BY TOMMY E. JONES
Travel down to just about anywhere in the South and one can’t help but notice the ever-present kudzu layering the landscape with its thick foliage and intertwining root system. What is unique about this pesky weed is how hard it is to contain and eliminate after its roots take hold and it spreads at will. Are there similarities between an ambitious person’s career and kudzu?
The Kudzu Principles are based on a set of time-tested self-development leadership axioms the professional can combine to make a dramatic impact on his career goals. They are closely related to the concept of the Fire Tetrahedron, with its essential elements of heat, fuel, oxygen, and chemical chain reactions. When each component is present, fire is created, and you know what can happen from there. Many self-help practitioners have struggled to find the secret formula for success. Some of the most successful motivational books and programs have centered on the right combination of skills and learned traits through habits, decisions, and goals. “Follow these habits, and you will be successful” and “Making these decisions early in your life will pave a road of prosperity” are some advice we have gotten from bestselling books, audio programs, and speakers. The good news is that practically all of the most popular self-motivational books offer advice that makes us better persons and leaders if we are serious about internal change and career advancement.
The Kudzu Principles are based on six underpinnings that combine to give potential leaders the keys to open the right doors in their career. Essentially, the principles allow a person to develop a “root” system that makes him an irreplaceable commodity in the promotional register or interview process. Most importantly, as the fire service faces an unprecedented period in history where layoffs and furloughs are common, mastering the six Kudzu Principles will give the fire leader an almost indispensable status in his position.
Indispensable is a huge word these days, even in government work. In Linchpin, Seth Godin sums up that “there used to be two teams in every workplace: management and labor. Now there is a third team: the linchpins. These people invent, lead (regardless of title), connect others, make things happen, and create order out of the chaos.” These are the people who add so much value to the organization that the very thought of not promoting them or dispensing with their job is almost impossible. Proactive leaders and ambitious personnel can advance their careers more swiftly by looking at the workforce through the eyes of the organization’s leadership. Which employees stand out, and which are just status quo? Which personnel add value to the organization (all the while adding value to themselves) and advance the goals of the department in a unique and creative fashion? These questions are subconscious in the minds of most leaders as they build their inner circles and position the right people to succeed them.
Although the Kudzu Principles are not necessarily a secret formula for success, they are a set of building blocks that, if applied regularly, can position a person into that “linchpin” status that Godin talks about. The six Kudzu Principles can be classified into three categories: intrinsic motivations, extrinsic accomplishments, and career milestones.
INTRINSIC MOTIVATIONS
Intrinsic motivations form the first two principles because they require an internal drive that sets up the rest of the formula. These tasks allow the ambitious soul to prepare his inner intensity for the public requirements and breakthrough traits that round out the Kudzu Principles.
Kudzu Principle 1: Personal Branding. Realize that “branding” is a new buzzword that is spreading like wildfire; the concept is not just a passing fad or simple window dressing. It has always been an essential part of career development; someone finally figured out how to sell it in a wide variety of books. We walk through stores every day and see different brands of products that we buy and use. When we walk down those aisles or flip through catalogs, what is it that makes us buy one brand over another? Quality, price, and company reputation are all selling points that assist in our decision-making ability when it comes time to make the purchase.
But what about your brand? What is it about you that stands out to a hiring board or promotional panel and gives the panel reasons to give you the job or the new position? The answer is in how you brand yourself. You can promote yourself in a way that makes you stand out. How? Some examples are networking, public speaking, having articles published, and receiving grants. But don’t cross the line from personal branding to self-promotion! Two books that explain personal branding are ME 2.O by Dan Schawbel and The Brand Called You by Peter Montoya with Tim Vandehey.
Kudzu Principle 2: Visual Goals. Believe it or not, fire leaders can learn a valuable lesson from kids on this principle. Some of us remember school projects in which we had to cut up magazines to build a collage of pictures to represent our hopes and dreams. Today’s version of this task is called a “vision board.” Childish and silly? Not really! Scientific research has now been tied into what vision board proponents call the “Law of Attraction.” The law is based on the theory that we “attract into our lives anything that we give attention, regardless of whether it is positive or negative,” says Life Coach Priya Deelchand. Furthermore, the practice of building a vision board activates the reticular activating system, which works like a radio tuner to our soul. As with the practice of written goals, vision boards help us to attract the people, resources, and skill sets necessary for achieving our goals.
What goes into a good vision board? The board is made up of visual images comprised of the traits and skills you would like to possess. If a picture won’t describe it, supplement it with words and phrases to increase the emotional response. Your board should contain images that appeal to your passions and make you happy every time you look at it, fueling those passions even more. The vision board should also be strategically placed where you will see it daily. The Internet is full of ideas on how to build and lay out your vision board.
