By Tim Hyden
While searching through a box of keepsakes a few weeks ago, I came across an old birthday card I had given my daughter on her tenth birthday–now more than 20 years ago. I had recently made the decision to move to Florida to begin my pursuit of a fire service career and wanted it to be a special day for her to remember. Because she would be staying in Michigan with her mother, I wanted to leave her with some of that “fatherly advice” we always hear about–although I admit that I was coming up short on any profoundly solid philosophical ideas.
Instead, I simply expressed the significance of completing her first decade of life and how it will have an impact as each successive decade passes–how we tend to review our lives in increments as we age, often gauging our accomplishments in neatly packaged 10-year timeframes.
Although I am uncertain if my daughter truly remembers the significance of that day long ago, I do know that it helped me accept that I had done all that I could have at the time to leave a parting thought for her to refer back to over the years. Through those words and other efforts over the years, I have attempted to impress on my daughter how she will remember her father–my legacy to her.
We all eventually begin to see that point on the horizon of our fire service careers where we will say, “Well, I have done all that I can do, and it is now time to step aside.” Thus we should reflect on how our individual efforts will be remembered. With that thought comes the question of whether or not we, as the leaders of today’s fire service, are giving this subject enough consideration. Do we think about and teach how it is never too early in one’s career to begin considering the answer to this question? Do our younger personnel know the significance of making a difference? Do we–do they–really care? We certainly should.
In one of the 20th century’s most powerful speeches, John F. Kennedy, in his 1961 inaugural address as our county’s 38th president, reminded us that “the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans.” Just as each of us eventually concludes the service we have given, so is that torch passed on to those who will come after us. Can there be a greater honor than to know that our legacy–the way we will be remembered through the leadership example and work ethic that we have so fervently fought for and exhibited throughout our career–will be honored and carried on after we are gone?
If you have not already done so, now is the time to begin considering what your own leadership legacy will be, and encourage those around you to do the same. Your organization, your fire service, and–although they may not realize it today–those future officers will likely benefit from that effort in the end.
Tim Hyden is the training and safety officer for East Manatee (FL) Fire Rescue and a 19-year veteran of the Florida fire service. He has an associate degree in fire science and an advanced technical certificate in fire science administration, and is a graduate of the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association Emergency Services Leadership Institute. He holds several state certifications through the Florida Bureau of Fire Standards and Training; is a contributing writer to Florida Fire Service and Fire Engineering magazines; and speaks on leadership, motivation, officer development, risk management, and marketing.
MORE TIM HYDEN