Author: Dave Rhodes
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How many hats do you wear?
I realized today, that from a literal perspective, I think I’ve worn a ball-cap style hat every day for the last 30+ years…and I have specific ones depending on what I’m doing. When I was in the Air Force, I wore the hat for the uniform I was wearing. Now, working from home, I have…
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The Ladder of Success
I’ve heard the term “Ladder of Success” but never really put a lot of thought into it…until I realized how many different types of actual ladders I had lying around. Made me think, what really is the Ladder of Success? Guess it depends on what your definition of success is…or maybe your goal. Once you…
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Nobody Remembers the Trophies
This is by no means a pat on the back…sometimes it was the right place and right time, but over the course of my career I won a lot of awards and trophies. Most of them end in “of the Quarter” or “of the Year”. Now that I’ve retired and look around the office I…
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Having Fun Makes the Unit Stronger
I’ll be the first to admit it…I didn’t like to run, just wasn’t fun to me. I did it because it was a requirement for me to pass my PT test if I wanted to stay in the Air Force…pretty good motivation to go out and run. Then along came Chief Amo…he was all about…
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Find some 1-on-1 Time
Let’s admit it…we are all busy. Doesn’t matter the size or type of organization you are in, the calendar seems to get filled quickly. Doesn’t mean our teams don’t want/need to hear from us and get a little of our time. Sure, we can send a mass email, have a mass organizational meeting and you…
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Listen to your people
My wife and I love watching Judge Judy…it’s our nightly routine while we eat dinner (am I getting old?). Judge Judy often tells people, God gave you 2 ears and 1 mouth…so you listen more than you talk. This short story goes way back to when I first took command. Each flight in the squadron…
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Laugh it up
I shocked myself today when I realized I haven’t written anything about laughing. I’ve focused so much on other life topics that I forgot the one thing that has helped me get to where I am today…bring a little laughter and fun into life (that includes work). Now, it doesn’t mean that you have to…
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When Opportunity Knocks, Answer
I couldn’t tell you the title of the book or what I was wearing that day…but I do remember a 17-year old Dave Rhodes gripping the podium in English class, trying to get through an oral book report…I just wanted it to end!!! Public speaking, one of the biggest fears for most people. Now I…
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Encourage Integrity
As a very young Airman I made a mistake. I was away from the shop working on some equipment and I was carrying my radio (you might call it a walkie-talkie). When I got back to the shop I didn’t have my radio anymore. I knew this was bad, lost equipment, a security violation…so I…
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Everyone Has a Story
When I was 18 I married my high school sweetheart…happy to report we are still married today! At that time I was stocking shelves at Food Lion. At 19, my first son was born. Over the next 6 years we had another son, I had moved my way up to a manager at Food Lion,…
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