I believe everyone needs a motto to help guide you through life. As for me, I have several… just ask my wife! However, there are three main mantras that have truly impacted my career and life over the years. I like to think of them as the three pillars that the foundation of twenty4forty8 was built on.
COMMITMENT: “Its not about you” In this career, we committed to serving others above ourselves. Difficult days can break even the most seasoned firefighter, both mentally and physically. I don’t train for myself. I do it for my wife and kids who deserve to have me make it home at the end of my shift. I do it for my brothers and sisters at the firehouse to ensure we all make it out together. I do it for the community I serve who depends on me in their worst moments. Why do you train? What’s your reason when you realize it’s not about you?
HONESTY: “No one cares, work harder” First of all, I’ve said this for years… way before Lamar Jackson wore it on his shirt during a press conference.. but that’s besides the point. To me, this saying has always been about honesty. You must be honest with yourself every day. Ask yourself, “did I do the best I could today”. For me, the answer is always no because honestly, there is ALWAYS room to work harder. I deadlifted 375lbs today… pretty good huh? But tomorrow there might be a 400lb victim that needs pulled from a burning house. Work harder. At home, there are days I feel like a was a great spouse because I picked the kids up from school AND did the dishes; I need to take a step back and realize I could have worked harder. Did I put my phone down and truly engage with my family? See where I’m going with this? Don’t let todays success get in the way of tomorrows hard work!
EFFORT: “Die then quit”
Sounds intense right? There are so many things in life that can be accomplished with minimal effort. But I’m not talking about that. As dead pool would say, I’m talking about maximum effort. Some people are naturally talented, and some people just refuse to quit. Effort is often what separates the two. I’m not the strongest, and I’m definitely not the fastest, but I’d rather die than quit. God willing it never happens, but say a coworker is trapped in a burning building… I know I’m not quitting until we both get out. That is what I think about when I’m exhausted during a workout and one more rep seems impossible. Who is out there depending on me to put forth maximum effort today.
Overall, these mottos can be applied to everyday life, working out, careers and any difficult situation in between. I encourage you to think about how the three pillars of strength here at twenty4forty8 can positively impact your life. Personal growth is a good thing. One of my favorite things to do is read. I don’t get much time these days to just sit with a good book uninterrupted, so I must choose wisely. I’ve developed a new appreciation for books about mental and physical strength. I enjoy reading about people who come from difficulty situations and overcome adversity through their own perseverance. If you’re looking for a few good reads, these are a few of my recent favorites
If you are like me, you’ll finish this one and wonder what exactly you are doing with your life.
This should be required reading for every firefighter out there. It tells the stories of FDNY Rescue 2. This my friends is bravery at its best. You will want to do better for yourself and your crew after this read.
This book is about leadership… but don’t kid yourself, true leaders don’t wait till they get promoted to work on leadership skills.
This book is more on the self-help side of things. David Googins tells his story about overcoming adversity and achieving his dreams despite having a less than ideal upbringing.
Don’t hesitate to share any books you’d suggest in the comment section. Together, I think we can achieve some great things in the world of firefighting to improve physical and mental health for ourselves and those around us.
