התמלול המלא של Finding Purpose Every Day: The Key to Staying Motivated in EMS and Aviation | Ep 74

said, I'm I'm got a great weekend ahead and uh I'm I'm off work after like uh you know nine or ten day stretch. 00:02:30.360 --> 00:02:31.080 It's nothing big. 00:02:31.240 --> 00:02:33.000 So I'm I'm a happy camper. 00:02:33.879 --> 00:02:36.199 Talk about keeping it going. 00:02:36.280 --> 00:02:40.439 You work ten days in a row and trying to find that motivation. 00:02:40.680 --> 00:02:44.840 And I I think I think at least Mike for to and Mark to lead this conversation off. 00:02:44.919 --> 00:02:48.359 I think you've you've already started half that process, right? 00:02:48.439 --> 00:02:49.799 Like that work life balance. 00:02:49.879 --> 00:03:05.400 So you work hard, you've got a uh you know, a nice little getaway, short getaway, which I think is very much needed, but I think that's a a big part of how we can stay refreshed and still coming back to work ready to go, but not burning ourselves out. 00:03:05.639 --> 00:03:06.359 Yeah, absolutely. 00:03:06.439 --> 00:03:09.319 I think that's so important to make sure that we have that extra time. 00:03:09.479 --> 00:03:12.280 And that's a big part, I think, of what we're gonna end up talking about today. 00:03:12.599 --> 00:03:21.240 Mark, before we get into it, if you don't mind, if you can just tell us a little bit about um yourself, your flight experience and your background and uh who you are. 00:03:21.639 --> 00:03:22.599 Yeah, absolutely. 00:03:22.759 --> 00:03:25.960 So I want to thank you guys again for having me on. 00:03:26.280 --> 00:03:28.359 You know, a little background on myself. 00:03:28.439 --> 00:03:35.879 I've been in EMS for probably 11 years now and flight paramedicine for about five. 00:03:36.039 --> 00:03:42.840 I teach at medic nurses' schools, I help organize and facilitate a scholarship. 00:03:43.079 --> 00:03:47.799 I help uh and work at local EMS agencies and the community. 00:03:47.960 --> 00:03:56.680 And whenever I'm not doing my other 10 jobs, I run a social media platform aimed at motivating people and they also provide some comedic relief. 00:03:57.000 --> 00:04:01.799 So with that social media handle being Mark Faller1234 also. 00:04:02.359 --> 00:04:08.919 Yeah, I think uh before you so Mark, you had reached out and and asked about uh the potential to come in and join us on the podcast. 00:04:09.000 --> 00:04:22.840 And you know, that was the first thought that came to my mind was looking at uh seeing some of your videos online through whether it be Instagram or or Facebook and and uh seeing the motivational stuff that you like to do or or how you try to keep people engaged. 00:04:22.920 --> 00:04:32.280 Uh, and that's really what kind of spoke to me and where the idea came for this podcast because I feel we all get to the point in our career sometimes where work feels like work. 00:04:32.759 --> 00:04:38.840 And I I think at the end of the day, if you go back to it, like this job is the best job in the world. 00:04:39.079 --> 00:04:44.920 And I feel so incredibly fortunate to be part of this industry and to have this job. 00:04:45.159 --> 00:04:52.199 And uh it's great to see people who have that same passion and drive and want to motivate others. 00:04:52.360 --> 00:04:56.199 And and I think that's really where where the basis for a lot of this ended up coming from. 00:04:56.519 --> 00:04:58.279 Yeah, I could agree with you more. 00:04:58.439 --> 00:05:05.159 You know, it's it's hard to find people, especially the longer you stay in the career, uh, you know, you kind of lose that drive. 00:05:05.319 --> 00:05:12.279 And uh I I hope to bring that drive back in most people and or create it for for our industry. 00:05:12.920 --> 00:05:13.959 Excellent. 00:05:14.839 --> 00:05:17.240 Say let's uh start off a little bit of an icebreaker here. 00:05:17.319 --> 00:05:21.000 And um, obviously you're a very passionate person and very motivated person. 00:05:21.159 --> 00:05:26.839 Can you tell us about something that in the industry that you are extremely passionate about? 00:05:27.079 --> 00:05:38.199 And what is it about that topic that keeps you motivated to really learn and do and and be the best that you can um in in the hems world? 00:05:38.519 --> 00:05:56.360 Yeah, I would say, you know, my biggest passion now is motivating people and helping them become the best versions of themselves and really better than they were yesterday, you know, and essentially that growth is what my passion is kind of more focused on now. 00:05:56.600 --> 00:06:01.399 People usually expect me to say the helicopters or the critical care medicine part, you know. 00:06:01.719 --> 00:06:22.360 And uh but helping people become more confident, and that can be either through teaching, mentoring, or uh just helping the average person realize that they're capable of more is kind of the passion that really drives me now and and helping create that growth for everyone. 00:06:23.319 --> 00:06:39.319 So, Mark, when you talk about growth, and I think that that's and I think that's an awesome point that you know we all start this field um with that we're gonna help, you know, we're gonna do something, and it's gonna be great and it's gonna be heroic, and it's gonna do all these amazing things. 