It’s often the quiet ones. They are watchers and don’t often volunteer their opinions, but when they do speak, sometimes the things they say cause me to pause, then full-stop, and really ponder their words.
A conversation with my friend and former colleague, Tom Breaux, was such a moment. He’s kindly offered to share his perspective in this month’s guest post, as seen below.
Reading is a pastime that can transport you to a new world, let you learn new things or even just pass the time. Recently I was turned on to a book, it was the biography of Col John Boyd, Retired US Air Force. I am an Air Force brat, so I was intrigued because it is all about The Right Stuff. Upon receiving the book, the caption on the book said “The Fighter Pilot who Changed the Art of War”, I was now hooked and had to read the book, being a pilot with my military upbringing this got me interested. I am now looking for and wanting to read anything I can get my hands on that this man produced.
Boyd Died in 1997 at the age of 70, but what a life. I saw a lot of myself in Boyd, I have a low threshold for stupid, believe in hard work, however, if found we did differ on find family, I find family to be important, Boyd was absorbed in his work and his family came second. John Boyd was a fighter pilot, but after a little reading soon found that his work changed how aircraft was designed, to the safety of the Army’s Bradly fighting vehicle, to how the Marine Corps performed amphibious assaults and fought war. Proof of his work was the production of the Air Force’s F15, F16 and A-10 fighters, How the Marines invaded Granada to rescue Americans, to how the Gulf War was won, he changed the art of war.
John Boyd was credited for creating several works, the first being the energy-maneuverability theory, this became the world standard for designing fighter aircraft. Then there was Patterns of Conflict, the first briefing of its kind in the military. This was a study and presentation of why great military leaders were victorious and what made them masters of warfare. Some say the work he did in Patterns of Conflict put his work in the same level as Sun Tzu who wrote The Art of War, however, most of his work is largely still classified.
Then there was the OODA Loop. Observation, Orientation, decision, Action. The OODA Loop has even been transformed from military use to business use and can be very effective. Then there was the Aerial Attack Study, Foundations of theories, Elements of warfare, Military reform, Maneuver warfare and Marines.
If there was one thing that Boyd said that stuck out to me the most was his concept of, “To be somebody or to do something”
To be somebody or to do something. In life there is often a roll call. That’s when you will have to make a decision. To be or to do? Which way will you go?
I was born in the wrong time, my believe system is old, Family, God and Country. These are ideals installed in me and make up the man I am. I should have been born to live as a Knight where Service, Devotion, and Honor were what men strived for…or maybe I was. In life you stand up for what is right, you protect those that are vulnerable, help the ones in need, and understand that the woman that stands beside me is the greatest asset I will ever have, probably what allows me to have been married to the same person for over 33 years.
Often when someone is young and idealistic, they believe that hard work and doing the right thing is the ticket to success, that is what we are taught. Hard work and success do not always to together, where success is measured by promotions, accolades, and bonuses. Not to be left out are houses, cars, marriage, kids, and social standing.
These are also the things in life that can be lost, will weigh you down, make you rethink life choices, these are the things we can lose which is a threat to our success. A great man once said that “if a man can reduce his needs to zero, he is truly free: there is nothing that can be taken from him and nothing anyone can do to hurt him.”
In life how many times have you watched as someone was promoted, was given things, received accolades and you were like why? You know that the person receiving those things did not deserve them. They did not work hard, sometimes you did not even know what they did or what made them special. These things have confused me until I read Boyd and it all became crystal clear.
Different events bring many challenges, changes, and issues to our life, it is how we face these events that make up who we are. At times some of these events brings us to a fork in the road, you must make a choice, this choice will define you and possible change how you think and react for the rest of your life. You can either Be Somebody or you can be Something, the choice is yours.
To be someone means you will become a member of the club, you will rise to greatness in your circle, you will be looked up to by people. You will receive promotions and accolades and achieve great things.
You will tow the line, not rock the boat, do as you are told, make compromises, get good assignments, you will work to make others look good, and you will also turn you back on your friends. You will do these things because that is what is expected of you to get ahead, to be somebody. You will not be challenge by others because you will have no opposing opinion, you will make small changes to put your stamp on the world, but what you will be doing, will be a polishing of someone else’s work.
If you decide you want to do something, you may not get promoted and you may not get the good assignments, you may get more work as a reward for being able to produce, you may not get into the club, and you certainly will not be a favorite of your superiors. But you won’t have to compromise yourself. You will be true to your friends and to yourself. And your work might make a difference.
Success usually means conforming to someone else’s value system, those who do not conform will one day realize that the path of doing the right things has diverged from the path of success, you will then have to choose which path you will follow in life.
“To be somebody or to do something. In life there is often a roll call. That’s when you will have to make a decision. To be or to do? Which way will you go?”
I understand that my rowing up river, going against the grain, ruffling feathers, questioning management, not agreeing with decisions, speaking my mind and trying to do the right thing, or just hosing a coworker did me no services in the business community. I moved around with several jobs, sometimes found it difficult to work with some coworkers, found I was given more work then others because I would get it done, and watching the ones that never did anything receive promotions and bonuses. Through all these struggles, trials and tribulations I have faced, I have learned that in life I chose to do something, and I feel good.
1 Comment
Thank you for this. Short sayings seem to stick with me like glue,
as their meaning is so impressive too. Emily Dickinson was not
an extrovert as I am, but her little poem touches my heart and
always reminds me of Debbie, who was fortunate to have you as
a friend. Emily said: ” There is no frigate like a book to take us
lands away, Nor coursers like a page of prancing poetry. The
traverse may the poorest take, without oppress of toll, how frugal
is the chariot that bears a human soul.” When I first read this I had
to research the word “Courser” and found it meant a prancing horse,
“Wow”, I thought.