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Your best and nothing more

  • Published
  • By Maj. Michael Johnson
  • 455th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron commander
BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan (AFPN) -- I've always believed what you get out of an assignment or deployment is equal to what you put into it. No matter where we are or what we do, we can learn something.

Even when I was sent remote for a year, I had a very positive experience. It was the opposite of what I was expecting, and one in which I made lasting friendships.

Attitude and a positive outlook drastically affect our lives. Colin Powell said, "Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier." Over the years, I've tried to implement a few simple principles that have really made a difference, not only professionally but also personally.

Build relationships, not just contacts
Life is so much more than simply knowing who to talk to in order to take care of business. Building relationships is about getting to know people, what's on their minds, and most importantly, how you can help them. Take the time to talk about something other than work. I've found that sitting down at lunch or dinner with folks has been a great time. Not only does it tend to be a lot of fun, but also I get to know the people I'm working with better. While you're here, take the time to plan a cookout or organize some kind of get together. These things build teamwork.

Leave the place better than when you arrived
Things can always be improved. There are plenty of opportunities to leave your mark. It can be something to do with your job or just getting involved off-duty.

Solve problems, don't just identify them
My first commander told me to have one or two possible solutions for every problem I briefed him about. Being able to provide solutions is invaluable to any organization. When you see a problem or something that needs improvements, fix it. There are a lot of things needing to be fixed that may not necessarily fall into your job description. If you can figure a way to get the job done, you'll make life better for everyone else around you.

Give credit to the team for success and take failure as your own
We rarely accomplish anything alone. In a past deployment, Lt. Gen. Gary L. North, the 9th Air Force and U.S. Air Forces Central commander, gave out some coins to Airmen. General North asked them what they did to deserve his coin. I didn't hear a single one start off with "I did." Instead, they talked about their accomplishments as a team effort, "My shop ... our team ... we did ..." These folks embodied the value of service before self. It is as a team that we can accomplish our greatest goals.

Volunteer for projects
My commander at Pope Air Force Base, N.C., termed these as CLP's, or Crappy Little Projects. There are always projects that need to be done at every assignment that do not neatly fall into a single career field. Use these opportunities to learn and lead multifunction teams at an early age. Not only will you fill a gap, but you will gain invaluable experience that'll pay dividends in the future. These projects include things like airshow preparation committees, distinguished visitor visits, base appearance cleanup days, etc. Don't be afraid to learn something new or to get out of your comfort zone.

Do your best in every aspect of life
Excellence in all we do is not just a catch phase; it should be a way of life in and out of the Air Force. No one can expect more than your best. I think Aristotle said it best, "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit." This idea transcends our job and spills over into our personal lives and interactions with family, schools, church, and anything we're involved with.

Never give up
Throughout our nation's history, achievements have been made by regular men and women who've achieved great things through hard work and perseverance. Thomas Edison tried more than 1,500 materials before finding the right one for the light bulb. Things may seem hard, almost impossible, to get accomplish but stick with it. You'll be glad in the long run knowing you gave it your best. Nothing more can be asked for than your best.