It is not Supposed to be Easy

I am repeating myself intentionally. Our work provides us with plenty of challenges – government shutdowns, COVID, budget woes, asset sourcing difficulties, family moves, etc. Each member is also tested, individually, due to unique personal and family circumstances. I need to remind myself all the time that if you want to be exceptional at your craft and you want to have a meaningful, fulfilling life, it is going to be hard.  That life of strong commitment and earnest effort, we all should be striving for, is difficult. Challenge is a sign that you are doing it right. Stress comes from meaning. Alternatively, pain comes from regret.

Well over 20 years ago, I developed an ailment that ended my professional football career.  I sought a new vocation.  After exploring a few different options, I was convinced that flying helicopters for the United States Coast Guard would be my professional contribution to the world. However, due to my existing condition, the Coast Guard would not let me enter the service, let alone, pass a mandatory physical for flight training. 3 years later after persistent effort and correspondence, I was in flight school. When I am frustrated by red tape, bureaucracy, or resource challenges, I remind myself how privileged I am to serve. It is very difficult to be grateful and discouraged at the same time.

We know from working within a large, complex organization with lots of checks and balances that, at times, we do not have the agency to impact all the things we would like to change. As individuals, we can only control what is in our control. In its most simple form, what we can control is our response to any given situation. For several years of my career, my role did not involve operating helicopters on a regular basis. However, there were always ways for me to contribute to our operators’ education and, in doing so, hone my individual airmanship. Everyday, our response can be to improve our craft and improve the craft of those around us.

In our world of work, we can’t be average. We must be exceptional, or the results can be catastrophic. Organizationally and individually, we need to persevere over obstacles and approaches that produce mediocrity. Our craft is too demanding and there is too much at stake. Our crew, our teammates, those that we are in a position to rescue, and their loved ones, need us at our best. Let’s get after it. – Spiral up