What Now? (eBook)

Chapter
1

Leadership

“Position and title don’t define a leader, their actions do.”

-Harrison Burkardt

Do you view yourself as a leader? There are countless names for positions and titles across the Air Force that are sought to define ‘leadership.’ We often get discouraged when a ‘leader’ holds that title or role and does not live up to our leadership bias, or what we expect of a leader. We all know what is right and wrong. Leaders, being the most watched individuals, should always find integrity as an asset. The leader is within us; it’s a choice we make daily. A commitment to excellence and application. An excellence in all we do (I’m already starting with the corny dad jokes). Holding a title or position doesn’t automatically make one a leader. A choice guarantees a leader. No rank, tier, or title can confirm such an honor. As an NCO, choose wisely. You have the choice to be a leader daily. Your actions will influence a new culture of leaders around you. Adapt a vision that inspires growth. Challenge innovative concepts. Never stop your hustle.

Background

The way I was brought up could be entirely different from your own experience. Throughout my youth, I was questioned on who my real parents were. “Look, there goes the adopted kid,” or “The red headed stepchild,” and “Jews can’t play basketball.” It hurt. I internalized a lot of it. I was always ‘too tough’ to talk about it. As time passed, I became more resilient. It made me stronger as I struggled through adversity. My background played a role in shaping the person I grew to be. As did yours. How can we know what others faced without asking? Get to know the background of those around you. We all come from different places. By places, I mean a different home. We all have our own set of beliefs and principles. The Air Force welcomes people from all over the world. Diversity is a beautiful thing. Welcome it with open arms. How we were raised plays a significant factor in our ethics and principles. Our traditions carry on into our adult life; what we believe, what forms our beliefs, and our foundation. Leaders come in all shapes, sizes, ethnicity, religions, race, gender, age, and cultural backgrounds. The Air Force is an amazing place to learn and discover these backgrounds. Not only is it a beautiful place to learn, but it is also a rare chance to gather diverse teammates to excel. When situations that go against respecting culture arise, stand up for what is right. This should be almost automatic. Being in the Air Force, we are all on the same team. Your silence affects each team member. Everyone should be appreciated for their diverse background and welcomed on the team.

Life Experiences

At sixteen years old, my sister passed away from brain cancer. I lived in a constant mental fog for about eight years, until life smacked me in the face. My wife and children gave me a higher meaning of self. I promised I would live not only for me, but to honor my sister. To cherish each day and grow to my most optimal level.

We all experience different challenges. Leaders go through various obstacles and overcome them. We all pursue a different trail of life lessons. The life experiences leaders face—the total of what they’ve gone through to get to where they are now—is a constant reminder of their journey. Leaders are grateful for what life has presented; the good and the bad. No two individuals will ever share the same exact life experience. We may find comfort in similarity, but remember to appreciate those new experiences. Learn from other life experiences. Vicariously live through someone else to seek a better understanding of those around you. Leaders share their life experiences to provide relatable knowledge that provides comfort to everyone listening.

Failure

There aren’t enough extremities on my body to count the number of times I have failed. Grateful is an understatement to those experiences of failure. Through my failures, I seek others in similar situations to speak with, in hopes of preventing them from going down the same path. As you, being human, have also failed. Share those failures with those around you.

Leaders seek failure. Leaders find pleasure in adversity. Leaders know failure is the quickest route to learning. Everyone fails, but leaders stand out because they know they’ve failed for a reason. Leaders do not dwell on failure. Leaders recognize where they fall short. Then, build to come back stronger and more resilient than before. Leaders know that failure is the ultimate path toward learning. Leaders seek out failure, for they fear complacency. Leaders not only seek personal failure, but they also look for opportunities to challenge those around them to fail, knowing they will support and keep pushing others to reach their highest potential.

Purpose

It took me losing someone I loved to find my purpose. Your purpose and how you come to find it will be unique to you. Spend the time to question what your purpose is. Have you found it yet? Leaders do things with a purpose in mind. Leaders make the right choice based on their purpose. Not only do leaders know their purpose, but they also make everyone else recognize their purpose, too. Leaders have planned their next five moves, because they know where the road leads. Leaders give others a sense of meaning. Leaders find true purpose in all. Leaders know situations in life have been presented to them for a reason—to overcome. It is the path given to them to fulfill their destiny. Leaders are just fine with taking the more challenging path, knowing that when they reach their destination, they will be stronger than ever before.

Outlook

If there is one thing I wake up thinking about, it’s always ‘everyone has good intentions.’ They may or may not. It’s not my job to determine that. But it is my choice to choose what my outlook is. Leaders have a different outlook regarding people. Leaders are wise in teaching and learning. Leaders find all others to be teachers in their unique field of expertise. Leaders look for those gifts and assemble a team, where everyone is equal. Leaders learn from all walks of life. Not only do leaders go into situations with a positive attitude, they also go into every situation with the belief that they will learn and grow. Leaders are always ready to confront whatever challenges cross their path. What is your outlook on people?

Leaders Are Not Born 

Have you made the choice yet? Yes, you may be an NCO, but are you a leader? What are you doing to become a leader now? As you have the experience of seeing firsthand, oftentimes your work center needs more leaders. WAPs testing is the way to earn the title ‘NCO’ in the Air Force. Does that test define a leader? Absolutely not. A lot of Airmen enter the military with a solid concept of what leadership truly is. They are already on the path to becoming a great leader. Don’t let your rank catch you up. Provide a safer road for those with leadership fundamentals. Help them sharpen the sword. Remember, leadership is a choice, not a birthright. The same is true for yourself. Leadership can be developed over time, with practice and application. It’s a commitment to constant personal development, continual education, and constant failure. We make the choice to be a leader. It is never granted as a permission. Once you have formed your leadership principles, they will mature over time, and thus create a broad spectrum of wisdom.

Application

Trying something new is difficult. I get it! Nothing is ever easy the first time. If you want to be that person you see in your mind, practice. Apply what you have learned. Leaders apply what they’ve overcome. The life experiences and obstacles overcome serve as a constant reminder to prevent and comfort those who may face similar events. Leaders do not store knowledge. Leaders learn all they are passionate about and pass it on. Leaders form new habits by learning from failures and mistakes. Leaders are always looking for the sharpest edge to improve themselves and all others around them. There isn’t anything leaders learn that they do not apply.

Wisdom

Not only do the elderly have great wisdom, so can you. Through learning and experience, leaders have a unique wisdom. Leaders always seem to say what is needed. Leaders never stop learning. Advice from a leader is always comforting. Leaders seem to always say what is right when giving advice. Leaders pull from a vast spectrum of knowledge because they have studied and experienced many obstacles that life presents. A leader truly knows how to lift an individual’s spirits when they are down, thereby motivating them back in the game.

Vision

Have you ever thought about what your leadership vision is? Your vision in other aspects of life? Until I really utilized this term, it was foreign language to me. Where do you see yourself in five years? What kind of leader will you be? How will you lead? I challenge you to start envisioning now! Leaders know exactly where they’re going. They’ve found their calling. Leaders bring others along the way, building teams, and helping people grow along their journey. Leaders cast their vision out, in order for everyone to be a part of it. Everyone is welcome along the leader’s journey. Leaders inspire others to cast their own vision. A leader’s vision is...