So I learned many valuable lessons when I worked at the U.S. Secret Service--I loved it there!
But one of the lessons that sticks out it that sometimes you have to take a bullet for the President!
This lesson stayed with me and I believe it applies to a lot of other situations in life as well.
Sometimes you take one for the
- Team
- Cause
- Relationship
It's easy to say you are going to preserve you self by "dodging a bullet," but often it's really just the opposite that is needed.
If you take the bullet, you are putting yourself subordinate to a larger cause and what is really important.
Taking one to safeguard the President of the United States is definitely a larger cause.
But also your team, the success of an important cause or project, precious relationships that have been built over time--these can all mean more than taking even a significant hit.
This doesn't mean to be stupid, become anyone's punching bag or just take people's sh*t for nothing.
Rather what it does mean is that you can suck it up sometimes--when the ends justify the means--and jump in front of that bullet to preserve something bigger and more important than just yourself.
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Talking The Bullet
There's this funny line that some managers use with their employees.
It's when they harshly criticize, pick on, or even bully their hard working and good people.
What do they say when they do it:
"It's nothing personal."
Ha, that's sort of funny, but really it's sad.
I asked an executive colleague about this and this is what they profoundly said:
"It's my favorite line when the boss says it's nothing personal. Of course it's personal. Is there anyone else in the room!"
When people misuse/abuse their power to hurt others whether at work or even in other situations like with small children or anyone else in a subordinate position:
- That's not business.
- That's not professional.
- That's not being a good human being.
People are not punching bags because someone else is having a bad day.
We need to rise above the occasion and be better than that.
It's better to be humane, compassionate, and emotionally intelligent.
And not just because someday, we are all in that position where someone bigger is facing off against us.
But rather we need to behave kindly to others, because they too are G-d's children and our brothers and sisters, and it is the absolutely the right way to behave--whether it's business or personal. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Nothing Personal
