Sometimes while fighting fires or just working with your crew, we have an opportunity to make a difference in their lives. It doesn’t have to be a big deal. Small things can make a difference too. If you listened to episode #64, you heard how I was able to get some of my SRV crews … Continue reading #76, I Want Ice Cream! →

BobbieOnFire

#76, I Want Ice Cream!

Leadership can be difficult. It can cause the leader to second guess themselves and question if they’re doing the right thing. Today we have two stories. The first one is a good example of both me and my fire chief not doing that “one good thing”. The second story is an example of the good … Continue reading # 75, One Thing Good Leaders Do →

# 75, One Thing Good Leaders Do

While reading some blogs and webpages for people effected by the latest round of devastating wildfires, it occured to me that everyone is incredibly stressed right now. Homeowners have had to flee for their lives, leaving pets and all their worldly possessions. Once evacuated they’re not allowed to re-enter their neighborhood. Now away from their … Continue reading #73, It Could Happen to You →

#73, It Could Happen to You

In my life, I’ve experienced some pretty crazy incidents. Like all of us, many of those stressful events and emergency incidents don’t always occur on the fireground. We all have plenty of personal stress and trauma in our lives. Many years ago, it hit me all in one month. I had 2 significant emotional events … Continue reading #72, My 3 Alarm Summer →

#72, My 3 Alarm Summer

Years ago, I worked for a Battalion Chief who was a great mentor for me. I was a new Captain and didn’t have much support from the other officers on the fire department, let alone support from a Chief officer. But my Battalion Chief gave me some real pearls of wisdom. He had two that … Continue reading #71, No Matter What… Make It Sound Good On The Radio! →

#71, No Matter What… Make It Sound Good On The Radio!

If you’re a federal wildland firefighter, you already know what I’m about to say. If you’re not, this may come as a surprise to you. The lowest paid people on a large wildfire… I’m including the kitchen help and those who are cleaning the toilets, the lowest paid personnel on the fire are likely the … Continue reading #70, The “Grassroots” Fight for Federal Wildland Firefighters →

#70, The “Grassroots” Fight for Federal Wildland Firefighters

Sometimes we think no one is watching us. But in reality, someone is always watching. Whether you’re a firefighter on a crew or engine, or you’re a Captain or Chief, someone is always watching you. That doesn’t mean it’s like big brother looking over your shoulder all the time. It’s just the way it is. … Continue reading #69, If You Think People Might Be Watching You… They Are! →

#69, If You Think People Might Be Watching You… They Are!

If you google “Leading Up”, you’ll find a hundred of books on the subject. But for this retired fire chief, it’s a relatively new term compared to when I started reading about leadership and attending leadership courses in the 1970s and 80s. But I susggest you read up on the subject if you haven’t already. … Continue reading #68, What Does it Mean to Lead Up? →

#68, What Does it Mean to Lead Up?

I used to tell my firefighters that if it weren’t for people’s mistakes, we wouldn’t have jobs. There’s a lot of truth to that statement. People make mistakes and end up having to call 911. Thanks to my friend Ann, today we get to hear a couple stories of mistakes that could have had tragic … Continue reading #67, Home Safety Tips From Two Knuckleheads →

#67, Home Safety Tips From Two Knuckleheads

If you’ve listened to many of my stories, you’ve probably heard me refer to my beloved co-workers as knuckleheads. Well, we’re all knuckeheads sometimes. In this weeks story I’ll prove to you a few times that I was certainly one. The easier and quicker we are to admit it, the better it is for us. … Continue reading #66, Hi, I’m Bobbie and I’m a Knucklehead →

#66, Hi, I’m Bobbie and I’m a Knucklehead

We all have to deal with our supervisors at work. And while we’re dealing with our boss, our employees are having to deal with us as their supervisor. So we’re both an employee and a supervisor. That makes life interesting. We can bitch about our boss while at the same time our employees are bitching … Continue reading #65 – Leadership, Be The Boss You’d Want To Work For →

#65 – Leadership, Be The Boss You’d Want To Work For

Often times in life, it’s the little things we do that are remembered. As a leader, we have to be aware that what we say and how we behave can have a big impact on our employees. And how we make our employees feel about us as their leader will effect their job performance and … Continue reading #64 – Leadership, Little Things Have a Big Impact →

#64 – Leadership, Little Things Have a Big Impact

As firefighters we usually try to portray ourselves as tough and capable. And for the most part we are. But even tough firefighters have emotions. This story isn’t about all the bad things we’ve seen and the emotional toll it takes on our mental health. But it is about the emotional let down that we … Continue reading #63 – Secret Tears (There’s No Crying in Firefighting) →

#63 – Secret Tears (There’s No Crying in Firefighting)

Sometimes life can get a bit anxious. Staying calm can help us maneuver through the rough water we encounter. Life can throw alot of enexpected challenges our way. Research has proven that when we begin to panic we actually reduce our field of vision. In other words we are unable to take in as much … Continue reading #62 – Prepare To Not Freak Out →

#62 – Prepare To Not Freak Out

Firefighters will recognize what might seem like unusual or unique situations to the public becomes common place for emergency responders. The public might not realize just how often weird things happen. But for firefighters, that’s our bread and butter. Poor decisions and whacky behavior is what gives us job security. if everyone behaved maturely and … Continue reading #61- Drive Through Service at the Fire Station →

#61- Drive Through Service at the Fire Station

Get the inside scoop on what really happens at the Fire Station or at the scene of emergencies and forest fires. These are sometimes funny and sometimes serious but always entertaining. Many leadership lessons are shared as well.