00:06:39.480 --> 00:06:42.920 And I know how I felt when I first started. 00:06:43.000 --> 00:06:46.600 I mean, I was scared, I had not a whole lot of life experience. 00:06:46.680 --> 00:06:57.879 I was 23, so I'm obviously dating myself, but to just kind of hold on to and and keep that passion and and those feelings from when you first start this job. 00:06:57.959 --> 00:07:10.519 Can you kind of take us back to when you first started in EMS and then how that transitioned into you focusing on getting into flight and and kind of that process and that journey on what it took for you to get there? 00:07:11.079 --> 00:07:12.040 Yeah, absolutely. 00:07:12.279 --> 00:07:21.480 So looking back, I would have to kind of start in uh a host of class I

took back in high school. 00:07:21.560 --> 00:07:36.439 It was a healthcare class, and uh, you know, during that class, that's whenever it really uh spiked my interest because one of the days we had a flight crew come in to do a presentation and I was amazed at their presentation. 00:07:36.600 --> 00:07:42.360 So especially how they presented themselves, you know, they got to share some cool stories that we all loved. 00:07:42.600 --> 00:07:54.680 And then uh but as we kept talking to them, a a group of uh our local EMS had come in too, and I realized with their presentation is they were really the experts on C. 00:07:54.920 --> 00:08:11.719 So that kind of really drove me to kind of get into that career originally, and uh, you know, so from there I started researching it, talking to everyone I could, uh going to a guidance counselor, and you know, at that point I knew I needed to start with just being an EMT. 00:08:11.800 --> 00:08:18.920 So that that's what I got out of high school, and then uh whenever I graduated, I was hired shortly thereafter with it. 00:08:19.159 --> 00:08:21.719 So that's how my EMS career kind of started. 00:08:22.279 --> 00:08:24.279 I think it's amazing like to see now. 00:08:24.360 --> 00:08:34.360 Like I mean, I remember when I was in high school and and I some of it was maybe just starting to up things are just starting to kind of come out, you know, getting into the healthcare field. 00:08:34.440 --> 00:08:43.879 But I I think now I I've just amazed on how much more exposure into the the healthcare industry younger folks are are getting, especially in high school. 00:08:43.960 --> 00:08:53.639 And then it's opening up so many doors and opportunities for people to start even doing curriculum and things from a very young age, like 16 and and on. 00:08:53.800 --> 00:08:55.560 And I'm blown away by that. 00:08:55.639 --> 00:08:59.960 I I mean that I didn't even know what the heck I wanted to do when I finished high school, you know. 00:09:00.039 --> 00:09:04.360 I just was I think I was just happy to graduate high school and move forward. 00:09:04.439 --> 00:09:08.120 But I I am just amazed on on the exposure that we all have. 00:09:08.200 --> 00:09:13.879 And I I know I take it for granted a lot when we when we when we go to places and we do outreach and we do PRs. 00:09:14.039 --> 00:09:20.840 Um, I know sometimes, you know, I know I'm not the only one, but I know sometimes you're like, oh, all right, it's gonna be hot, we're gonna go out there. 00:09:21.000 --> 00:09:25.159 And I really sometimes forget like that impact that we truly make. 00:09:25.240 --> 00:09:28.279 And Mark, I'm so glad that you that you had that. 00:09:28.439 --> 00:09:36.679 And I try to remember those other things as flight crews that we're we're planting these images and those experiences and in young minds very early. 00:09:37.480 --> 00:09:47.480 So we really need to really invest and really make sure that we're we're we're really putting

off that good image because people are really lashing onto this field from very early and they're continuing on. 00:09:47.799 --> 00:09:50.679 Yeah, I could agree, Boar, you know, with that presentation. 00:09:50.759 --> 00:10:07.159 I looking back, if they didn't come in and give such a great presentation uh or even show up that day, you know, it would probably have been uh tough to even see myself in EMS, you know, because a healthcare class kind of introduces you to the entire healthcare industry. 00:10:07.240 --> 00:10:13.639 So there's so many choices, and it's kind of hard to fall on uh specifically EMS unless you hear the cool stories and all that. 00:10:13.799 --> 00:10:16.200 It's a pretty good convincing factor to start off with. 00:10:16.519 --> 00:10:26.679 Yeah, I I actually had a very similar experience, and then I was part of uh an explorer post at the local hospital, and so got the experience and the exposure with a lot of different avenues of medicine, and people come in and talk to us about it. 00:10:26.840 --> 00:10:32.600 But uh EMS actually wasn't one of those things, uh, nor was flight medicine. 00:10:32.759 --> 00:10:35.639 It was more so focused on everything within the hospital. 00:10:35.960 --> 00:10:41.720 And they made mention of like, oh, well, there's also EMT classes, and that was kind of like the extent of it. 00:10:41.799 --> 00:10:43.240 And I was like, well, that sounds interesting. 