I’m here to suggest that it’s perfectly ok to be ridiculous about nothing. You have my express, written permission to be peculiar. All the little peccadillos that you shamefully hide or meekly defend may now see the light of day, unfettered by the cruel derision of better adjusted friends and colleagues. From this day forward,…
Details
What if I told you that allowing yourself to be more vulnerable is the key to long-term mental health in your 911 career? To be clear: I fully realize what I’m suggesting and to whom I am talking. We are literally taught to compartmentalize and essentially deny how we feel to master the difficulties of…
Details
Do you ever find yourself thinking of people who call 911 as “less than” or “other?” Are you ever buried in a great book, only to be roused by a flurry of rings that leave you furious, wondering, “why would they bother me with these ridiculous calls!?” Does your tone on the phone ever change…
Details
As I write this, I have arrived at 30 years in the 911 industry. 30. Years. For added perspective, here are some tidbits to help better place 1994 in time: Pulp Fiction, Forest Gump and The Shawshank Redemption were released in theaters Friends debuted on TV Jeff Bezos launched Amazon.com The first PlayStation console was…
Details
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about people who display extraordinary strength in the face of devastating circumstances. Anyone who works in public safety has cause to both reassess and redefine the concept of extraordinary strength often, given the acts of selfless heroism that so often accompany the job. That has certainly been my experience…
Details
Somewhere along the way in your 911 career, someone took you under their wing and showed you things about yourself that you couldn’t see. They were Mr. Miyagi to your Daniel-Son. Dumbledore to your Harry Potter. Yoda to your Luke Skywalker. They were your person. When you were in dire need of confidence and belief…
Details
Have you ever stopped for a minute to really consider what we ask of our CTOs in 911? If you are a CTO, you know all too well. If you aren’t a CTO or haven’t taken a second to ponder that question, here’s a hint: It’s a hell of a lot. To wit: Orient someone…
Details
From the smallest of state conferences to the larger get-togethers like Be the Difference, NENA and APCO, 911 industry conferences are where dispatchers converge to celebrate, laugh and learn. Educational sessions, theme nights, parties and excellent food tend to be the big attractions, but the real power of 911 conferences lies with the attendees themselves:…
Details
In your comm center as we speak, a group of team members are doing more than their fair share of the work, just like they do every day. Outward appearances suggest that they are happy doing all of this, because that’s how they carry themselves – but it’s wearing them down, and their leaders are…
Details
Lord, how I loved stomping a foot pedal at the dispatch console. The sweet feel of untamed rage assuaged for all to experience. Instantaneous in its fulfillment. The gratification bordering on addiction. Beads of sweat begin to pepper my brow and my fingers begin to perceptibly tremble as I long for it. I digress. To…
Details