So
I've started a blog. I don't know where this will go or what it will lead
to, but here it goes. I have opinions (go figure) and my opinions are more
often than not longer than what can be expressed on Facebook or a Twitter feed
(I should look into getting one of those Twitter deals...). Many times
these thoughts and rants come to me while I'm enjoying a cigar or driving home
from work or riding my motorcycle. All are good times to think, some not so
good to write...but the thoughts are there. These thoughts and ideas are,
however, imperfect because they are mine, they lack the input or ideas of
others. The military has sent me too many schools on leadership and
supervision. The most productive of these have been the ones where a free
exchange of ideas took place. I find value in seeing other people's
points of view. My points of view change and become more meaningful when
I am forced to defend them to others. Thoughts in a vacuum are worthless,
they have no context. If you truly believe in something, you have to be able to
say “why.” Beyond that, you have to be
able to defend your platform, why you think and feel that way, what do your
thoughts and ideas add to the context of the conversation, what do you
add to the greater discussion. I don’t
know if my ideas and rants will add anything, but I have them and I’d like to
discuss them.
My
life has been shaped, by and large, by my two professions. Law Enforcement and the Military. Now, both of those have rather rigid procedures,
policies and ways of doing things.
Neither are known for their trend setting and new ideas…at least to
those viewing them from the outside.
However, if you are involved in either one of these fields, you know
that they are forever changing. Every
traffic stop, every radio call and every directive you receive from higher headquarters
requires a new way of addressing the problem at hand. No two situations are ever fully the same and
if you don’t adjust your thinking, you are bound to fail before you even begin.
Many years ago, when I went to college, I majored in history and one of the famous
(or infamous?) sayings in this field has always stuck with me, “those that don’t
understand their history are bound to repeat it.” Of course, that is paraphrasing the saying (and
a fairly poor version at that), but you get the point.
I
don’t know a whole lot about anything, but I know some things about many
issues. The intent of my blog attempt is
to throw ideas out there and hopefully interact with other people, whether of
the same mind or of completely different points of view. By discussing ideas, knowing other points of
view and either adjusting my point of view, being forced to defend it or
understanding and accepting completely alternate points of view, I hope to be
better at what I do. I am a supervisor and a leader in both of my chosen
professions, this doesn’t mean that I have all the answers. I hope it means that I have been recognized
as having the thought process and the intelligence to find the better way to
get things done. So, join me, give me
your thoughts on things I bring up or give me issues that irk you. Together we can find a better and more useful
way to get through the daily issues that face us and maybe we can spread the understanding
as to what we do and why we do it.
Welcome to the ride, I look forward to your thoughts.