Having a vision board does not replace the need for clearly defined, written goals. Great leaders are goal-oriented, and the habit of writing and holding yourself accountable to written goals is a universal leadership trait that has stood the test of time. Supplement your goal-setting routine with inspirational images to bring the Law of Attraction into your journey of success.
EXTRINSIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS
With the firm foundation of a personal brand and visual motivators to light an internal fire, it is time to move on to the more difficult public or extrinsic accomplishments. True leaders can break through when they embrace the benefits of a strong, professional network and possess the ability to make clear presentations and command the attention of an audience.
Kudzu Principle 3: Networking. Many of us have grown up hearing cynical statements such as “It’s all in who you know” regarding achieving great things in life. To counter such sentiments, we shifted from relying on the relationships we make to an “educated isolationism.” We seem to focus more on “what we know” instead of knowing the right people.
There is much credit to this argument, but trends seem to be shifting to view relationships in a totally different light. Hence, there is the need for a concentrated effort to build our personal and professional network in addition to gaining knowledge. In his book Never Eat Alone, Keith Ferrazzi places the issue in priority, writing, “To achieve your goals in life, it matters less how smart you are, how much innate talent you were born with, or even where you came from or how much you started with. Sure, all of these things are important, but they mean little if you don’t understand one thing … you can’t get there alone. In fact, you can’t get very far at all.”
Professional fire personnel can benefit from this advice by using networking as an essential tool for a successful career journey and sustainability. Fire officers, as community leaders, should consider involvement in a civic club. There are plenty of contacts and relationships to be made within the confines of such civic organizations as the Rotary, the Kiwanis, the Lions clubs, and others. Although these organizations charge dues (tax-deductible, in most cases), the return you receive in “network capital” is priceless. Many other networking opportunities can be found through serving with community organizations such as the United Way, the Chamber of Commerce, and religious organizations.
Ferrazzi also recommends that we don’t become “networking jerks” by following a few simple courtesies when meeting new people and engaging in conversations.
- -Build relationships; don’t just work the room!
- -Maintain good eye contact, don’t cross your arms, and SMILE!
- -Be genuine.
- -Show concern.
- -Don’t appear shallow.
He reminds us that building a network involves “giving and taking,” and the advantages of a genuine and consistently maintained network of contacts can have an enduring impact on a successful career.
Kudzu Principle 4: Public Speaking. Comedian Jerry Seinfeld once said, “Given a choice, at a funeral, most of us would rather be the one in the coffin than the one giving the eulogy.” Considering that the fear of public speaking usually ranks right below the fear of dying in most opinion polls, Seinfeld’s statement is probably pretty accurate. The ability to make good public speeches and presentations is paramount in the career ambitions of the fire service leader. Mastering the public speaking game benefits you by doing the following:
- -giving you the edge on others.
- -positioning you for greater things.
- -demonstrating your leadership.
- -establishing your credibility.
People appreciate the value of a well-delivered, adequately prepared address. This country has enjoyed a rich heritage of public speaking that has seen monumental events result from the power of well-chosen words. “I Have A Dream,” by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., outlined an entire movement and cast a great vision for social justice. President Ronald Reagan’s demand, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” eventually directed worldwide attention toward the demise of communism in Eastern Europe. Fire leaders can make a dramatic impact on their departments by effectively communicating with the public through poised and confident deliveries. Considering that most civic clubs regularly invite the local fire chief to deliver programs, the ability to speak in public is almost a necessity.
To effectively conquer the fear of public speaking, nothing can replace the value of the experience gained by starting small and working your way up to larger groups. There’s a lot to be said for talking to children about “Stop, drop, and roll.” But the best advice to give anyone with a fear of public speaking is to prepare, prepare, prepare! Being a little nervous in front of a crowd is perfectly normal; being unprepared when asked to promote your department or your idea is inexcusable! You can build confidence in your ability to get in front of a crowd with the following tricks and techniques:
- -Do not procrastinate!
- -Know your audience. Arrive early and work the room.
- -Select an appropriate topic. If your jokes might offend someone, don’t tell them.
- -Be prepared with organized notes.
- -Know your introduction and closing by heart.
- -Use deep-breathing techniques.
- -Test your audiovisual equipment before your program.
- -Make good eye contact.
- -Keep telling yourself positive messages.
- -Never apologize by saying, “I’m not much of a public speaker.”
The most important point when struggling with public speaking is to remember that the speech can and will get you closer to your dreams by the credibility that your speaking ability can bring. Your audience wants you to do well, be relaxed, and get right to the point. Give them what they want!
CAREER MILESTONES
The goal of combining the first four Kudzu Principles is to help the fire service leader develop a foundational set of attributes that present him as self-confident, determined, and future oriented. In addition, the leader is recognized as a polished speaker and one who garners beneficial alliances through his professional network of contacts. The final two Kudzu Principles deal with career breakthroughs and sustainability-i.e., becoming an expert in your chosen field and adding value to the organization.
