Where t = tempo, r = resources and f = frustration: ↑t + ↓r = ↑↑f. When we reach the result ↑↑f, it has been often expressed with an expletive and a raised middle finger.

In one corner, the people who think that what the South Fulton Fire Department did was reprehensible. In the other, those who think that you need to “pay to spray”. In the classic Firehouse Zen outlook, let’s go to the root of the problem.

If I may appeal to your rational side, if safe practices are really just sucking the life out of you, then try thinking about it from the perspective of your survivors.

Anyone who demonstrates an obsession for the status quo and fails to think about the future with an open mind is only setting the table for their eventual obsolescence.

While we can quantitatively point out that having a customer service attitude benefits us in public support, there should be a much more altruistic reason for our embracing that belief.

When your organization is experiencing such dysfunction that it is obvious even to the newest recruit, then how clueless are you to insist that everything is coming up roses?

With the exception of knock-off Rolexes, almost everything must meet specific standards.

In an uncharacteristic Firehouse Zen moment, I’m going to share some not-so-heartwarming news with you: If you fail to evolve, you will die.

I hear about all-hazards response all the time, but do we draw the line at “hazards”, or do we raise the bar a little?

Unless I am compelled to do so for official business, or intend to engage in a learning session in which I can take away lessons from the event, I’d just as soon do the things I do and avoid hanging around to look at the carnage of someone else’s bad day.

We all define what completes a job, or any task, I should say, differently. What makes a task complete has to do with your work ethic, your education level, and the amount of feedback you receive from supervisory personnel.

When we put together teams, the act of doing so in order to develop effective teams requires some thought as to what is needed by the organization, but to fail to consider the small team dynamics and assume everything is going to go swimmingly, is simply nonsense.