Tailboard Talks Firefighter Podcast

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For 16 years of full time employment, Katie and I have done a good job of living within our means.  Looking ahead to big purchases and saving or pinching pennies or budgeting so we could either put down a sizable down payment or pay it off in full.

Buying something big and working OT to pay for it was not in our playbook and it made for some tense times but the cost of being at work just wasn't worth buying more stuff.

But then last week I bought a giant truck, went and got a loan, and I'm working one OT a month to pay for it.  Loserville.  But we have a big awesome truck to tow around our giant camper so how mad can I be?  I guess we'll find out.

I give some words of caution on spending and some advice when those big purchases are coming down the pipe.  Enjoy and keep those bills tight.

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Thank you for listening and let's all keep working to be more capable and durable both on shift and away from it.

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Race Week! I'm heading to Lincoln, Nebraska for a 78 mile gravel race and this week has been jam packed.  Today alone I bough a new truck, took the truck and camper to the shop to get the hitch adjusted, then sold my old truck to Carmax.  

Since I still can't manage my time, this week is a repost of one of the most popular episodes.  Enjoy, share, rate, and review.  If you're really motivated please find the Buy Me A Coffee button and show your support that way! Thank you!

Testing, Interviewing, Academy, and Probation are the steps to get in the door at a fire department.  Curt and I hit on these topics and offer some stories and lessons we've learned along the way.

The more things change, the more they stay the same and becoming a firefighter is a great example of that. Sure, tests may be administered remotely instead of sitting in a gym with 500 other applicants.  But, the lessons and tools needed to be a professional firefighter are rooted in hard work, service, and learning.

As a bonus, the next batch of episodes will have some True Detective talk since the fourth season just kicked off.  No real spoilers in this one but more to come.

Support the show

Affiliate links:

Rescue1CBD Use code TAILBOARD for 15% off

Frontline Optics use code TAILBOARD for 15% off

Fourth Frontier.com Use code FFTailboard for 25% discount on the X2 strap

Athletic Brewing- Code TTFP10

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Thank you for listening and let's all keep working to be more capable and durable both on shift and away from it.

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If you give a firefighter ten bucks he'll ask you if you have a 20.  It's in our nature to want more, ask for more, and not be satisfied with what we're given.  But when it comes to your fitness, the buck stops with you.

This company started as a fitness company and expanded to be a firefighter lifestyle brand.  That does not afford a zero fault relationship with fitness vs the fire service.

The 4th Shift is all about the things you do above, and next to your career to make you more capable and durable on the job and away from it.  Fitness is an evergreen subject that will always require more effort than just the hour you can attempt on shift.

Please respond to this episode with your feedback and feel free to tell me how wrong I am.

Support the show

Affiliate links:

Rescue1CBD Use code TAILBOARD for 15% off

Frontline Optics use code TAILBOARD for 15% off

Fourth Frontier.com Use code FFTailboard for 25% discount on the X2 strap

Athletic Brewing- Code TTFP10

Submit topics/request guests

Thank you for listening and let's all keep working to be more capable and durable both on shift and away from it.

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Stuff gets weird quick when a promotable position is on the line.  Friends become competition and a surprising amount of emails get sent to 'all'

I'm going over three things to do and one thing to avoid at all costs during promotional testing season.  The move from Firefighter to Lieutenant or Captain is a big one and the stress and disruption that the test causes is a great indicator of that.

Once that reading list gets posted, stuff is about to get weird.

Support the show

Affiliate links:

Rescue1CBD Use code TAILBOARD for 15% off

Frontline Optics use code TAILBOARD for 15% off

Fourth Frontier.com Use code FFTailboard for 25% discount on the X2 strap

Athletic Brewing- Code TTFP10

Submit topics/request guests

Thank you for listening and let's all keep working to be more capable and durable both on shift and away from it.

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Just because your back feels tight does not mean it needs to be stretched. That tightness could actually be a protective measure and here you come trying to stretch it out of existence!

This is just one of the points touched on in this episode. Firefighters are quick to turn to stretching and the idea that getting more flexible is the answer for reducing injuries.  But what if you need less stretching and more mobility?

If you like the episode please share it with someone and visit the 4thshiftfirefighter.com site for discounts and offers.

Support the show

Affiliate links:

Rescue1CBD Use code TAILBOARD for 15% off

Frontline Optics use code TAILBOARD for 15% off

Fourth Frontier.com Use code FFTailboard for 25% discount on the X2 strap

Athletic Brewing- Code TTFP10

Submit topics/request guests

Thank you for listening and let's all keep working to be more capable and durable both on shift and away from it.