00:10:43.399 --> 00:10:45.399 That might be something I would be interested in, right? 00:10:45.639 --> 00:10:56.679 And and you know, I'm dating myself a little bit here, but going back to uh, I think that was probably 1998, 99, somewhere around there. 00:10:56.840 --> 00:11:06.039 Uh, there was a big push for EMTs, and so uh it was I think$25 for the course that I took, and that included the book. 00:11:06.279 --> 00:11:11.799 Uh uh because they were so anxious to get more EMTs out into the industry. 00:11:12.039 --> 00:11:14.200 And I had no idea what I was getting myself into. 00:11:14.279 --> 00:11:16.360 I was like, oh, this will look great on a resume. 00:11:16.519 --> 00:11:23.320 Like I had zero intention of staying in EMS, but I think just like everybody else, like we've gotten bit by that EMS bug. 00:11:23.480 --> 00:11:26.360 And it's something that just kind of really sticks with you. 00:11:26.519 --> 00:11:39.639 And and it it just I, you know, I know we've talked about it on other podcasts, but it's like, you know, I still remember that very first ambulance transport when the tones dropped, how nervous I was, where we went, what we did, what the patient was. 00:11:39.799 --> 00:11:44.279 Like I still remember all of those things because it was such a pivotal moment in my life. 00:11:44.519 --> 00:11:52.360 And and I think, you know, we didn't back then especially, we didn't do enough of a push of what this industry is like. 00:11:52.600 --> 00:12:11.000 I knew about helicopters and that they were medical helicopters, and I was obsessed with helicopters since I was a little kid, but I never really saw what that transition was going to look like for me uh until I actually got into the healthcare world and realized that this could become a reality. 00:12:11.240 --> 00:12:16.759 And so I I guess that's where I want to kind of direct it at you then, Mark, as far as like what was it about it? 00:12:16.919 --> 00:12:23.799 So obviously you you you had the um the informational session, you learned about being an EMT, you went and got your EMT. 00:12:24.120 --> 00:12:35.000 How did that transform you or inspire you to continue within the industry, work through your paramedic, and then eventually work into uh the flight world? 00:12:35.399 --> 00:12:36.679 Great question, yeah. 00:12:36.919 --> 00:12:45.879 So, you know, as I started going through EMT medic school, I found out that uh it was presented with a lot of challenges. 00:12:45.960 --> 00:13:00.600 You know, we're not a lot of us go into the industry and you know, you're not just immediately born knowing how to take vitals, even something simple like that, or uh communicate effectively to maybe another person. 00:13:00.840 --> 00:13:24.439 And uh so as I started going on even with the simplest of tasks, it's uh the challenges that actually uh intrigued me more than anything because it was so tough on everyone and it was so new and something different that uh really like I said, it it really intrigued me because everyone kind of challenged with it was facing difficulty. 00:13:24.679 --> 00:13:31.799 So, you know, that difficulty, it was like an equal playing field for everyone that was uh there in class, you know. 00:13:31.960 --> 00:13:36.759 And uh I I felt like through those challenges, I I just love a good challenge. 00:13:36.840 --> 00:13:43.879 So Mark, are you the kind of guy that you see something that's that sounds extremely difficult? 00:13:44.039 --> 00:13:45.879 I love that, and I'm gonna go for that. 00:13:46.519 --> 00:13:57.960 That's kind of a lot of what I'm hearing, and I admire and I admire that, and I think uh that that takes a huge amount of guts and a lot of um you know self-determination to to really go after that. 00:13:58.360 --> 00:13:59.159 Absolutely. 00:13:59.320 --> 00:14:05.080 Yeah, I would I would really define myself as someone that goes after all the challenges that I can. 00:14:05.320 --> 00:14:11.559 And uh, you know, that that is kind of tough, especially in kind of the flight industry, as you guys very well know. 00:14:11.720 --> 00:14:20.519 It's kind of a tough industry that no one really knows about, um, and no one really knows how to get into and doesn't know what classes to take. 00:14:20.759 --> 00:14:23.960 So um I I liked it even more for that reason. 00:14:24.279 --> 00:14:35.320 Yeah, and uh for anybody that may follow you on on any of the socials there, Mark, uh I'm sure people are probably aware, but uh it sounds like you had a partner in crime growing through

