
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Comment by Mick Mayers on December 29, 2007 at 1:07pm
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It's funny about your comment "I didn't need to be Chief to gauge my success"; I have believed that strongly for years and in fact, passed on some opportunities because I felt that I would have a bigger impact on the picture by staying on as a Captain. I think it all really depends on your self-esteem and your satisfaction with your own situation. I think you have had a tremendous impact on the fire service with your articles (as well as your contributions in your home department) and so it sounds like you may be in a good place in your life right now. Being a student is something I seem to always come back to, however, and I think that's a good thing.
I wish you continued good fortune in this New Year and many more after.
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Comment by Tiger Schmittendorf on December 28, 2007 at 10:18pm
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Just having made a significant life changing decision myself, it was your second to last statement that really struck a chord with me:
"These are questions you really need to look into your heart about and say, I may not know what I did in 2007, but 2008 will bring a New Year and it's MY year."
And for the record, there is no doubt in my mind of what I did in 2007, despite the lack of appreciation for it.
Prior to making that decision I made public my goals for 2008 in order of priority: family, work, and fire department.
It allowed me to reaffirm what matters most: my family and my well being.
In that, the decision I made was, in essence, doing the right thing for my family, and me. And for once, not for my fire company. Thus, I have the confidence that I made the right decision.
With the encouragement of your blog, I will take on 2008 as MY year.
I told everyone for a long time that I would be one of two things in 2008: Chief or Student. And it was the propspect of being a student that excited me more.
I realized that I didn't need to be Cheif to gauge my success or impact on the fire service, actually to the contrary.
So, I chose student, and I have plans to go back to school and get another degree, in emergency management.
In the infamous words of my "Fix it." blog: IT STARTS NOW.
Thanks for the editorial swift kick in the butt for the New Year.
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Comment by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on December 28, 2007 at 12:53pm
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Mick:
Those are excellent points and you have given some a starting blueprint for 2008. Many will wait until AFTER the holidays to begin making plans for a new year that has already started.
There are song lyrics that says "you can't know where you're going, if you don't know where you've been". How true. I have always carried those words with me since my early days. It pays homage to your past-your history-if you will and it centers you so that you can begin to move forward, possibly in another direction.
In 2008, I'd like to see less complaining about OUR condition and more complaining about those who still refuse to wear their seatbelts, wear all of their PPE, work to get into better physical shape to cut the risk of a cardiac event, treat each other with more respect, listen more and actually "hear" what is being said and not to leave Dave out, work to make this website the premier PUBLIC SAFETY site in the industry.
As always, I enjoy reading your articles and comments.
I am honored to be in the same class.
Here's to a great 2008.
Art
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