Personnel Appliances

Call it a strange relationship, but I really liked my washing machine.  A few months ago, however, it started making some strange noises.  I called my landlord, who called the repairman, who listened to the noise, then put in an order to replace my washing machine.  I was thrilled, a NEW appliance for me with no money out of my pocket, “Woo-hoo!”

The new unit arrived the next day, and I immediately noticed that it didn’t have all the bells and whistles as my last one.  There was no automatic bleach or fabric softener dispenser, and the door lock made adding it at the right time a game at which I discovered I was not very good.  Then there was the annoying habit of the new machine turning my shirts inside-out.  When I tried to out-smart it by throwing my shirts IN already inside-out, the damn thing seldom corrected them.  Then there was the time it washed a paperback notebook that was my pants pocket; bits of paper lint everywhere, and a spiral wire in the bottom of the tub… mocking me!  OK, that one may have been my fault, but I had become so good at blaming my stupid new washing machine, it only seemed right to blame this mess on it as well. 

Once I calmed down and tried to rationalize the whole ordeal, my mood changed.  I realized that I am fortunate enough to have a full-size washing machine 30 feet from anywhere in my apartment.  I also appreciated that if it stopped working, it was someone else’s problem to fix or replace it.  In fact, it does, indeed get my clothing clean.  Whether it was black sprinkler pipe water that shot from a drum drip, rusty grease from a fire pump valve that was being stubborn, or dribbled Dunkin Donuts hot chocolate that I got on my white shirt (within 3 seconds of it being handed to me I might add), the machine always got it clean. 

It made me think about how we sometimes treat people; specifically within organizations such as the fire service.  Yes, I know, I am the Master of Metaphors, and the Professor of Personification, but allow me to explain…

I can think of several leaders, myself included, which were treated just like my old washing machine.  Years and years of faithful, quality service and performance only to be discarded to the dump as soon as they began to make a little noise or lose a little performance seems mighty harsh.  I realize that our society, and more specifically, our manufacturing of modern goods had shifted from a “fix-it” to a “”replace it” mentality.  Technological advances are so rapid that it is often more practical to upgrade the old model with the new one, rather than repair the existing model, but why do we do it with people?  People are upgradable, can be repaired, and re-programmed, and re-trained.  Also, the last time I checked, we don’t have a warehouse full of an extended supply of experienced, well-qualified contributors waiting to be plugged into an organization. 

And how about that “new” washing machine?  New does not always mean better.  As I stated, it does indeed wash the clothing, so it does as advertised.  Should the machine be blamed just because it does not look, sound, or perform like the last model that was in the laundry room?  Was I subconsciously expecting it to perform functions that it was not designed to do just because the old one did those things?  I don’t put eggs and cheese in the refrigerator and expect it to make an omelet.  Nor do I expect my stove to wash the dishes after it cooks my food.  Do we unconsciously make these assumptions with people?

One of my favorite sayings about marriage is, “Women marry men, expecting them to change; Men marry women expecting they never will”.  The divorce rate is testimony that such expectations are seldom met.  Changing one’s status or title does not change the person.  Also, two people with the same status or title are seldom the same.  Look at your current leadership.  I am correct, am I not?

When we look at fire service relationships, we see that we make the same mistakes there as well.  We all know at least one “certificate collector” who on paper should be stellar, but in practicality, is a cement head.   We have probably worked with the guy that scoffs at certification, but would be our first choice to be depended on in a crisis.  A great firefighter may be a great leader, but that is not always the case.  Conversely, some leaders may be super motivators and coordinators, but lack expertise in the ground level tasks.  It is in this judgment that we collectively fail. 

When we promote in the fire service, we do dis-service to the individual if we ask, or expect, them to perform duties for which they are incapable or unable to perform.  We set them up for failure by expecting them to change, particularly if they showed no signs of that ability in the past.  If someone tells you they are a good speller because they learned spelling in “collage”, trust their actions, not their words. 

I don’t expect my new washing machine to be like the last one.  I also don’t expect it to dry and fold my laundry.  I expect it to get my clothing clean.  If it decides that the best way to accomplish that task is to turn a few shirts inside-out, who am I to judge?  I simply need to plan a few extra seconds to turn the shirts right-side-out while I appreciate that I didn’t need to haul my basket of clothes to a rock by the river. 

As Colonel Nathan R. Jessup said in one of the most powerful movie lines ever,

“Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna do it?  You?  … Deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall; you need me on that wall. …  I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said                                                           thank you, and went on your way …”                                                     

                Paraphrased from “A Few Good Men, 1992”

I only wish we could see people the same way.  We should appreciate all the contributions of people without banishing them for their shortcomings.  If our expectations are not met, perhaps it is our expectations to blame, not our “appliances”.  