going through a lot of this as well. 00:14:35.480 --> 00:14:42.360 So I'm sure it was certainly nice to to have that that extra support going through this this crazy journey with you. 00:14:42.600 --> 00:14:43.240 Yeah, yeah. 00:14:43.320 --> 00:14:46.679 So as you guys can see in a lot of the posts, I have a twin brother. 00:14:46.759 --> 00:14:56.679 So it makes it even more um interesting of a topic because now we have not only the normal challenge that everyone faces, but we get to challenge each other. 00:14:56.919 --> 00:15:00.679 And uh we get to really compete in that way. 00:15:00.840 --> 00:15:10.120 So we've been going back and forth for a while, and then uh, you know, as one does one thing, uh we both, you know, kind of build up into flight. 00:15:10.200 --> 00:15:11.720 So it's uh it's been a lot of fun. 00:15:12.039 --> 00:15:15.639 Please tell me you use that to each other's advantages at times. 00:15:17.559 --> 00:15:21.399 A little sick day, the other one shows up, no one knows the difference, you know. 00:15:23.080 --> 00:15:26.360 It worked in high school and it works in careers too. 00:15:26.519 --> 00:15:28.679 Heck yeah, that's awesome. 00:15:30.439 --> 00:15:34.600 Uh hey, uh your brother's is he is it Mike? 00:15:34.840 --> 00:15:35.480 Yeah. 00:15:35.720 --> 00:15:39.320 Yeah, hey Mike, uh I gotta, I gotta need to be off today. 00:15:39.399 --> 00:15:40.360 Do you mind filling in for me? 00:15:40.439 --> 00:15:41.159 And no one knows the difference. 00:15:41.320 --> 00:15:42.600 That's gotta be awesome. 00:15:43.080 --> 00:15:50.519 Yeah, but you you know, at the end of the day, and I obviously I'm sure you guys don't do it, but like, you know, we spend and in this industry, we spend so much time with each other. 00:15:50.759 --> 00:16:00.519 I really find it hard to believe that people wouldn't be able to tiffer tell the difference between you and your brother and the personality, you know, like the minute little things between you guys. 00:16:00.679 --> 00:16:04.759 Um, but that would be hysterical if you guys tried to pull that off. 00:16:05.159 --> 00:16:07.159 Yeah, you would actually be surprised. 00:16:07.240 --> 00:16:20.759 Um, and how many other people kind of experience it, the stories we've uh heard over the years, and uh it seems that it is as long as you keep us separated, is the best bet because that's when people can't tell those minute differences. 00:16:21.000 --> 00:16:24.360 Whenever we're hanging out together, yeah, you can kind of pick it out. 00:16:24.439 --> 00:16:30.360 But whenever we're separate, we look the same, we act the same, you know, we have the same experiences in life. 00:16:30.519 --> 00:16:34.439 So it just looks like I'm doing 48-hour shifts all day, every day. 00:16:34.600 --> 00:16:41.159 So No, when when you guys posted that video or the photo of you guys next to each other, same flight suit. 00:16:41.240 --> 00:16:44.519 If he wasn't wearing the hat, I wouldn't be able to tell the difference. 00:16:45.000 --> 00:16:51.879 So, Mark, obviously, this has been you know a little bit of a journey for you to get to uh your career as a flight clinician. 00:16:52.200 --> 00:16:54.279 Um, a lot of motivation along the way, you know. 00:16:54.360 --> 00:16:57.720 Obviously, you had some some people helping you and pushing you along the way as well. 00:16:57.960 --> 00:16:58.759 How would you say? 00:16:58.840 --> 00:17:06.519 So I mean you've been doing this a couple years now, you're you're kind of in that spot of your career where I think you're comf like you're comfortable now, right? 00:17:06.600 --> 00:17:16.600 You know, when you first start in flight medicine, you you're terrified of so many things and you're constantly wanting to improve and get better, and you don't feel comfortable in your own shoes. 00:17:16.680 --> 00:17:22.039 And it takes, you know, a good year, year and a half to you really feel like you get, you know, you find your groove and you're in the right spot. 00:17:22.120 --> 00:17:28.840 And you've gone through all that stuff in your flight career now as you've progressed through um, you know, EMT, paramedic, and now flight clinician. 00:17:28.920 --> 00:17:35.160 And it's like, I think we all get to that point at some point where you just get comfortable, right? 00:17:35.320 --> 00:17:37.160 Like everything just seems to flow. 00:17:37.400 --> 00:17:41.480 There's um just a natural pattern that happens with everything that we do. 00:17:41.640 --> 00:17:57.880 And I think uh it's a normal transition for a lot of us to kind of fall into that comfort zone and forget to continue to push us forward and to learn new things and uh to challenge ourselves some more. 00:17:58.120 --> 00:18:16.280 And now that you are kind of at that point in your you know career where you're comfortable in what you're doing, how do you find personally that you're able to maintain that motivation every day when you go to work to get the job done, to to be that active team member, to engage and and and push each other forward as a team? 00:18:16.440 --> 00:18:17.800 Like what's your secret? 00:18:20.360 --> 00:18:27.080 I would say motivation for people can be different um so many different ways. 00:18:27.480 --> 00:18:45.960 So for me, I kind of have to think back to like we spoke before on what what really captured me into getting into this field and remembering that presentation and that we're actually making a difference in people's lives as cliche as it may sound. 00:18:46.200 --> 00:18:57.640 We are there at their worst times and uh we're there to make a difference and we're there to comfort them and be an answer, especially whenever you know that that worst time of their life is going on. 00:18:57.880 --> 00:19:12.600 So I would say it starts with a mindset and what when you really think about it, and the way I think about it for myself is every patient deserves the best version of me every day that I go to work.

