Paul Combs's Blog (375)

January Fire Engineering magazine cartoon. What kind of effort are you giving?



Excerpt from the 2019 Drawn by Fire/Fully Involved calendar, and Captain Mark von Appen:

Everyone has to do their job. Everyone has to treat one another right. Everyone has to give all out effort. Everyone has to have an all in attitude. Without these things, the group…

Excerpt from the 2019 Drawn by Fire/Fully Involved calendar, and Captain Mark von Appen:



Share what you love about the job, not how you think others should be. Save the highest standards for you and you alone for that is what you control. Gravitate towards those who exhibit similar DNA. You can't control others or make them shoulder your…

So, will you be a contender in 2019?



STAY FIRED UP, and FIGHT like your life depends on it!



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NEW Fire Engineering​ blog editorial cartoon: It's the Thought that Counts!

Here's hoping your Holiday Season is filled with joy, family, friends, fire, and as little bureaucracy as possible.

Cheers!

Excerpt from the 2019 Drawn by Fire/Fully Involved calendar, and Captain Mark von Appen:



There is a difference you can find in those who stand apart from the crowd, those people of character who just get it. The intangible quality that sets them apart is something completely tangible.  It's called a work ethic, and it is the oft-forgotten…

Do Your Job! Sounds easy enough, right? However, far too many try to control things outside of their control to the frustration and aggravation of everyone around them. This cartoon, which is inspired by Mark von Appen's Big Four leadership message, is one of many cartoons in our combined 2019 Calendar.



And now, I yield the…

This Tuesday's election, like ALL elections, will have a tremendous impact on local, state, and federal issues that affect your daily life, as well as fire/EMS service operations. Whether you are Right, Left, Tea Party Republican, Blue Dog Democrat, or somewhere in between, exercise your right to make a difference, and vote! 



STAY FIRED UP, and if…

STAY FIRED UP, and stay focused, stay dedicated, stay passionate, and prepare for "when it gets real" - because it will!

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STAY FIRED UP, and don't mess with the coffee!

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October magazine illustration.



STAY FIRED UP, and stay dedicated to the craft!

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The problem with some leaders is they assume all criticism is an attempt to discredit or insult them. Nobody likes criticism, but we can't be so paranoid that we'd rather be ruined by praise instead of being built stronger by constructive criticism from people we trust. 



STAY FIRED UP, and accept, learn, apply, and move forward.

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Unite and remember... never forget the sacrifices made on September 11th, 2001, and for all those still suffering from post 9/11 illnesses.

It's an Engine thing...

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Be Excellent at every opportunity and every moment - even when nobody is watching!

I am VERY excited to announce a special project that will combine Mark vonAppen's Full Involved and Drawn by Fire for the first time, and this cartoon is just the beginning. I will share more very soon...



But for now, here are a few words from the Rock Star…

Fire Engineering August issue editorial cartoon: Social Mess.

It's a magical time to be alive...

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To see more Drawn By Fire, go to…

To me it's simple, train hard to stay out of trouble, but be prepared when trouble happens anyway! Regardless of what you may read or believe, Rapid Intervention training is still important and relevant, for the team, for the crew, for the individual (remember, you are your partner's first RIT rescuer).



To help me make this point, I have asked a man…

This will most likely not be a very popular commentary, but I feel it needs to be said and discussed - especially in this day of social media experts and podcast posers. Seems all you need these days to proclaim yourself an expert on any given topic or tactic is a platform and flashy helmet stickers. Enough! You seriously are not fooling anybody, and if you are, you…

How well are you training and preparing your officers to manage your most important resource?

STAY FIRED UP, and train!

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“If we encounter a man of rare intellect, we should ask him what books he reads.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

I am a reader - I have been since my days as a child staying up past midnight reading comic books. Why, because my mom was a reader and knew the value of learning new things and going on the wild adventures that only reading can take you on.

Now, I’m sure to…