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I almost had to throw someone out of the kitchen at work after witnessing some inappropriate behavior. I'd love your take on the situation.

Then I'm talking about some frustrations I had when a friend came to me and showed me the workouts he was doing at his new gym.  Firefighters love intensity and the fitness world is filled with people willing to pour it on and make you feel tired, even if it doesn't help you do your job better.

But of course I leave you with some fundamental framework for some of the most effective workout builder methods I have.

Be on the lookout for the 14-ish PDF, the Strength Builder Template, and the Daily DOSE PDF on the 4thShiftFirefighter.com site soon.

Thanks and if the mood strikes you, donate some coffee money to support the show.

Support the show

Affiliate links:

Rescue1CBD Use code TAILBOARD for 15% off

Frontline Optics use code TAILBOARD for 15% off

Fourth Frontier.com Use code FFTailboard for 25% discount on the X2 strap

Athletic Brewing- Code TTFP10

Submit topics/request guests

Thank you for listening and let's all keep working to be more capable and durable both on shift and away from it.

Send a text

Slow down and make a good decision then be as aggressive as possible carrying out that plan.

All out non-stop aggression can drive us head first into bad situations if our excitement puts blinders on our decision making.  Firefighters only have so much information and a short time to make decision on scene, but you don't need to make it even harder on yourself by rushing.

We're also in the first week of another 14-ish Not Too Difficult, and I give a brief overview of what that is and why I like it over any 30 or 75 day grind.

Check out the 4thShiftFirefighter.com site for discount codes, episodes, and more.

Support the show

Affiliate links:

Rescue1CBD Use code TAILBOARD for 15% off

Frontline Optics use code TAILBOARD for 15% off

Fourth Frontier.com Use code FFTailboard for 25% discount on the X2 strap

Athletic Brewing- Code TTFP10

Submit topics/request guests

Thank you for listening and let's all keep working to be more capable and durable both on shift and away from it.

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Of course it is, but how you do it is more important than when you do it.  If nobody had a critical thought about how we do things, we might still be feeding horses and passing buckets.  The fire service has come a long way and mostly by figuring out better ways to do stuff.

If you're a newer firefighter this episode has some tips on the "right" way to talk about the weak points of your department.  But beware that the wrong way will send a clear message that you're a 2-20 or an IKE.

There's some stuff for old guys too.  You know the ones who are the loudest at the table and get some good laughs poking holes in the organization but haven't offered anything in the way of suggestions or improvements.

Share this episode with a whiner.

Support the show

Affiliate links:

Rescue1CBD Use code TAILBOARD for 15% off

Frontline Optics use code TAILBOARD for 15% off

Fourth Frontier.com Use code FFTailboard for 25% discount on the X2 strap

Athletic Brewing- Code TTFP10

Submit topics/request guests

Thank you for listening and let's all keep working to be more capable and durable both on shift and away from it.

Send a text

Take care of your own backyard isn't just a game I played in grade school with scooters and yarn balls.

I've met a number of firefighters and coaches who teach and profess amazing things but when you talk to their people at their department it is a different story.

Remember that the people who impact you are very far away but the people you can impact are incredibly close.  Your fire chief, the city, NFPA and the State have no idea what you're doing but the people on your crew are feeling the effects of your actions, positive and negative, every day.

Support the show

Affiliate links:

Rescue1CBD Use code TAILBOARD for 15% off

Frontline Optics use code TAILBOARD for 15% off

Fourth Frontier.com Use code FFTailboard for 25% discount on the X2 strap

Athletic Brewing- Code TTFP10

Submit topics/request guests

Thank you for listening and let's all keep working to be more capable and durable both on shift and away from it.

Send a text

"Be patient with us" and "I'm 4 years in and I still want to be mentored" these are the things the new hires of today are NOT telling us, but need us to know.

The second half of this episode is arguably more important than the first half.  I'm talking about handling people, knowing when to pull the eject handle on an issue, and how to juggle your old boss with your new one.

Send this episode to an old guy. 

Support the show

Affiliate links:

Rescue1CBD Use code TAILBOARD for 15% off

Frontline Optics use code TAILBOARD for 15% off

Fourth Frontier.com Use code FFTailboard for 25% discount on the X2 strap

Athletic Brewing- Code TTFP10

Submit topics/request guests

Thank you for listening and let's all keep working to be more capable and durable both on shift and away from it.