00:19:12.840 --> 00:19:21.000 And uh, you know, I shouldn't slack or shouldn't kind of uh kind of wait for motivation. 00:19:21.160 --> 00:19:31.320 I should be there for my patients regardless, especially in this kind of career as you know, as starting out as first responders all the way up to flight clinicians. 00:19:31.480 --> 00:19:33.000 We're we're there to help people. 00:19:33.320 --> 00:19:37.320 You know, that motivation for me isn't something you wait for. 00:19:37.640 --> 00:19:41.880 And as as we all know, we don't wake up motivated every day. 00:19:42.040 --> 00:19:44.760 You know, it motivation kind of comes and goes. 00:19:44.920 --> 00:19:49.320 And if someone says you're motivated 24-7, that's just a lie, all right? 00:19:49.800 --> 00:19:51.240 But flat out lie. 00:19:51.560 --> 00:19:53.160 You know, most days, yeah. 00:19:53.400 --> 00:19:59.800 Most days I I hit the snooze button, I roll over and want to get more sleep like anyone else. 00:20:00.120 --> 00:20:04.360 But that's actually where you start recognizing complacency setting in. 00:20:04.760 --> 00:20:10.040 And, you know, that action, your action is what creates that motivation. 00:20:10.360 --> 00:20:19.960 So, you know, I I believe it's that kind of discipline that comes in that creates a motivation, and think of motivation as a decision like anything else. 00:20:20.280 --> 00:20:23.480 So the biggest thing I would say is taking action first. 00:20:23.560 --> 00:20:34.520 You know, action creates that momentum, momentum builds your confidence, confidence builds your belief, and belief changes you as a person, and you become a change person. 00:20:35.080 --> 00:20:37.880 Man, I I'm I kind of feel a lot of this one, Mark. 00:20:38.040 --> 00:20:41.640 And uh yeah, I feel attacked right now. 00:20:41.960 --> 00:20:42.520 I know. 00:20:43.480 --> 00:21:01.960 Uh like you know, when it you almost feel like I I I totally feel the snooze button, and I have tried for probably the last like year and a half to set like uh really good habits, right? 00:21:02.120 --> 00:21:04.040 So I'm a morning person. 00:21:04.520 --> 00:21:10.520 Pretty much everyone else in my household is not, you know, but I enjoy mornings. 00:21:10.920 --> 00:21:12.440 That's that's what I like. 00:21:12.600 --> 00:21:17.640 So I have tried to find like you talked about, it's a mindset, right? 00:21:17.720 --> 00:21:18.520 And it's a choice. 00:21:18.600 --> 00:21:23.000 And and and I think that's so important that that we have to remember that. 00:21:23.160 --> 00:21:28.280 Like we we have a choice to continue to come to work and do this job. 00:21:28.440 --> 00:21:42.200 It's a very, very great privilege to do this job, but we have to make sure that we are making the best choices because if we make the best choices for ourselves, like you said, Mark, then we are gonna be our absolute best for our patients. 00:21:42.280 --> 00:21:44.520 And that's what it ultimately comes down to. 00:21:44.760 --> 00:22:03.160 If I were to choose to like do things to not get the good night's sleep, and then I'm snoozing in, and then I'm rolling into work on two wheels, and you know, and then I'm running out and we're getting through the brief, and then we do the the checklist, and I'm kind of like, you know what, I think everything's there, you know. 00:22:03.560 --> 00:22:07.960 It's it's it's choices, and I and I feel like I've really tried like to find what works for me. 00:22:08.040 --> 00:22:13.240 I know a lot of people that or a few people that are listening to this will be like, I'm not mourning a person. 00:22:13.320 --> 00:22:15.080 I come come alive at night, you know. 00:22:15.160 --> 00:22:16.120 That's not me. 00:22:16.520 --> 00:22:25.000 So so, Mark, how do you when you talk about making these choices and to set yourself up to be the best for your patients? 00:22:25.160 --> 00:22:27.640 So, how can you, the things that you do for yourself? 00:22:28.200 --> 00:22:32.280 How does that transpire into motivating others to also do the same thing? 00:22:32.440 --> 00:22:38.120 Because just talking to you, I'm already checking boxes of things I need to change and help myself either. 00:22:38.200 --> 00:22:41.960 So how do you get that to correlate to help motivate other people as well? 00:22:42.280 --> 00:22:44.680 There's a couple different ways of doing it. 00:22:44.840 --> 00:22:48.280 I think it's like that mindset we've been talking about. 00:22:48.520 --> 00:22:53.000 And just your attitude and what what you focus on. 00:22:53.480 --> 00:22:57.080 You know, we we see the world on how we choose to focus on it. 00:22:57.240 --> 00:23:01.560 You know, if you're looking for positivity throughout the day, you're gonna find a lot of positive stuff. 