10/09/2023
Life is all about mindset. I have worked with thousands of people throughout my career and many just didnโt get it.
When you choose to do a job that very few want to do, itโs important that you attack it with everything you have. After you attack it, itโs important that you leave your mark on whatever you attacked.
After several long days of work, most people are exhausted, physically and mentally, and just want to get home and relax. Not these motherf**kers!
My whole career I have always challenged people, and especially myself, in the moment when I knew they were at their breaking point- tired, beat-down, hungry, etc. These guys did not disappoint like many have in my life. They had no finish line.
We worked 3 fires in 4 days- cutting down trees, hiking up very steep slopes, bucking up trees and moving them, digging, setting up areas for choppers to land to bring us more supplies, etc.- and at the end of it all, per usual Goggins, I wanted to see what we had left in the tank.
I have a thing called the foxhole mentality- to hang with those who only make you better. These men did not disappoint and we all grew with each other.
After days fighting fire, I challenged them to a push-up workout where ended up doing 460 push-ups in 22 minutes while we awaited the chopper to come fly us out. There was no bitching, whining or crying. They took their fire shirts off and proceeded to knock them out.
When we finally got to our base, there was a pull-up bar and I once again challenged them to do 100 pull-ups. Again, we all lined up and knocked them out.
A lot of these things people will never see. I am proud to work with these men because I know when s**t gets bad, they have the intestinal fortitude to have my back.
We should all look to surround ourselves with people who, at their worst, are still able find their very best! From left: โSpecial Kโ Alaska Smokejumper โRoganโ North Peace Smokejumper from British Columbia โBig Mackโ North Peace Smokejumper from British Columbia โLiamโ North Peace Smokejumper from British Columbia