Happy New Year (2011)

Another year is upon us, and for many, the passing into a new year creates a time of reflection and an impetus for a promise of change.
        What is your “New Year’s Resolution”? Did you accomplish last year’s? Or are you like others that know they will not achieve the goal, so therefore, do not set one?
        As 2011 moves forward, I issue a challenge to all of us to be the leaders and warriors we know we should be. If you haven’t done your best, then start; challenge yourself and others to reach the potential we all need to realize in order to truly bring excellence to our organizations.
        Easy to say. Not so easy to live. Failures: they will occur. Wins: they will be all the better; absolutely earned. Let us begin by feeding each other positives rather than dwelling on negatives. I am guilty of sweating the small stuff; guilty of getting hung up on the roadblocks in life that I cannot control or influence. What wasted effort! I cannot fathom the amount of time and energy I wasted last year on issues out of my control. What change could I influence if I had that time back? More time spent being a positive role model to the new recruits; more time used for company drills; time for coaching brothers and sisters or just being a good friend.
        A close friend of mine was good at kicking me out of the rut. You know the rut, the one we lie in, sorrowful over the wrongs done us by “the man”. He would listen for a bit as I lamented and whined. Finally hearing enough, he would issue his declaration, “If it’s so bad, quit. But quit talking about it and do it, ‘cause your starting to drag us down, too.” Well said. Shit or get off the pot, but quit stinkin’ the place up!
        When we see a fellow warrior heading for the rut, let’s stop them. When a brother or sister is down, let’s pick them up! We owe it to each other and to the organizations and communities we serve to be the best we can be at what we do. That means constant training, positive attitudes, impeccable teamwork and professionalism, and the one thing perhaps hardest to swallow, being a good follower, even if the leader isn’t a leader.