00:23:01.720 --> 00:23:07.400 If you find anything, if you want to look for something negative, there's plenty of negative out there, that's for sure. 00:23:07.480 --> 00:23:11.160 And it's easier to be negative than positive sometimes. 00:23:11.400 --> 00:23:23.640 So, you know, I I have to always kind of keep keep that positive mindset, but it's just like you said, coming prepared, staying humble whenever you get into the job. 00:23:23.880 --> 00:23:29.720 And uh, you know, you you just have to keep going after it and keep going for those challenges. 00:23:29.880 --> 00:23:36.440 Me myself, I'm not a morning person, but I enjoy the challenge of getting out of there with you. 00:23:36.680 --> 00:23:42.200 So I like that challenge, and I have to tell myself to go after it every morning. 00:23:42.360 --> 00:23:44.840 So that's that's what I work towards. 00:23:45.000 --> 00:23:51.720 You know, just kind of keep up that consistency because people notice that consistency, you know, especially in leadership. 00:23:51.960 --> 00:23:57.560 You know, a lot of people think of it as like a rank, but it's more of influence, is what I see it as. 00:23:57.800 --> 00:24:03.240 And people follow that kind of

positivity and that energy you bring to the field. 00:24:03.560 --> 00:24:08.280 So you're you know, at the end of the day, your attitude spreads faster than you think. 00:24:08.520 --> 00:24:15.640 So and that culture can be kind of tough, especially uh, you know, kind of reflecting back on it. 00:24:15.800 --> 00:24:20.200 You you can't, you know, wait for the culture to be better. 00:24:20.360 --> 00:24:25.320 You have to create the culture, and everyone kind of recognizes that energy you bring. 00:24:25.480 --> 00:24:27.320 So I try to bring my best self. 00:24:27.640 --> 00:24:29.000 I absolutely love what you just said there. 00:24:29.080 --> 00:24:36.280 And there was a couple things I wanted to go back and kind of touch on because I think that, you know, first off, your attitude is something that is so important. 00:24:36.360 --> 00:24:50.360 And and I think it's so interesting and easy in this industry for us to constantly focus on the things that we can't control when we really should be focusing on the things that we can control. 00:24:50.600 --> 00:24:55.080 And I can control my attitude, I can control that I go out and I do a full rig trek. 00:24:55.240 --> 00:25:08.120 I can control that I make that I make sure I have all the things that I need, that I'm suited and booted and ready to go, that I have the right tools necessary with me, that I've practiced my craft enough times to make sure that I'm taking care of my patient the right way. 00:25:08.280 --> 00:25:10.440 Like these are all things I can control. 00:25:10.840 --> 00:25:24.360 And these are all things that, and when I do control them, will help to bring a better attitude, will help to, I think, at least hope to improve morale that will make that team atmosphere a little bit better. 00:25:24.440 --> 00:25:34.840 And and I love what you were saying there, and that, you know, these are sometimes the simple or easy things that you can do as a person, as a provider, as a teammate, right? 00:25:35.080 --> 00:25:37.720 And and I think that we forget about those sometimes. 00:25:37.880 --> 00:25:45.160 It's so easy to just kind of brush that under the rug, or, you know, there's the phrase of misery loves company, right? 00:25:45.240 --> 00:25:54.520 Like it's so much easier and more fun to be miserable sometimes because we need that that validation or what have you. 00:25:54.680 --> 00:26:02.760 I'm not sure what the the specifics are behind it, but it it it is it is very clearly, I think, a choice sometimes. 00:26:02.840 --> 00:26:06.680 And there are many days where again, I am not a morning person. 00:26:06.920 --> 00:26:11.320 My coworkers know do not talk to me until I've had a cup of coffee. 00:26:11.560 --> 00:26:25.320 Um it is not like, and and especially if we're going on a flight at three o'clock in the morning where I'm tired and uncaffeinated and hungry, that combination in and of itself is not good for anyone, right? 00:26:26.040 --> 00:26:33.160 But I think that there's so much that we can do to control our own uh ability to be a positive team member. 00:26:33.320 --> 00:26:43.880 And and I love how you were kind of explaining that in that you know, these are these are the things that we have to choose to show up each day for our patients. 00:26:44.040 --> 00:26:46.680 We have to choose to show up for our partners every day. 00:26:46.760 --> 00:26:50.520 And quite frankly, we have to choose to show up for ourselves every day. 00:26:50.920 --> 00:26:58.120 And I think that's probably the hardest part of all of this because I think that we feel responsibility to someone else. 00:26:58.200 --> 00:27:01.880 We've we feel responsibility to our partners and to our patients and to our team. 00:27:02.200 --> 00:27:07.480 But we very rarely feel that same level of responsibility to ourselves. 