Son of a…

Even a casual glance across the rosters of the volunteer fire service reveals a pattern of family involvement.  Family values and traditions play a large role toward an inherited desire to volunteer in the local fire department.  It is not uncommon to see at least one father/son or brother/brother tandem on any fire department roster.  In fact, I recently examined my region (60+ fire suppression agencies) and discovered a family tandem in over 75% of those departments.  Many had more than one pair of relatives actively serving.  The longevity and commitment to the fire service created by this type of family-based value shows in the number of these relationships that included one or more leaders of their respective organizations.  My family, for example, includes a grandfather, father, mother, sister, cousin and daughter who either serve, or served the organization in some capacity, most rising to a successful position of leadership.

 

On my sixteenth birthday, I got a fire helmet from my parents.  While that may seem a bit presumptuous, it was one of my most memorable gifts I ever received.  I had already spent several years watching and learning.  You see, my father was the fire chief; it was fairly certain that I would follow in his footsteps. 

Those of you who have followed your parents into an “occupation” understand that often means more hurdles than advantages.  The volunteer fire service is no different.  The expectations are set much higher, and you can’t simple “stay home” if you didn’t feel like participating, without lots of explaining and guilt.  Please understand that these represent the “good” part of having family in the business; built in motivation, insights into the behind-the-scenes issues, etc.  It makes me appreciate the “generic”, non-family connected volunteer even more!  Choosing to serve the fire department takes a lot of guts and commitment…and sacrifice!

The challenges that are even more difficult are the ones that come from outside the family, and outside the scope of evaluation of a traditional member.  It is the expectation and assumption of the masses that an offspring of a leader has greater opportunity for advancement and acknowledgement, yet nothing could be farther from the truth.  While I will admit that having a family heritage in the fire service certainly made me aware of the opportunities available to me, the path to success was certainly as difficult, and even MORE difficult because of the perceptions of nepotism that needed to be overcome. 

I knew from the beginning of my career in the fire service, that I would have to work harder, study more, attain more certifications, practice more intently, be more uniquely creative, and set my own personal bar higher than most simply to overcome the assumption that I got something I didn’t earn.  Hearing the phrase “…because you’re the chief’s kid” was something that made me so angry I could spit!  That phrase was my motivation to rise above the presumption through endless hard work and personal accomplishment. 

My father didn’t make it easy either.  His fire service career is adorned with many great accomplishments that have made the Hostetter name well known in the emergency services network.  I marvel at the number of people who I meet who give me that awestruck look as they ask, “Are you related to Glen?”, as if I am some sort of heir to a throne.  It is a bittersweet feeling of being directly associated with such a great community leader, while never being able to step clear from the shadow he casts. 

THAT, however, remains my goal.  In the words of Napoleon Hill, “The strongest oak of the forest is not the one that is protected from the storm and hidden from the sun. It's the one that stands in the open where it is compelled to struggle for existence against the winds and rains and the scorching sun.  In an effort to be that mighty oak, I have become so resistant to accepting help from the trees around me.  I have steered away from the support and protection of one of the mightiest oaks I know in an effort to be strong, resilient, and self-sufficient.  I have done so with such resolve that I have carried that independent characteristic into professional relationships beyond those between my father and me.  Sadly, this independent drive is sometimes misinterpreted as isolation, unwillingness to work within a team, or “standoffishness”.  Wow, spell check didn’t underline that word; I am glad someone understands me!

While it may seem noble and honorable to desire acknowledgement and reward based solely on individual measurable achievement, I have, once again, discovered that the world doesn’t always work that way.  There is more than just black and white, there are many shades of gray that come from blending the measurable with the immeasurable.  I can only hope that before my career ends, I learn to dip my fingers in the paint and smear myself a new opportunity that mixes my personal accomplishments with all those career boosting, wheel greasing traits that I have trained myself to avoid for the past 32 years.  I just hope after all these years, my paint hasn’t dried up!

The Super Bowl

Ah, yes, Super Bowl Sunday.  This is the day that signifies the end of the NFL season.  What can I say?  As a life long Dolphins fan, the Super Bowl hasn’t excited me in two decades.  The salt in the wounds is watching the Brady bunch playing again!  Don’t get me wrong, I watch every play, every year.  I enjoy the bigness of the game, the commercials, the halftime performance, and subsequent internet bashing of the performance.  After all, this is supposed to be the two best teams in the league playing.  But is it really?  I am sure there are some fans in Green Bay (1 loss in regular season), or Philadelphia (beat the Giants twice this year) that would dispute that fact. 

