Air Force – Walk Into the Future

Five Minute Thursday: Mentor

paper boats on solid surface — Photo by Miguel u00c1. Padriu00f1u00e1n on Pexels.com

“A mentor is someone who allows you to see the hope inside yourself”.

(Oprah Winfrey)

The Walk into the Future blog is back and will give the Five-Minute Thursday prompt another run.

I was surprised to hear from multiple readers who enjoyed the concept and what I put out during my first run with this prompt. Will get a few more topics in with this format.

My second prompt for Five Minute Thursday is: Mentor.

I have been blessed with great mentors in my professional life. These folks have each provided me with guidance and showed me the correct way to move forward in life. Deborah Friendly mentored me at my first Air Force duty station in Fort Worth, Texas. Tony Greene picked me up when I went to Japan the first time. I connected with Rich Gardner in San Antonio while stationed at Randolph Air Force Base. The interesting thing about these mentors is they were all from Florida—just like me. Funny how people cross your path—three of my first mentors were from my home state but I met them in other states and countries. Life is interesting!

I’m still in contact with these three folks and appreciate the knowledge they shared with me.

The mentor I will write about today is Jan McIntosh. He was a Chief Master Sergeant and the top enlisted Personnel Manager in the Air Force. He oversaw Personnel (HR) operations for every Air Force Base in the world. I knew the Chief by name but had no idea he knew me or anything about me.

I met him during my time as an Air Force Instructor at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi. I was one of two instructors charged with training computer analysts on a new personnel database that was being integrated Air Force wide. We built the course in record time and then had to train analysts worldwide to ensure operational integrity throughout the Air Force.

Chief McIntosh watched me teach a few sessions and then pulled me to the side and gave me the most important piece of advice I ever received. He asked me if I wanted to know the key to success and I said, of course. He told me the secret to success in life was: Be where you are supposed to be, doing what you are supposed to be doing, when you are supposed to be doing it. A very simple concept but I put this advice into action after he shared it with me, and things really started taking off for me.

Doors started opening for me because I put this simple concept into action. Promotions, better work assignments, financial wellbeing, better health outcomes, and improved relationships all came my way by utilizing this advice.

I use the knowledge Chief McIntosh gave me in 1997 to this day and share with all my tree branches. I also use this information in my work environment to lead my teams—yes, I share these same words with everyone on my team to show them how easy life can be if we get out of our way.

Interesting fact—the advice Chief McIntosh gave me was the ONLY conversation we have ever had. I never saw him or spoke with him again, but I leverage his wisdom daily and consider him one of my best mentors. He came into my life at a time when I needed his knowledge, and he shared it with me freely.

Which mentor impacted your life the most?

Irie!

“Your mentors in life are important, choose them wisely”.

(Bill Walsh)

Five Minute Thursday: Leadership

close up of human hand — Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

“The writer is the explorer. Every step is an advance into a new land”.

(Ralph Waldo Emerson)

The Walk into The Future blog continues to serve as a vehicle for my creative expression. I started this blogging process to share my thoughts, travels, and adventures. I find it easy to write about my adventures and then share with my loyal readers.

There are days when I don’t think I have the inspiration to write another blog article and then I sit down with a specific prompt and the words just come to me. I would like to say writing these articles is an easy daily process, but I find myself struggling to generate content that I think others will read from time to time. I write, edit, delete, and then write again to create something worth reading. This is not all the time but figured I would share I have writing distractions to keep me away from me cranking away on my laptop.

Today is not one of those days! 😊

I went back to a tried-and-true process of identifying a writing prompt to generate a new concept to write about. One of the prompts I found a while ago was called: Five Minute Friday. The intent is to pick a specific word and then write about it for five minutes to create content. Well, I modified the prompt into Five Minute Thursday since I post on Thursdays at 11:08 am—did you know that? 😊

My first prompt for Five Minute Thursday is: Leadership.

Leadership is a concept that I began to explore while I served in the Air Force. We were put through a series of leadership courses (Airmen Leadership School, Non-Commissioned Officer Leadership School, Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, etc.) where principles of leadership were shared. The best leaders I worked with all went through these courses, but they had more than course leadership principles.

Three of my favorite Air Force Leaders: Chief Master Sergeant Roger Noyes, Chief Master Sergeant Janet Craton and Senior Master Sergeant Rich Gardner—thanks to them all!

