Confident Risks

[🎬 Episode 46] This Isn't About You...

The first question to ask anyone who wants this job: What is your why? Why do you want to do this?

It's the same question recruits get asked on day one of the academy. In the middle of PT, when those guys are smoked, you ask them: Why do you want to be here?

Because here's what you need to understand: This isn't about you.

It's not about the person to your right or left. It's about the people we serve.

If you have a strong understanding of why you want to do this job, you can push through anything.

There are going to be tough days. Days below zero when you still have to go out and train. And you do it anyway.

Why?

Because it's not for you. It's for the firefighters you're working with, and it's for the people you're serving.

The people who are 100% bought into that purpose? They thrive. Because the mission is bigger than them.

And here's something most people don't realize:

It's not all fire calls. In fact, around 95% of calls are medical. That's where the real difference gets made. Someone's worst day. Someone's life on the line. And you're there to help.

That's the why.

Find your purpose. Make it bigger than yourself. Then show up, even on the hard days, for the people who need you.

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[🎬 Episode 46] Treat it Like Game Film 🎞️

In sports, after every game, you sit down and watch the film. You go back and you realize, "Shoot, I didn't even know I was doing that."

The same thing applies to the fire service. And honestly, to anything you do.

Going back and listening to your calls. Re-listening to the radio traffic from a scene. That's huge.

You get to ask yourself the real questions: "I was extremely panicked in that situation. How could I have done that differently?"

Because in the moment, you don't see it. The adrenaline is pumping. You're operating on instinct. You don't realize what you're doing or how you're reacting.

But the film doesn't lie.

When you go back and review, you catch the things you missed. The patterns you didn't notice. The habits you didn't know you had.

That's where real improvement happens.

Athletes do it. The best performers in every field do it. They study their own tape, break it down, and find ways to get better.

So whatever you do, find a way to review your own performance.

Record yourself. Listen back. Watch the film. Be honest about what you see.

Because you can't fix what you don't notice. And the review is where the growth lives.

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[🎬 Episode 46] You Can't Train Character. 🏃‍♂️🚒

We hire for character. We train for skill. It's really that simple.

When you're sitting on an interview panel, you're looking for one thing above all else: character.

Because skill? Skill can be taught. You can train someone to master techniques, learn procedures, and develop expertise.

But grit? Mindset? The refusal to quit? You can't teach that. You either have it or you don't.

And here's the thing: You can't always see it in an interview.

You can't determine someone's heart just by looking at them.

There are firefighters who don't look the part. Smaller stature. Not what you'd expect.

But when it's time to work, when it's time to get after it, they have no stop. They just keep moving forward.

They push themselves in training. They push themselves in the day-to-day. They push themselves when no one is watching.

That's character. That's what separates the good from the great.

This applies to everything.

When you're building a team, hire for character. When you're choosing who to work with, look for grit. Because skills can be developed, but character is the foundation everything else is built on.

Find the people who refuse to quit. Then teach them the rest.

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[🎬 Episode 46] Adapt, Overcome, Save Lives 🚒🧠

As a probationary firefighter, Rusty found himself in a confined space rescue that tested everything he'd been trained for.

A worker went unconscious inside a tank after his respirator line got cut. Fumes filled the space. Time was critical.

Rusty descended alone into that tank. No backup. Limited space. An unconscious 220-pound worker. A conscious coworker panicking.

He could have frozen. He could have doubted himself.

Instead, he kept it simple.

"Everything we do is the basics. If we're good at the basics, we can adapt and overcome to any obstacles thrown at us."

He coached the conscious worker to safety. Then figured out how to move the unconscious man in a space barely big enough to fit.

The difference between life and death wasn't fancy techniques. It was staying calm, remembering his training, and focusing on the fundamentals.

This is what happens when you trust your preparation and refuse to panic under pressure.

Whether you're a firefighter or facing your own impossible situation, the lesson is the same: Master the basics. Stay calm. Adapt. Overcome.

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[🎬 Episode 46] Control Your Controllables ⏱️

You can't control everything. But you can control the basics.

When you establish standards within your crew, you create pace. You create intended movement. You create efficiency.

Here's how it works:

If your crew standard is a 15-second mask up, you practice it hundreds of times until it's muscle memory.

Now when you're walking up to a burning building for primary search, you don't have to think about your mask up anymore. You've done it thousands of times.

Your brain is free.

Instead of focusing on the mechanics, you're now thinking about the real problem. Where's the fire? How do I enter? What's my assignment?

You just saved mental energy. You just saved time. You just freed yourself to focus on what matters most.

This applies everywhere.

In your business, establish standards for the basics. In your relationships, establish standards for communication. In your health, establish standards for your routine.

Master the controllables. Perfect the fundamentals. Then your brain is free to handle the complex stuff.

That's how you perform under pressure.

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[🎬 Episode 42] Ask Yourself: What Do I Have to Do First? 🪜

You're thinking about the whole mountain. All the time. All the money. All the sacrifice.