Kudzu Principle 5: Getting Published. Have you ever walked into a person’s office and noticed a framed copy of a magazine article in which that person was featured or that perhaps he had written? It’s quite an impressive accomplishment to present to your visitors or to add to your resume, but few realize the true power that being published can bring to a career.
Next to public speaking, many people will proclaim that writing is simply not their forte. But let’s face it-being published makes you stand out and dramatically enhances your credibility. When published in trade journals, writers gain credibility as experts in their field and are established as industry leaders. Flipping through the fire-related magazines and journals, you may see that regular contributors are some of the most respected names in the business. Furthermore, some of these writers are invited to speak at conferences, departments, and training academies throughout the world. What a great way to establish your brand when promotion time comes around.
Getting started is not as hard as you might think. The best way to dive into this career-building adventure is to spend some time reviewing the articles and advertisements in the publications for which you want to write. This will give you some idea of what readers they cater to and what the journal will publish and possibly even pay for.
Request the journal’s editorial and photographer submission guidelines. Many magazines require a query letter before receiving an entire manuscript. The letter includes an introduction of the writer and a brief outline of the article you want to submit. This varies from magazine to trade journal, but some will accept the full manuscript up front and let you know if and when it will be published. Fire Engineering will only accept completed articles for review.
Budding authors should pick up a copy of The Writers’ Market to learn how to write a winning query and find out which magazines and trade journals best suit their abilities. It’s also best to start out small with newsletters and lesser-known journals to get your foot in the door for future articles to the bigger name magazines and trade journals. Revisiting your high school and college writing classes may be like pulling teeth for some, but being a published author in your field is a career advancement tool that will reap many benefits when promotion time rolls around.
Kudzu Principle 6: Become a Grant-Winning Machine. Developing a unique talent in any profession can certainly prove beneficial for your career in a small business, in a corporation, or in government service. From the perspective of the organization’s leadership, having employees who perform their duties efficiently and add value to the team in some way can make a promotional decision a lot easier. You can add value in many ways, such as garnering good public relations for the department and providing critical interpersonal relationships with key community leaders. However, one of the most overlooked professional abilities is the skill in searching, petitioning for, and obtaining grant funds to achieve departmental goals. This adds dollar-and-cents value to a resume, giving a career-minded professional a competitive edge over others. If a promotional board is looking at two evenly matched candidates for a battalion chief slot and Captain A has obtained $100,000 in grant money for the department and Captain B has obtained none, which candidate is likely to stand out? This does not mean promotion requires that you have a record for bringing in funding grants, but it illustrates the need to market yourself to the organization and prove that you will bring an added value to the new position.
As we discussed in Kudzu Principle 5, writing is difficult for some people. Grant writing requires useful writing skills to effectively state your case in the grant proposal. On top of that, some grantors require that you present your proposal to the evaluation panel and advocate your case for the grant. Therefore, being able to speak in public and to organize your thoughts in front of watching eyes is extremely important. Many books and classes are available on how to write and present a grant proposal. The hardest part of the process is finding grant funding sources. The best advice for this search is to use the power of the Internet to find grants from public and private resources. Again, start with small grants with less demanding requirements, and work your way up to the big grant programs. Be persistent; look for funding sources that can assist your department in serving the citizenry. Build your “value portfolio” as an indispensable source of grant revenue for your department.
Fire service leaders across the country have had to face the reality that we no longer operate in the “Break Glass When Needed” mode. With public dollars stretched thin, our relevancy to the community is now being scrutinized more heavily than we ever could have imagined. With many departments either not growing or shrinking, a competitive edge is needed to stand out to help secure promotions and obtain the positions that ambitious firefighters desire. The Kudzu Principles are a winning combination of time-tested virtues that will propel ambitious fire service professionals to obtainable heights in their distinguished careers.
REFERENCES
Deelchand, Priya. “The Laws of Attraction.” Success Strategies Consultants, Ltd., 2009, http://www.priyadeelchand.com“>www.priyadeelchand.com.
Ferrazzi, Keith. Never Eat Alone. Doubleday, 2005.
Godin, Seth. Linchpin. The Penguin Group, 2010.
Montoya, Peter. The Brand Called You. McGraw-Hill, 2009.
Schawbel, Dan. ME 2.0. Kaplan Publishing, 2010.
What is your “brand”? What will stand out about you to a hiring board?
TOMMY E. JONES is the chief of Griffin (GA) Fire-Rescue, with which he has served for 27 years. He has a bachelor’s degree in communications from Mercer University and a master’s degree in public administration from Columbus State University.
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