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Frank Viscuso's Blog (24)

Common Valor: Lessons Learned

Click here to read more about this book. 

Here is an excerpt from my newly released book, "Common Valor: True Stories from America's Braves, Volume 1" 

    

     Mike was working…

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Added by Frank Viscuso on April 19, 2018 at 2:44pm — No Comments

Problems are Opportunities

     Every adversity you and the team you are leading will ever encounter is either a problem or an opportunity. Although one might think there are many different variables that would distinguish one from the other, there is really only one difference between the two – YOUR ATTITUDE. That’s right. Often times the difference between a problem and an opportunity has everything to do with how you look at the challenge at hand.

     Opportunities…

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Added by Frank Viscuso on September 13, 2017 at 4:58pm — No Comments

Frustration and desperation are two of the best motivators for change.

One of the questions that I am often asked is, “I’m am a newly promoted officer and I want to make some changes but I am encountering a lot of resistance, what should I do?”

Resistance can come in many forms – a micromanaging boss, a lazy or complacent culture, a core group of over inflated egos with “inner circle” mentality, and the all too common “because that’s the way we have always done it” mentality. Each…

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Added by Frank Viscuso on January 30, 2017 at 2:38pm — 1 Comment

The Value of Endurance

Endurance is a discipline worth mastering. Those who do are often the same ones who succeed in life. Most of us have experienced the battle between the inner voice and the physical body. Take jogging for example. At some point in your life you had made the decision that you needed to get in better shape. Perhaps you drove down to the local sporting…

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Added by Frank Viscuso on April 14, 2016 at 2:28pm — No Comments

Culture Creators versus Yes Men

I would rather have one frustrated culture creator in my inner circle than 10 yes men. Yes men tell me what I want to hear. They make me feel smarter than I actually am because they are afraid of my response to…

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Added by Frank Viscuso on April 11, 2016 at 12:30pm — No Comments

"It's Lonely at the top" is a myth

People say it's lonely at the top, but that's not…

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Added by Frank Viscuso on December 28, 2015 at 12:30pm — No Comments

Stubborn to a Fault

          When leading a team through change, people often encounter adversity. I firmly believe that if you ever lose your will to fight someone with fight still inside of them will control your life. The “will to fight” can sometimes be described as stubbornness, and for that reason stubbornness can sometimes be a good thing.

           Leaders need to stand their ground when…

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Added by Frank Viscuso on September 15, 2015 at 1:30pm — 2 Comments

The Critical Few vs. The Insignificant Many

          I once heard a colleague jokingly say that change would be easy if it wasn’t so hard. I don’t fully agree with that statement. I personally believe that the hardest part about change is actually making the decision to change. I also believe that leading a team through change would be much easier if it wasn’t for a select group of stubborn people who resist change.

          It may be true that most people don’t like change, but it’s also true that for…

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Added by Frank Viscuso on September 8, 2015 at 2:55pm — No Comments

The 2016 Drawn By Fire Calendar - Inspired by Step Up and Lead

IT'S HERE!

As promised on the Step Up and Lead, Leadership Traits webcast from last month, here is the information on the new Drawn by Fire…

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Added by Frank Viscuso on September 1, 2015 at 10:00am — No Comments

What Type of Mentality Do You Have?

               This may be the most important blog I have ever posted. In order to make the greatest impact possible I have decided to also keep it short.

               When I was younger my parents never let me quit a sport once the season began. Their philosophy was "Finish what you started. If you quit when things get hard you'll quit anytime you encounter adversity in life." I will forever be grateful for that…

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Added by Frank Viscuso on August 17, 2015 at 11:30am — No Comments

Ready, Aim... Aim...

          Let me begin by saying there are two sure fire ways to fail as a leader in the fire service. One is to DO without ever thinking and the other is to THINK without ever doing.

