There’s a reason Firehouse Zen isn’t the most popular fire service blog on the internet. It’s because I tell it to you like it is and hope you are listening.

Strive to make a difference in the world and do something for your neighbor. Maybe our world will have a chance to shine after all.

Stay challenged, stay flexible, but most importantly, stay balanced.

We must understand that if we achieve excellence today, whatever we achieved is history tomorrow.

This weekend, I was reminded why I love being a firefighter.

We shall never forget you. RFB-KTF-FTM

I hope you enjoyed this series on intractable conflict.

Choose carefully what you want to fight over. Pick the battles that are REALLY worth fighting over.

There are clear pitfalls that occur, intentionally or not, when conducting negotiations.

Success will be measured not in how we deflect it and hold it at bay, but in how we engage it and mold it to benefit the needs of our community.

I wasn’t going to post today, because I am taking a day off to relax and be thankful for having meaningful work that is compensated by acceptable work conditions, decent pay and benefits.

It’s very much the story of the little boy crying “wolf”. When the time comes that we need to have credibility, it is too late. Hopefully the wolf ate the boy first.

People don’t choose the nuclear option against people they like and respect, unless they are sociopaths, of course.

In conflict, there will always be petty tyrants who want to advance their own egotistical agendas, and they will always be able to keep yes-men and weaklings in their employ.