What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson Do you remember the excitement and nervousness that accompanied going into the next grade in school, especially the first day of high school? High school! Would you cut the mustard? Would your old group of…
How you lead, and, more importantly, whether people follow, has more to do with who you are than your job title. Do you inspire others, or drag them down? Do you take ownership of your impact and make a difference, or do you leave that to someone else? In the policy-driven hierarchy that defines life…
Of the stressors at the 9-1-1 communications center, daily hassles create the most frustration. Sure, trauma from a critical incident can make the most ripples, but as these ripples subside, what are you left with? The day-in, day-out grind of callers, politics, and policies. When you started the job, you had no idea it would…
It’s tough work being a 9-1-1 telecommunicator these days. Mandatory overtime, more work with less people, and the very nature of handling emergencies everyday combine to create a sometimes overwhelming culture of negativity. Many believe that “this is just how it is.” The stats confirm the challenges of the situation. 98% of emergency dispatchers leave the…
In my last post, I gave you a few quick tools for making this your best week ever. Hopefully you got to use them, and found yourself winning. The inspiration for the post was a conversation I had with a friend who, in many ways, was waiting for “someday” to come before allowing herself to be…
While on a hike in Griffith Park this past weekend, I had a long conversation with a friend. As she spoke, I heard a lot waiting. I heard that she’ll be happy when this or that happens. If only her living situation was different… If only she could finish writing the show she’s been working…