          You and I both know people who habitually take action before developing a sound game plan. They are what I call “Ready/Fire” people. They don’t take the time to aim at the target they just shoot like a chimpanzee holding a…

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Added by Frank Viscuso on August 15, 2015 at 10:30am — No Comments

Activity vs. Productivity

          Busy people get things done. I used to say those words all the time - usually in a sentence like this one, “If you want to build a successful team, look for busy people because busy people get things done.” There is a coma of complacency in society today. we are battling a communicable disease I call entitlement mentality. Everyone wants the rewards of labor, but far too many don’t want to work for those rewards. Many who do the work are busy, and busy…

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Added by Frank Viscuso on August 11, 2015 at 1:30pm — No Comments

Unrealistic Expectations

          “Let’s go boys. Eat your breakfast. We have to leave or we are going to be late for practice.” I yell from the garage.

          Our two boys, four and six, were having their usual morning chat about Super Mario Brothers as they enjoyed their raisin toast, oatmeal with dinosaur eggs, and strawberry explosion smoothies through a multi-colored flex straw. My wife and I gathered their baseball uniforms and…

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Added by Frank Viscuso on August 2, 2015 at 11:00am — No Comments

Become a stronger and wiser you

Every adversity you and the team you are leading will ever encounter is either a problem or an opportunity. Although one might think there are many different variables that would distinguish one from the other, there is really only one difference between the two – YOUR ATTITUDE. That’s right. Often times the difference between a problem and an opportunity has everything to do with how you look at the challenge at hand.

Opportunities exist…

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Added by Frank Viscuso on July 9, 2015 at 3:30pm — 1 Comment

Ten Qualities of an Outstanding Team Player

The following is an excerpt from Step Up Your Teamwork from Chapter 2 – Preparing for Success. What other qualities would you add to this list?  

 …

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Added by Frank Viscuso on June 19, 2015 at 9:04am — No Comments

Permission to Act

     I am 100% on board with the concept of SOP’s and SOG’s, so please don’t misinterpret this message. I also believe that in the absence of rules, people make their own. In a structured and dangerous profession like ours it’s important to have rules, regulations, policies and procedures. Its equally important that we train on our procedures and create muscle memory so that we can improve our chances of success and reduce the amount of unnecessary decisions…

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Added by Frank Viscuso on January 26, 2015 at 4:30pm — 1 Comment

Creating a Culture of Customer service

Every organization has a culture. It is either created by design or default. Creating a culture of customer service does not happen by accident. Buying into the concept of layered leadership (the need for leaders throughout your entire organization) is especially important when it comes to customer service.

Helping others seems to be part of the DNA of most firefighters. Creating culture; however, goes beyond just being a good person. There has to be a clear and focused objective or…

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Added by Frank Viscuso on December 8, 2014 at 3:44pm — No Comments

Dumb Things Firefighters Say

You have heard them all. Maybe you have even said some of these things. I am talking about fire service staples like the following:

  • “Don’t worry, this is just a routine fire.”
  • “All you have to do is put the wet stuff on the red stuff.”
  • “Stay in until you can’t stay in anymore.”
  • “Because that’s the way we’ve always done it.”…
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Added by Frank Viscuso on November 25, 2014 at 8:55pm — 1 Comment

What is your mission?

      On September 17, 2011, a protest called Occupy Wallstreet was organized in Zuccotti Park, located in New York City’s Wall Street financial district. The protest was initiated by a Canadian activist group. It was the first of many Occupy protests that flowed throughout the world.  Their initial purpose was to take a stand against corporate greed, economic inequality, and undue influence of financial services corporations on government. Their…

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Added by Frank Viscuso on October 27, 2014 at 12:53pm — No Comments

Why You Should Attend FDIC

I try never to make promises I cannot keep. That being understood, I'd like to share with you why you should invest your valuable time and hard-earned money to attend the annual Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC).…

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Added by Frank Viscuso on September 16, 2014 at 12:00pm — No Comments

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