Developing leadership skills became a priority for me and I explored this topic via books, online trainings, and lectures.

I discovered Authentic Leadership almost by mistake. I wanted my dissertation to focus on First Year Experience (FYE) courses for first generation students. This would have been an impactful study, but my dissertation mentor told me I couldn’t pursue this topic because it was Educational Psychology, and my program was Organizational Psychology. I hung my head for a few months before we discovered Authentic Leadership, and the rest is history.

My earlier introduction to leadership while in the Air Force allowed me to blend things I learned from wearing a uniform into my model of Authentic Leadership. The great leaders I worked with in the Air Force have been integrated into my version of Authentic Leadership as I incorporate their lessons into my current pursuit of leadership.

Well, my five minutes is up. I could keep going but will honor the concept of this writing prompt! 😊

What can you get done in the next five minutes? Ok, take off!

Irie!

“Writing is the painting of the voice”.

(Voltaire)

Austin, Texas

Austin NISOD

“To me, Texas is Austin, a bunch of cool people trying to make a difference”.

(Bill Hicks)

My Walk into the Future journey allowed me to venture to Austin, Texas in June to attend the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) annual conference.

The National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD)

I was nominated for an Excellence in Leadership award by my institution and my trip to Austin was needed to get recognized and receive the award. An expense paid trip to Austin was a welcomed addition to the Walk into the Future adventures.

I visited Austin multiple times when I lived in Texas during my time in the Air Force. My first assignment was at Carswell Air Force Base in Fort Worth. I returned to Texas a few years later for an assignment at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio. I always loved to explore and made multiple visits to Austin for football games, track meets and to just take in the music scene while stationed in Texas. Never imagined I would be back in the city for a leadership conference decades later but that’s the catalyst for this latest adventure.

I did not know much about NISOD but quickly discovered this is a huge organization within the 2-year college space. My institution has been a member for years and supports the overall mission of NISOD.

The annual conference is held at the JW Marriott in downtown Austin. This location put conference attendees in the middle of a great environment for culture, food, music, and sightseeing. Yes, I made a point to exploit each of these opportunities.

The hotel was within walking distance to the state capitol, The University of Texas, Congress Avenue Bridge, restaurants, and music. Austin is designed to be a walkable city and has an impressive bike/scooter street setup. A lot of the residents and visitors in downtown Austin jump on electric scooters to get around town. I did not jump on a scooter but leveraged walking to different Austin venues.

Cooper’s Old Time Pit BBQ was a frequent stop for me on this trip. I received recommendations prior to arriving for this BBQ joint and it was only steps away from the hotel. I made this my first stop in Austin and the food was as good as advertised. The setup is designed for customers to select their meat order which is sliced when ordered. You follow-up with premade side dishes (potato salad, green beans, etc.) and deserts as needed. Meat portions are huge and surprises most people when ordering. I tried multiple selections over my time in Austin but highly recommend the smoke sausage—very good.

http://coopersbbqaustin.com/

Made a few trips over to the 6^th Street music venues to listen to live music and experience the Austin music scene. Got a chance to hear a few local bands that were good. This Austin music scene is different than Nashville—there are multiple places to listen to music but it’s not as vast as what Nashville has to offer. The venues were a lot smaller too, so the atmosphere was more laid back as well.

The Texas State capitol was about a mile from the hotel and was easy to reach even with the high Texas temperatures. Decided to venture down to get a few pictures on the capitol grounds and experience the monuments. Explored the grounds and marveled at the architecture of the capitol building. Got a chance to view the monument dedicated to black Texas history and some of the important black pioneers.

Continue reading “Austin, Texas”

Melbourne beach weekend

Melbourne Beach

“To escape and sit quietly on the beach—that’s my idea of paradise”.

(Emily Wiskstead)

My Walk into the Future continues to provide unlimited adventures for me daily.

The beach is a major adventure for me, and some would say my happy place. Love to sit on the beach to relax, read and just enjoy the sound of the waves. My move to Fort Pierce puts me closer to beaches and I try to take advantage of this proximity as much as possible.

One of my favorite places to sit on the beach happens to be Melbourne, Florida. There are multiple beach towns in this area but the one I prefer is Indialantic Beach. Small area but it provides the best beach experience for me.

