When I first stepped into uniform in the service the Vietnam war was over by 6 years. Sentiments were still carrying over and remained. Being in the Army wasn't exactly glorious. You were looked down upon. A guy who couldn't get a job. Go to jail or join the Army.
I met some of those who were "cleaned up by the judge"
We weren't thanked alot for serving and I wasn't thanked alot until after 9 11 2001. We were thanked alot right after. For those who thanked me, thank you. I tell them the green eagle comes by every thirty days and thanks me.
I come from a small cotton farming community in Georgia. Opportunities didn't exactly abound So I joined the Army. The service offered me a small town country boy redneck lot of opportunity.
Opportunities are made by people. They are practically placed in your path and you are stumbling over them and not know it. You might be handed responsibility or you sieze it.
You learn not only your job in the military but responsibility. In my experience I was handed alot of crushing responsibility.
Accounting for millions of dollars of equipment, Developing other soldiers and missions. Becoming accustomed to having to account for your actions. The actions of others. Growing into leadership and working with others above and below you.
In the private sector outside the military it's a known fact that organizations will compartmentalize and limit you. There is no place for comparmentalization in the service. As a leader need leadership under you. You have to trust those under you to handle responsibility. You can get into big trouble if you can't trust others.
When I entered the work force after retiring one of the first things I noticed was the lack of accounting of one's actions. The lack of developed responsibility of most people my age. Its my opinion that management needs to groom and develop more of its employees to handle the flow. Management shouldn't be tasked to death.
In the military an E-6 who could be 26 years old carries more responsibility and makes more decisions than 95% of his contemporaries.
An E-7 even more so.
I retired as an E-7. I mentored thousands. Taught thousands.
My work experience in the military was a personal achievement from practical hands on experience in a vast array of maintenance to managing parts in the Pacific theater. Along with that achievement was the responsibility to mentored it down.
I learned (forced to learn) computer programs I would never had otherwise. To use them effectively. Unix and Microsoft.
In the military you are going to hone some serious people skills. You will learn how to deal with people.
I also understood people. It took time learning insights into people but if you want to you will.
Never let anyone tell you who you are. If you take a verbal reprimand and he calls you inept you know for a fact you are not.
If you are having problems with an individual chances are that individual has the same problems with others.
Respect is accorded to a man's actions and not his mouth. The more he has to kiss up to the boss the less he's doing his job. Doing your job and doing it well should be sufficient. If management above you fall victim to the "Kissers" and the "Backstabbers" than he is a shallow manager indeed.
Everyone has to be polite to the boss. Sucking up to one's boss to supplant your security in the workforce is a no no. Any supervisor or manager worth his salt will call Bullshit on that one. I have been there to call it.
The old saying that actions speak louder than words is very true. It hasn't lost a bit of meaning in today's world. Let your actions on the job speak for itself. A good supervisor and manager will oftentimes know more about what you are doing than yourself.
Grumblers get left behind
I seen many people grumble. Grumbling because they weren't promoted or moved up. They toe the line. Never do anything else but just what they are told. Along comes a guy who does what is expected without having to be told. Handles responsibility accordingly. Companies really need people who can perform. Its not kissing up to the boss to do your job well. He does his job well then he gets promoted over the grumblers.
The grumblers are the kind who believe in entitlements. The world owes you nothing. That word Entitlement holds a dangerous and mislead meaning. It a word fools love.What it means is that typical grumbler is entitled to stay where he is at, going nowhere. You earn what you get. The day you cut those apron strings and left home stops entitlement. You are entitled to work for a living.
Negativity you don't need it.
Negativity: Yes negativity, its poison in the workplace and poison to you. You can't help people until they are ready to be helped. Look all around you. the next time you go to work take note. Way too much of it is going around undetected and you don't need it in your life.
It comes to mind of a personal attitude you want to keep. If you want a positive attitude then keep the negative out. Put the barriers up. Its a natural tendency to be happy so be happy. The more you "suffer" those who are negative the less you are going to be keeping around a good mood.
