Category: Career Success
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Retirement: 3 Lessons Learned on Day 1
Normally, I write the articles posted here well in advance; however, today is different. I wanted to catch the raw emotion of my first official day of Air Force retirement. I waited until I took the kids to school and then settled into my day before I sat down to write this. Now, I want…
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Develop Box Checkers in 3 Steps
We chase the next box to fill or check off; however, rarely use what we learn and it is not doing our team any favors. We all look for those little letters we can add to our name or the fancy duty title to prove we are “accomplished.” Achievements and fancy letters, although hard to…
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3 Steps to Getting Promoted
We all want to be promoted. Some want it for more money, some for more leverage to help others, some are just tired of doing grunt work. Whatever the reason, the most asked question throughout my career was how to make the next rank. Although, how I have worded it has changed over the years,…
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Can You Make Rank with a Markdown?
One of the most often asked questions is about how the promotion board will view a blemish on your record. “Can I still make rank with a markdown or if I am just a ‘promote’?” Short answer is: yes. In the new Enlisted Evaluation System, there is a fear that being just a ‘promote’ or…
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Are You Becoming a ‘Yes’ Person?
We have all seen the ‘yes-men’ and ‘yes-women’ in our organizations who seemingly can’t wait for the next proclamation from the boss so they can fawn all over how great of an idea it is and push it to the masses. I have seen this with commanders and their bosses, Chiefs, CGOs, and every other…
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Memorial Day: Remember
This Memorial Day is like all others. We take the day to appreciate the nation we serve and remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. When we take the oath, we know it is a possibility to not make it home.Almost all of us have lost a brother or sister in arms who passed on…
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3 Books You Need to Read as a SNCO
So far this year I have read several books. In fact, I have read three books that I wish I would have read before sewing on Master many moons ago. These books will help you provide feedback and assess how to approach those on your team; how to create important goals and motivate your team…
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My Potential $100K Post-Career Mistake…
Several years back I applied for the 15-year retirement and thought I was going to get approved. During this period, I went to TAPS, started job-hunting, and signed up for a PMP certification course. After three long months of waiting, I learned I had been denied and gave up on the job search and the…
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Risk Management for Leaders: 3 Questions for Success
While reflecting during a recent Daily Deliberation, I was really thinking about the Air Force’s view on risk. Our Risk Management (RM) teachings are very good and offer an easy 5-step framework on how to avoid unnecessary risks, but never how to embrace risks. We have to change our mindset that all risk is bad.…
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Is Work-Life Balance Attainable?
Work-life balance is one of those topics that is constantly being discussed. Many of us try very hard to keep everything in balance at home and at work. However, we spend so much energy doing this, we tend to miss the good stuff. I am a firm believer that there are three areas we need…
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