The truth is that the Giants and the Patriots are just the two most fortunate teams.  That is usually the case.  Injuries, luck, weather, match-ups, coaching calls, and inches make the difference in many games throughout the season and the playoffs.  This game was no exception.  The Giants running back, unable to stop short of the end zone so they could run out the clock and kick a game-winning field goal, gave the Pats a chance to win it in the last minute (something we have seen Brady do more than once).  As the final second ticked off the clock, the ball bounced inches out of the grasp of one of the best tight ends in the game.  That’s right… I said “second” and I said “inches”.  All those practices, scrimmages, weekly games, playoffs come down to a few seconds and a few inches.  It really makes you wonder who the best team in the league really is. My hat goes off to the Giants!  Just showing that a 9 win team can win the super bowl gives my Phins hope! 

This is nothing new in sports, particularly in football.  Any fan of college football will tell you the “National Championship” is ALWAYS disputed, and the NCAA basketball tournament will crown the most fortunate team at the end of March Madness, but arguable not always the best team.  Once you make the post season, anything can happen.  The trophy usually goes to the hottest team, and/or the luckiest team when the games count the most.  Just ask the Packers!

So the next time you are riding the rig to an incident, think of the super bowl.  Is your team “hot” or are you in a slump?  Do you have some key “injuries” to members on your roster, keeping them from playing in the game?  Is the weather or the venue for your next event going to create a problem for your execution of your game plan?  Do you have the proper personnel to match up with the “opponent”, knowing clearly that this call will never be the same as your last one?  Will your “coaches” make the correct calls in a timely fashion to give you the best chance to win?  We know firefighting is a strategic battle against time, and we have no time-outs left. 

The biggest advantage we have is the access to the opponents’ playbook.  Now all we have to do is convince all of our players to study it.  Fire will always sneak in a trick-play, but understanding the basic game plan it normally uses will help us win our own “super bowl”.  Read the periodicals, watch the video accounts of incidents, study your area, and always keep your head in the game.  Be a champion on every call, and save the goofy victory dances for those who are surprised when they do well. 

Now, when do pitchers and catchers report???

Service Engine Soon

She is a faithful girl born in Dearborn, Michigan, who I affectionately call Veronica, and has been with me for over 10 years, despite the abuse I inflict on her.  I wake her up on cold mornings and demand she get moving immediately, I don’t bathe her very often, and I make her carry my crap everywhere we go.  I make her run around in all sorts of weather, leave her in strange places for hours on end, and make her listen to me try to sing along with the music (I change pitch at will, and often make up my own words to songs when I can’t understand the real lyrics).  She complains, but I just turn up the music louder so I can’t hear her whining. I am not a complete monster, though.  I feed her often (she has a voracious appetite), give her plenty of fluids, buy new shoes for her from time to time, and take her for a check-up every year.  Despite her age, she is still in good shape, despite her creaking and groaning, and I love her.

She kept hinting to me that she wasn’t feeling well, and every once in awhile, she blew a fuse.  I placated her, and gave her a new bauble, and that shut her up for awhile, but I knew deep in my heart that something was wrong.  I would always leave some spare change in the cup holder for her, stick on a new tattoo on her rear end and spritz her with some spice scented perfume every now and then, plus there was the occasional snack I would let slip between the seats for her to enjoy.  But I knew our relationship was strained.  The tension was mounting.  She was very bossy every time we went for a ride, always “recalculating”, but never just let me go MY way! 

Recently, she showed me that she was not to be neglected any more.  She broke the news to me as I was trying to turn left in front of a gasoline tanker that was traveling faster than I expected.  Like the cold slap in the face of a “Dear John” letter, she told me it was over!  I had experienced with the dreaded “Check Engine Soon” light before, but never with such drama.  Like the others who were with me before (Bu, Sunshine, Grey, Spookie, and Blackie), our relationship seemed to have reached the end.  I begged with her, and swore at her, and finally at the last moment, she lurched forward, and saved my life.  Maybe she still did love me? 

I took her outburst and immediately headed for some long-overdue therapy.  The “doctor” heard the symptoms, took some tests, and told me what I had known all along.  It was her, not me that had flaws… 10 of them to be exact!  He referred me to a specialist, and naturally, this would not be covered by her insurance.  Fortunately, she only had a few screws loose, and before long, she was back in my arms.

We had a long talk that night, and I promised her I would be more attentive to her needs.  I will try to be more responsive to her minor complaints.  Better yet, I have vowed to be thoughtful enough to know what she needs BEFORE she needs it, and tend to those needs promptly.  She is mine, for better or worse, in good times and bad, till death do us part.    

How do you manage your relationships?  Are you attentive to the little hints and your intuition or do you wait for the buzzers and flashing warning lights?  Take it from me (and Ben Franklin), “a stitch in time, saves nine”.  So listen carefully to your partner, and take preemptive action as necessary.  Work together, communicate often, and treat each other with kindness.  Meanwhile, check back later when I blog about properly maintaining your automobile.