Made the 55-minute trek north on I-95 last weekend for a day at the beach. Did not realize it has been 3 years since I have been in the Melbourne area. A lot of my beach travel while in Tallahassee was a drive over to Jacksonville or Neptune beaches. Love that area too and it was a shorter drive than venturing all the way down to Melbourne. Decided to take a day trip and get back to an area I love to visit and hangout.

Outlet mall

COVID-19 has caused a lot of life disruptions. One of these for me was not being able to get to outlet malls. I know my outlet mall shopping is not a huge deal considering the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic, but I had to drive by the Vero Beach outlet mall on my way to Melbourne. Many of the stores were still closed when I visited but was able to get some nice deals at the Van Heusen store. Yes, I wore a mask while shopping.

The Van Heusen outlet store had some great mark downs and I may have purchased more than I need. The in-store prices are a lot less than what they were selling for on-line. I have never been a fan of buying clothes on-line since different brands have their own unique cuts. My normal size in one store does not translate all the time to another. Buying pants online is a major headache for me since I need clothes for an athletic body. Also, needed to restock my work wardrobe since I have a day job again. 😊

Patrick AFB

Always make a point to visit Patrick Air Force Base when I am in Melbourne. Did not need anything but it always feels like going home when I am on the base. Spent 20 years in the Air Force and love being back on the base. Ended up just rambling around the Base Exchange and Commissary looking around and enjoying being back around the Air Force family. Got a few things but nothing major at either stop.

Crowne Plaza

The major attraction for me to visit the Indialantic beach is the Crowne Plaza hotel. Yes, I went up for a day trip, but the Crowne Plaza has a huge beach deck with a Tiki vibe and outside bar.

They allow beachgoers to utilize the deck, bar, and restrooms without being a hotel guest. Always thought that was a great feature and it keeps people coming back. I bring my own water and beer but routinely get a cold tropical drink (or two) at the bar. They have a great food menu so really do not need to go anywhere else once you get there.

There is live music most Saturdays and Sundays and that draws a decent crowd too. I normally walk further down the beach to get away from crowds but the music travels well. My day on the beach was spent reading, listening to music, and taking a bunch a naps. Nothing strenuous but wanted to visit the beach and relax—mission accomplished.

https://www.google.com/search?q=crowne+plaza+melbourne+fl+pictures&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS857US857&sxsrf=ALeKk00P5m-KQpG-NeMjKPXrrjOmlJlDWg:1590778740929&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=YVZCzuNcCXbIsM%253A%252C28LbZ-YA3Bc7sM%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kSIiMzmjPA7dY62D4InWst3DNgkgg&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiMiJPO4NnpAhUJT98KHSVwAMgQ9QEwAnoECAoQDg#imgrc=YVZCzuNcCXbIsM:

Took the scenic route back to Fort Pierce on A1A. Normally go I-95 but did not have to rush back so took in the sights and enjoyed the views. Will try to get to Melbourne monthly for a beach getaway—may stay overnight next time since there are a lot of new shopping options in the area. Always looking for a good deal! 😊

What is your favorite beach or place? When will you visit again?

“The waves on the sea help me get back to me”.

(Jill Davis)

Congrats to the Class of 2020—Go Jayla!

Grad 2020

(Image by Annalise Batista from Pixabay)

“Follow your fear”.

(Tina Fey)

We are halfway through 2020 and the ebb and flows of the year have been tremendous. Most people I know came into 2020 with major goals, plans, and the right mindset to make positive things happen. We continue to move forward but the COVID-19 pandemic has adjusted how we Walk into the Future daily.

Looking forward to getting back to things that resemble normal life but do not know if/when that will be possible. The term new normal is being thrown around and means we must redefine what is considered normal in the future.

One thing that does not require a new normal is how proud I am of my niece, Jayla Williams! We have been on a special journey for the past 24 years and I am excited to see her next money moves in the future.

The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped a large portion of planned activities for everyone but one area we had to put on hold was celebrating Jayla’s graduation from the University of Central Florida. Family and friends have reached out to congratulate her for this phenomenal feat, but we have not been able to gather the crew and throw the blowout party this accomplishment deserves. No worries Jayla, we will get it in when safe! 😊

My joy for Jayla’s graduation is because we first talked about going to college when she was 5 years old. Some may think this is a bit young, but my goal was to create a mindset where we knew the direction of the journey. Please note, all the work, time and effort were put in by Jayla and it was a joy for me to watch her tick off objectives towards this goal. My role simply was support, reinforcement, someone to bounce ideas off, and a silly uncle joke when needed.