00:27:07.640 --> 00:27:09.640 And I think that's where the challenge comes in. 00:27:09.800 --> 00:27:13.800 And so I love how you were, you know, you it it's you put it very simply. 00:27:13.960 --> 00:27:15.080 This is a choice. 00:27:15.240 --> 00:27:17.800 This is something that we choose to do. 00:27:17.880 --> 00:27:31.720 And and I think personally that the positivity that we can bring and the positive attitude that we can bring to a team atmosphere goes much further than the negative side of things. 00:27:31.960 --> 00:27:39.000 But I think that the negative side of things spreads like wildfire sometimes and is extremely difficult to control. 00:27:39.240 --> 00:27:47.400 And so I think when we start getting down that negative route, that we start feeling a lot of that complacency of like, oh, it's okay. 00:27:47.560 --> 00:27:50.920 I was here yesterday, I don't need to check my gear again today, right? 00:27:51.160 --> 00:27:53.800 Like, or oh, I've done this skill a thousand times. 00:27:53.880 --> 00:27:54.280 It's fine. 00:27:54.360 --> 00:27:56.760 I can just go through the motions and it'll be okay. 00:27:56.920 --> 00:28:00.840 And I think that we fall into that little bit of like, you know, the complacency path. 00:28:01.000 --> 00:28:04.680 Um, and I'm I'm curious, you know, obviously you're a very positive person, Mark. 00:28:05.000 --> 00:28:14.040 You uh like to motivate others, you see the best in the situation that's in front of you, and you try to bring that attitude, you know, bring your own sunshine, right? 00:28:14.440 --> 00:28:19.640 Have you experienced a time where you have seen complacency in yourself or your team? 00:28:19.960 --> 00:28:25.320 And what do you what did that look like for you, or how did you confront it or recognize it in the first place? 00:28:25.640 --> 00:28:28.600 I think every provider experiences it. 00:28:28.760 --> 00:28:35.640 You know, complacency is uh kind of tough industry-wide, but it's something that you don't really recognize at first. 00:28:35.800 --> 00:28:39.960 So it's like I said, I think everyone kind of experiences it. 00:28:40.360 --> 00:28:47.800 It's

not a matter of if you're going to experience complacency, or rather when that complacency sets in. 00:28:48.280 --> 00:28:50.440 So you need to be prepared to overcome it. 00:28:50.520 --> 00:28:54.680 So just as we are in this industry of EMS, we're prepared for the worst thing to happen. 00:28:54.920 --> 00:29:01.000 We need to be prepared for complacency and our attitudes to change and for us to lose that passion. 00:29:01.240 --> 00:29:06.040 So, you know, nobody actually chooses that complacency. 00:29:06.200 --> 00:29:08.680 It happens one easy decision at a time. 00:29:08.920 --> 00:29:23.480 So, and those easy decisions can be something simple, you know, skipping one training, you click through your online training quicker than normal, you quit reading, learning, or being a student, you stop asking questions, and you can stop giving it away. 00:29:23.560 --> 00:29:25.480 We we all watch all the videos. 00:29:25.720 --> 00:29:29.000 We watch all the videos, we no one skips forward through any of that. 00:29:29.160 --> 00:29:29.560 Come on. 00:29:29.800 --> 00:29:30.280 Yeah. 00:29:30.520 --> 00:29:31.800 Yeah, absolutely. 00:29:32.280 --> 00:29:42.280 I would never the the scary part of that complacency is it normally looks like confidence in most of us. 00:29:42.440 --> 00:29:47.720 You know, it looks like you're confident, you're comfortable with anything and everything, but that's when you're complacent. 00:29:47.880 --> 00:30:00.760 And in a field, especially as medicine that's ever changing, you know, we we have to kind of let those egos aside and be bigger than be bigger than that and have curiosity. 00:30:01.000 --> 00:30:04.760 So, you know, like I said, complacency will set in. 00:30:05.080 --> 00:30:07.720 So you have to kind of confront it immediately. 00:30:07.880 --> 00:30:16.200 You have to start taking action, you gotta stop being lazy, you gotta do the trainings, and uh, you know, start taking on new and more challenges. 00:30:16.280 --> 00:30:17.400 So that's what I do. 00:30:17.800 --> 00:30:18.920 Let me ask you this then. 00:30:19.000 --> 00:30:21.800 I want to I want to dive that maybe one step further. 00:30:22.040 --> 00:30:31.240 And so when we're talking about, you know, we have choices and we come in and we want to do the same thing, right? 00:30:31.400 --> 00:30:34.120 So groundhog day, right? 00:30:34.360 --> 00:30:41.480 When it's the when it's the same thing, you know, three days in a row, you know, or or three shifts in a row, you know, whatever it is, right? 00:30:41.560 --> 00:30:43.480 You you do those same things. 00:30:43.880 --> 00:30:59.560 And then let's say over like a month time, you know, from from a leadership perspective, you know, you you come in, you do your your job, you do your checkoff, you maybe do your your your straightforward flights or whatever, and and you go home, you know, not a big deal. 00:30:59.720 --> 00:31:14.600 But then over a month's time, then like from when when management

