Ego vs Perspective On A New Job

When you get promoted, or moved to a new temporary position, with more responsibilities you have to look at your reasons for wanting the position. What does it really entail? What is the impact on your family? It is about ego or your conviction that you can make a difference?

Luckily for me, I have the opportunity for a "test drive" right now. I'm responsible for the downtown area of a capital city. I have neighborhoods, a general business district, and protecting half a billion dollars in new hotel development. All with 33 people? Can I make a difference? Absolutely . Am I up to the challenge?Yes. Is it worth the damage to my family spending 12-14 hours a day trying to stop crime, and turn around a demotivated group of people? No, no it's not.

So, what is it really about? Determining what is important in life and setting priorities, that's it in a nutshell. The "ego" drives people for more. People who can facing struggles and coming up with a workable solution have always fascinated me. It's like watching chess, and seeing a master in action. One always wonders if you are really that good. Hopefully you are. Hopefully, you are taking the assignment because you want to make a difference, and believe you have something to contribute. Hopefully, it is not to make a difference in your take home check, because you will loose more than you gain. 

The challenge for me it to motivate people who have been neglected for a long time. The key is to do it one small victory at a time. To reach the individual, three layers below, who works the middle of the night, and make them believe they make a impact. Again, the "ego" in action. However, the impact of touching an individual to do their best transcends a single career. They will one day motivate someone else to do their best.

Together we success or fail. The true test is determining if the job is right for you, or is the "ego" that says go ahead and take it. To quote Buddy the Elf, " Some people forget what is important in life, and they end up on the naughtly list."

Laughter at work in Public Safety

In public safety we see it all from the deepest inhumanity to the greatest sites of compassion. However, it is the platoons, their sense of purpose, and most importantly the “Gut Busting” laughter we have at times that gets us through. It is the sense of community at the lowest level that separates us and makes us great! Only the people in public safety will know the benefit of a great laugh after a heart breaking day!