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John Lightly posted a blog post

Get Busy Living

“While we are postponing, life speeds by” - Seneca, Roman Stoic PhilosopherWe each have 168 hours in a week with which to accomplish things. We have to budget time for work, sleep, food, relationships, and leisure. There are plenty of time management books, podcasts, and apps that claim to have the ability to help us get more things done. But the issue isn’t always a time management problem. It’s a person problem. After all, if everyone starts with the same amount of time and has access to the…See More

Jun 22, 2021

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John Lightly posted a blog post

Educators versus Presenters

We aren’t trained as educators in the fire service, we are trained as presenters.Educators make sure they are hitting on different learning styles, reach different cognition levels, and have a mastery of their subject. They have the ability to read the room to see if students are truly understanding and then clarify as needed. Educators spend hours preparing for a class in order to deliver the most relevant content.Presenters, however, often just read from a premade slide deck. They may whiz…See More

Apr 16, 2021

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John Lightly posted a blog post

Resilient Leaders

Everywhere you turn it seems the topic of leadership is present. Books, blogs, and podcasts constantly talk about what leadership is, how to achieve it, or how it is displayed. One of the most commonly discussed areas is on the characteristics that leaders have.An example of this is influence. It is no secret that leaders have tremendous amounts of influence on those around them, both positive and negative. How they exert that influence is key. So it is a good thing that this is routinely…See More

Mar 10, 2021

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John Lightly posted a blog post

Experience, Training, and Preparation

Ever show up to a scene, take one look, and immediately feel like your head was spinning? Maybe it was the sight of the person covered in blood or the size of the fire that made things seem to be going fast. Perhaps you were met as you stepped off the rig by people grabbing at you trying to get you to move quicker. It might be the sounds of the blaring car horn through the dust from the airbags or the roar of the fire as the windows self-ventilate that barrage your senses and start your mind…See More

Apr 9, 2020

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John Lightly posted a blog post

3 (Good) Reasons to Change in 2020

In my last blog post I talked about some of the poor reasons we use to avoid change. This month I’d like to talk about the other side of that coin. What are some of the good reasons for embracing change in 2020?HonestyConfidenceOthers . A good reason to embrace change in 2020 comes from being honest with yourself. We all have areas in which we aren’t strong and need to grow in. Admitting…See More

Feb 3, 2020

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John Lightly posted a blog post

3 (terrible) Reasons to Avoid Change in 2020

It is said that the fire service is “XYZ years of tradition unimpeded by progress.” It’s time we change that mentality. A simple look at where we’ve been and where we are now in terms of tactics, building construction, apparatus, or staffing levels shows the falsity of that phrase.I think we are simply hiding behind this statement as a defense mechanism. It allows us to avoid the unknown by remaining content with our present way of operating. We are in essence saying “Sure, I’d love to change,…See More

Jan 6, 2020

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John Lightly posted a blog post

Get Smart in 2020

Education and Learning. At first glance, these might seem to be the same thing, but they are actually quite different. Both are extremely important for the firefighter and something that can specifically be prepared for in the coming year.In the fire service, we continue to pit education and learning against each other and lob verbal derision bombs at those who support…See More

Dec 16, 2019

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John Lightly posted a blog post

Solid Foundations vs Decorative Elements

Is your training foundational or decorative in nature? Meaning, are you doing the fun, trendy activities or spending time on what is referred to as the basics?Driving by a commercial building construction site recently started me thinking about this idea of decorative versus foundational training. The workers were at the rough-in stage of the build. They had laid the first course of block to establish the footprint of the building and were now engaged in burying the conduits for water,…See More

Nov 19, 2019

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John Lightly posted a blog post

Firefighter Costumes

In just a few short days, a time-honored tradition will once again take place. Across the country, people will spend their hard-earned money to buy sweet sugary nectar and then hand the treats to complete strangers under threat of tricks. There will be ghosts, ghouls, and goblins galore. There will be princesses, action heroes, and the ever-present “what are you, honey?” costumes that look nothing like what they’re alleged to be. Just smile and affirm them. Unless it's an old-…See More

Oct 15, 2019

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John Lightly posted a blog post