And you're freezing. You're not starting because it feels impossible.

But you don't have to take the whole thing on. You just have to accept: Right now, the only things you can do are baby steps.

**The Question That Changes Everything:**

"What are the things that I absolutely have to do first?"

Not what would be nice. Not what you want eventually. What do you absolutely HAVE to do first?

**The Framework:**

Step One: What absolutely have to do first?
Step Two: What next?
Step Three: Then?
Step Four: Then?
Step Five: Then?

But don't think about all at once. Take step one. Then step two becomes obvious.

**The Principle:**

You're not climbing the whole mountain at once. Just taking one foothold at a time.

As you climb, the next foothold becomes visible.

**The Solution:**

Stop thinking about the whole picture. Stop thinking about all the sacrifice.

Focus on this: What do I absolutely have to do FIRST?

Answer that. Take that step. Then ask: What do I absolutely have to do next?

That's baby steps. That's how you start. That's how you make progress.

If this resonated with you:
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[🎬 Episode 45] This is How We Build Something Great.. 🏗️

We Learn From Everybody—That's How You Build Something Great.

You think the best products come from one person's idea. But that's not how it works.

It's not just one way. We learn from everybody.

Every year at FDIC—the premier international event for fire and rescue professionals—we learn from somebody new.

"Hey, you should do this. Hey, you should do that."

And I'm not prideful enough to ignore great ideas.

Why This Matters:

When you're building something, you have to be willing to learn from multiple sources. Not just your way. Everybody.

Every person brings something different. Every perspective adds value.

At FDIC, thousands of fire and rescue professionals come together to share knowledge and learn from the best.

And every single year, we walk away with new ideas. New perspectives.

The Secret:

We build world-class training apparatuses because we're willing to listen to everybody.

Firefighters on staff. Welders. Engineers. Captains. Battalion chiefs. People from different departments.

They all bring something to the table. And we listen.

Don't Get Stuck:

A lot of people get stuck on their way. Their idea. Their method.

But if someone has a great idea, we use it. That's how you build something great.

Apply It to Your Life:

This isn't just about products. It's about everything you do.

Don't think you have all the answers. Listen to everybody. Learn from multiple sources.

The people who build great things aren't the ones who think they know everything.

They're the ones who are humble enough to learn from everybody.

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[🎬 Episode 45] Listen to What Firefighters Know About Pressure 💎

You're not a firefighter. So you think this doesn't apply to you.

But here's what I've learned: There are things to take away from when you get into real world environments when lives are on the line.

And the same things apply to your everyday life.

The Real Truth:

You may not think that applies to you when you're in an office setting. But it does.

Because you think about the times or situations that you go into—whether high-pressure situations where your heart starts beating, everything feels urgent—those are when those lessons come into play.

Pressure Is Pressure:

A firefighter under pressure has to stay calm. Think clearly. Make the right decision. Trust their training.

You under pressure have to do the exact same thing.

The environment is different. The stakes might look different. But the principles are identical.

Your Pressure Matters:

Don't discount your pressure because it's not "life and death."

Your pressure is real. Your situations matter. Your decisions count.

And the way you handle pressure—that reveals everything about who you are.

The Lesson:

So here's what I want you to do: Listen.

Just like myself, listen to what firefighters have learned about pressure.

Not because you need to be a firefighter. But because they've mastered something you need to master.

They've been through real scenarios. They've faced real pressure. They've learned what works and what doesn't.

And those lessons? They apply directly to your life.

Your Business. Your Relationships. Your Everyday Decisions.

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[🎬 Episode 45] If You're Not a Firefighter, This Still Applies to You 🚒 🧯

We're back with Season 3. And it's different.

Season 1 was about entrepreneurship and building confidence to start a business. Season 2 was about positivity and finding happiness.

But Season 3? We're diving into the fire service.

Real stories. Real training. Real pressure.

And here's what you need to know: If you're not a firefighter, you might think this doesn't apply to you.

But it does.

The Connection:

There's a lot of correlations in the fire service to life itself.

The training firefighters do. How they look at their mindset. How they work with people around them. How they handle scenarios when there's a lot of pressure.

These aren't just firefighter lessons. These are life lessons.

Why We're Doing This:

After the Kevin Shea episode. After talking to thousands of firefighters. After working in the fire industry, it became clear.

We need to talk to firefighters more.

Because what they learn doesn't stay in the fire service. It applies to all of us.

Real World Pressure:

Firefighters face scenarios most of us will never experience. High-pressure situations. Life-or-death decisions. Teamwork under extreme conditions.

But here's the thing: We all face pressure. We all face high-stakes moments. We all face situations where our training, our mindset, our decisions matter.

The lessons firefighters learn? They apply to your business. Your relationships. Your everyday life.

Take the Knowledge:

Whether you're a firefighter or not, watch and learn something.

Because bringing on firefighters and talking to them is a way to expose a lot of those things in all of our lives.

That's what Season 3 is about.

Real heroes. Real stories. Real lessons that apply to everyone.

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