Over the past three months as I have transitioned from being a national school safety trainer to a start-up LLC, I have answered one particular question countless times; “So what are you doing now?” It doesn’t matter if it’s a former colleague, classmate, or a past client no one has heard of being a “Success Training Officer” before. Maybe a quick background story will help clarify this…
I’d like to tell you about “Anthony Greenwood”. This is just a moniker of course, but Officer Anthony Greenwood had a tremendous impact on the course of my life. I’ll never forget the first time I met him as we sat down in a small interview room at the PD to discuss my future.
“If we develop a friendship, it’ll be based on you performing at your job. Show up ready to work every day, keep your mouth shut, and don’t tell everyone about all the things you’re going to do, just do them. Actions speak louder than words. Pay attention to everything I say and when we’re on a call, do exactly what I tell you to so no one gets hurt. Stay away from drinking while you’re in the training program. You’re not going to be invited out with any of us and working here doesn’t mean you’re “friends” with everyone else that works here. Oh, one last thing…never say, “I know” to me because you don’t.”
If that is not a word-for-word account of my first conversation with my initial Field Training Officer (or FTO), it’s pretty damn close. For those of you not familiar with how police training occurs, newly hired officers attend an academy. This is an academic setting where theories, principles, and other pertinent curriculum about policing are taught. These concepts are always reinforced by scenarios, exercises, and practical applications.
The real learning begins when a new officer starts their Field Training Program. Each officer is assigned a FTO. Consider this the “on-the-job training” portion for a new cop. This is where theory and concept meet real-world live interactions. The FTO guides the new officer as he or she learns the realities of the job. A field training program generally has at least four phases to it, with the new officer moving to a different FTO with each phase.
A cop’s first FTO has a tremendous impact and influence on how that young officer’s career will develop. I was blessed to have amazing FTOs in my career; a few of which are still dear friends today. I will never forget the realization of how little I knew, and how my FTO seemed to know everything. He knew exactly how to handle every single situation we found ourselves in. By the end of phase one, I had made up my mind that I wanted to do things exactly like him.
After phase one, I moved on through the next three phases. I had different FTOs and was also exposed to fill-in FTOs when mine were off on benefit time or sick. I realized there are many ways to get to the same destination or outcome. I began taking note of each FTO’s unique style and way of handling things. I retained and tried to emulate the things I liked, and tried to avoid things that didn’t make sense to me.
Throughout my training program, I developed my unique style based on what I thought were the best tactics, techniques, and procedures of each FTO. It was an important lesson. I discovered that getting to a desirable outcome was less about finding the perfect way to do something and more about finding a system that worked for me.
This lesson has stuck with me my whole life. When I began my personal development journey, I quickly learned that there is no shortage of high-level immensely successful people out there sharing their systems that have made them successful in life. Jim Rohn, John Maxwell, Andy Frisella, Ed Mylett, Tony Robins, Dr. BJ Fogg, Tim Grover, and the late Trevor Mowad to name just a few. There are hundreds. As I consumed their content through books, articles, podcasts, interviews, and videos I noted that rarely were there any concepts or principles in them that could be considered “new”. Each person had identified the critical parts of being successful and designed a system that worked for them.
I saw the same concept I first observed in the FTO program. All of the systems work…if you buy into them enough to routinely execute it. Which system you use or makes sense to you is up to you. There are common themes that exist among successful people. Things like attitude, mindset, time, intentionality, grit, perseverance, unwavering commitment to their vision, and other larger macro-concepts that I address in my speaking engagements or when working with clients.
As I developed my personal growth plan I took the things that resonated, were sustainable, and created a system that worked for me. I still execute this system daily.
As The American Excellence Initiative was born, it was difficult to describe the different avenues AEI uses to help people get unstuck and develop. Certainly, public speaking is a large part of AEI’s toolbox, as is coaching. AEI also provides training, and in some areas mentorship. Consulting, evaluating, and actual teaching are also utilized when necessary. During all of these processes, there is an element of learning for me as well. Whenever I have worked with an individual, a group, a professional demographic, or an organization bringing all of these tools to bear has always reminded me of being an FTO for those pursuing success.
There you have it…the formation of a new position that describes all of those multi-faceted change agents helping people down their never-ending journey to success.
This model will certainly make sense to first responders, but if you haven’t ever been a part of that lifestyle (either firsthand or vicariously) it may seem far-fetched. I encourage you to subscribe to the blog and see if the model holds up to the traditional description of “coaching, speaking, training” and all of the other services being offered in the personal development space these days.
As for FTO Greenwood, he retired a short time ago after a decorated career. He truly was one of the finest officers I have ever known. I’m comfortable saying that on a national scale having traveled, presented, and interacted with cops from almost all 50 states. All of his advice was spot on, and the times I failed were almost always times I failed to listen to him.
Whatever you do and wherever you are, find yourself an Anthony Greenwood…you’ll be better for it.
Comments