Leadership Is Given Not Achieved

Much has been written about leadership. Everywhere you turn there are books, podcasts, blogs and so on about the subject. Please consider one more article about it, though.Leadership is not something you do, it’s something you are given.I would contend that no one becomes a leader. They are given leadership. I can read all the books or attend every seminar I want to on the subject and still not be a leader. I can have influence, wisdom, and charisma and yet fail to be a leader. It doesn’t…See More

Sep 16, 2019

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John Lightly posted a blog post

Break the cycle

A cycle is something that gets repeated over time. They are also known as habits, routines, or standard ways of doing things. They are typically thought of as self-perpetuating, meaning they are capable of continuing or renewing themselves indefinitely. Once something is put into motion it will keep creating the conditions needed to continue. But sometimes the cycle needs to be broken. This is certainly true when it’s a negative cycle we find ourselves in. If we don’t correct our poor…See More

Aug 21, 2019

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John Lightly posted a blog post

Stretching the First Line

Social media is full of debates, discussions, and general arguments resulting in name-calling on where water should be applied from. One camp is firm in its belief that fast water from whatever location or position is the best. The other camp belittles anyone who does not immediately initiate an aggressive interior attack. This debate has been going on for decades, really, it is now just being rehashed in a different format, that being the internet. What often gets lost, I think, is…See More

Jul 17, 2019

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John Lightly posted a blog post

Hardship is the price of success

I recently heard this statement in a podcast by Stephen Mansfield. Though I’ve heard variations of it in other places, the way he said it made me stop mowing the lawn and pay closer attention.It’s a simple statement, yet it’s packed with reality. The point of it is that life can be a struggle, success hinges on how you face up to those struggles.We teach our kids from their earliest moments this lesson. When a baby is first learning to walk and keeps falling, we encourage them with “come on,…See More

Jun 15, 2019

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John Lightly posted a blog post

Surviving a Toxic Environment

Chief Halton stated in his FDIC 2019 keynote what many of us have said before- ”Firefighting is the best damn job we’ve ever had.” He is 100% correct. This is the best job there is, and I can think of nothing that I’d rather be doing. Although, being a cowboy on a ranch in Colorado or Wyoming with a view of the Rockies wouldn’t be bad either!But let’s be honest. Sometimes the best job gets you down because of the toxic environment that you find yourself in. People, politics, positions-they can…See More

May 13, 2019

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John Lightly posted a blog post

Applications from FDIC 2019

Having been blessed to attend FDIC 2019 last week in Indianapolis, I’d like to humbly offer some takeaways that can be applied to most any situation in life.1. It’s important to get out of your comfort zone I think it’s safe to say that humans are creatures of habit. We are generally content to stick with what is familiar to us, especially the more introverted we are. As firefighters, we like being in control of things and have an intense belief that our system is best. It may be. But…See More

Apr 16, 2019

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Profile Information

Lives in:: Ohio

Department:: Youngstown

Title/rank:: Battalion Chief

Years of public service:: 21

Agency structure:: Paid fire department

Professional Qualifications:: FF2, Fire Instructor, Fire Officer 2, Paramedic

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John Lightly's Blog

Get Busy Living

“While we are postponing, life speeds by” - Seneca, Roman Stoic Philosopher

We each have 168 hours in a week with which to accomplish things. We have to budget time for work, sleep, food, relationships, and leisure. There are plenty of time management books, podcasts, and apps that claim to have the ability to help us get more things done. But the issue isn’t always a time management problem. It’s a person problem. After all, if everyone starts with the same amount…

Continue

Posted on June 22, 2021 at 6:21pm

Educators versus Presenters

We aren’t trained as educators in the fire service, we are trained as presenters.

Educators make sure they are hitting on different learning styles, reach different cognition levels, and have a mastery of their subject. They have the ability to read the room to see if students are truly understanding and then clarify as needed. Educators spend hours preparing for a class in order to deliver the most relevant content.

Presenters, however, often just read from a premade slide…

Continue

Posted on April 16, 2021 at 9:33am

Resilient Leaders

An example of this is influence. It is no secret that leaders have tremendous amounts of influence on those around them, both positive and negative. How they exert that influence is key. So it is a good thing that this…

Continue

Posted on March 10, 2021 at 10:03am

Experience, Training, and Preparation

Continue

Posted on April 9, 2020 at 12:57pm

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