Plant the seeds of success because you reap what you sow

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. -- What is success? The dictionary defines success as achieving the desired outcome of something attempted.

As military members, our measurement of success is often quantified by statistics and metrics - aircraft sorties flown or tons of cargo delivered, for example. Sustained success isn't an accident.

True mission success can't happen without hard work and dedication from every person involved. Your organization requires personnel to be trained, mentored and led to the moment where they impact the mission. The question is: Will that impact be one that pushes the mission forward or one that bogs it down?

From the lowest ranking Airman to the top of the chain of command, it is each of our responsibility to make the conscious decision to be a positive influence in our work centers.

I often think back to when I was a young Airman. I was lucky enough to be sent to an Order of the Sword ceremony where I had the opportunity to meet the 11th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, David Campanale. I nervously asked him what advice he had for an Airman in today's Air Force and he said, "It doesn't matter what job you are given. If you're asked to dig ditches, do your absolute best. Be the best ditch digger there is, and success will follow."

To him, he may have been just chatting with an Airman. But to me, I knew was being mentored. A seed was planted and his words stuck with me. So I ask you, what seeds are you planting?

My first supervisor, Sergeant Bob Cochran, didn't just train me on my job, but also taught me about career development opportunities like tuition assistance and the Thrift Savings Plan. He made sure I was set for success.

Some of my most fulfilling jobs have been positions that allowed me to work with brand new Air Force members. As a technical school instructor, I was privileged to teach and mentor hundreds of new crew chiefs. I spent each day teaching them their new jobs while providing them the tools they would need to achieve their goals.

I am ever mindful that the Airmen of today are the leaders of tomorrow. We must hone our leadership skills to push people to develop themselves through education, setting high standards, and being productive decision makers and community leaders, as well as war fighters. These are the seeds of success.

"Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude."
- Thomas Jefferson