It is amazing to look back on this journey and see the adult she has become. I am sure this progression is nothing new for parents to view but for the cool uncle this has been an awesome ride!

The University of Central Florida conducted virtual graduation ceremonies for each college. The College of Business hosted the largest number of graduates which ensured we would be glued to our computers until they got to the great Williams last name. Did not realize how excited I would be sitting on my laptop waiting to officially hear Jayla Williams being declared an Integrated Business graduate from the University of Central Florida College of Business. Luckily, I had the foresight to get my phone ready for the quick photo opportunity provided while hearing Jayla’s name. This put a huge smile on my face, and I texted the photo to family so they could share in my joy!

Looking forward to when we can get back together to throw the big blowout party she was expecting and deserves. That day is coming, and we will celebrate the 24 years and counting for the journey we are on. Cannot wait to see what the future holds for my class of 2020 graduate—big things I am sure!

Congratulations and Go Jayla! 😊

Uncle Calvin

“Fall forward. Every failed experiment is one step closer to success. You have got to take risks”.

(Denzel Washington)

Where do leaders come from?

Leadership image

(Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay)

“I’m a leader not a follower. Unless it’s a dark place, then you are going first”.

(Unknown)

Got invited back down to Orlando in October for my recurring speaking role on the Intern Whisperer podcast.

Season 2, Episode 92 featured me discussing all things leadership to include earliest memories of venturing into leadership roles.

The quote above makes me laugh because I know people who perform in their leadership role in a similar manner. No worries when things are going well but no support, help or empathy when things get tough. These so-called leaders also seek the spotlight in good times and hide out during the bad.

Back to the podcast and why I’m discussing leadership in this blog post. The students who produce the Intern Whisperer podcast are extremely sharp and asked great questions from start to finish. One question that really stood out to me was, “What was your earliest memory of taking on a leadership role and how did it make you feel”?

Seems like a straightforward question but I had to think about it for a bit. I have always been an athlete and grew up playing multiple sports; football, basketball, baseball and track (high jump). Never considered being active in sports as leadership, just a way to pass the time and hang out with friends. Yes, I know leadership and teamwork are integral in a team environment, but I was just having fun during this time frame. My interviewers seemed to think my sports background would have been where my leadership foundation started.

My earliest memory of taking on an active leadership role and embracing everything involved was when I became a Master Instructor at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi (Biloxi).

I served at multiple Air Force installations as a Personnel Systems Manager (HR Data Analyst) and got an opportunity to train analysts Air Force wide based on my work performance and knowledge. So, I went for writing computer code for one Air Force base to training every data analyst in my career field—worldwide. Pretty heady stuff for someone from Jasper, Florida!

This role stands out as my earliest leadership memory because I had to expand my personal and professional goals and understand the importance of ensuring my students got a world class education. Everything they needed to be successful in the career field came directly from me. I couldn’t have a bad day in class because my lack of preparation, patience or knowledge would hinder their abilities to perform; in class and when they returned to their respective organizations around the world.

I went from being responsible for myself to leading a group of 25 students on a six-week educational journey. We routinely graduated 10 classes every fiscal year—I spent 4 years as an Air Force instructor at Keesler Air Force Base before moving back into my career field at Kadena Air Base, Japan (Okinawa).

The Air Force Technical School environment is the incubator that taught me leaders must be able to adjust leadership style, inspirational tactics and provide tough love when needed. The students needed different things to successfully complete our course. My ability to lead was needed daily.

It was the most challenging thing I’ve ever done but it laid the foundation for my current leadership and life philosophy: Make a difference daily!

Leadership article

(Instructor of the Year Presentation)

What are your earliest leadership memories? How do these memories impact you today? (Respond in the comments section—thanks!)

Thanks for walking with me!

Listen to the Intern Whisperer podcast, Season 2, episode 92 here: https://www.facebook.com/internpursuit/videos/769036653552348/

“Be a LEADER, not a boss”.

(Calvin Williams)

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