or leadership, when people look back and say, you know, these were all the things that I that we all saw, you know, when you have your your your team meeting base meetings or whatever, and you know, maybe these are the things that we didn't do so well at. 00:31:14.760 --> 00:31:17.240 Like I've noticed this in the past. 00:31:17.400 --> 00:31:32.120 Like, do you think as a culture, and and I'm talking about the hems industry and and and EMS and pre-hospital, like, do you think a lot of times we tend to focus more often on the things that we didn't maybe do so well more than the things that we did right? 00:31:32.280 --> 00:31:36.840 And then I guess does that kind of further promote that complacency, right? 00:31:36.920 --> 00:31:40.760 Because you're like, well, I did like four of these shifts and I didn't have anything go wrong. 00:31:40.920 --> 00:31:46.600 And then so if if I'm if no one's noticing, then why am I gonna continue to do the extra? 00:31:46.680 --> 00:31:48.520 I'm just gonna check the box and go home. 00:31:48.840 --> 00:31:57.720 Do you think we we kind of miss that mark a little bit instead of highlighting the the highs and things we did good, do we focus more on on some of the things we didn't? 00:31:58.040 --> 00:31:58.840 Yeah, for sure. 00:31:59.000 --> 00:32:06.440 I would say we we need to focus on all the positivity in everything that we do and the actual differences we make. 00:32:06.600 --> 00:32:11.800 It may have been just a simple checklist that we did, or it may have been just a simple call we ran. 00:32:11.960 --> 00:32:17.400 But truly to that person that called 911, it it was an emergency to them. 00:32:17.480 --> 00:32:19.240 And they didn't have an answer. 00:32:19.480 --> 00:32:27.080 And obviously, they're looking at life in a more negative manner, especially if they're having an emergency, it's not a very positive atmosphere, right? 00:32:27.240 --> 00:32:33.640 So we have to kind of bring that positivity to them, but also our best versions are of ourselves. 00:32:33.800 --> 00:32:41.720 So helping that person, as simple as it may seem, uh, makes a big difference in their lives and they'll remember that for the rest of their lives. 00:32:42.040 --> 00:32:44.280 I want to take it back one more step as well. 00:32:44.440 --> 00:32:53.880 Um, I I loved something that you said there, Mark, and that complacency is often disguised as confidence. 00:32:54.840 --> 00:32:59.560 I feel like that was something that was super important to kind of digest for a second. 00:32:59.720 --> 00:33:10.280 And and I'm I'm thinking back in my career, and I'm thinking about uh when I started to feel comfortable and confident in the job that I'm doing. 00:33:10.600 --> 00:33:24.280 And when I look at the people that I looked up to who are also comfortable and confident in the job that they're doing, um, or people who I considered to be like masters in their craft, you know, nothing bothered them. 00:33:24.440 --> 00:33:30.360 They

were always able to handle every situation, they knew what to do, whatever would come down the pike. 00:33:30.600 --> 00:33:41.640 And I think there's a very fine line because I never, I never really looked at the complacency and confidence correlation before. 00:33:41.880 --> 00:33:54.760 And now I'm I'm going back and I'm kind of looking into, you know, what that what that looks like in in in my career and how there are certainly times where I've noticed in myself where I have gotten complacent with some of the things. 00:33:54.840 --> 00:33:59.800 And I've had to like have that like internal wake-up call of like knock it off. 00:33:59.880 --> 00:34:01.480 Like, this is not okay. 00:34:01.800 --> 00:34:05.400 And and I never thought of it before, put that correlation there. 00:34:05.640 --> 00:34:16.920 But having hearing you say that um really makes me kind of look back on the times where I have caught myself being complacent in something. 00:34:17.159 --> 00:34:24.760 And I can honestly say that I I certainly feel like those times are often some of those times where I felt the most confident. 00:34:25.400 --> 00:34:33.800 And and I really think that that's an interesting distinction that you brought up there, in that um, it's easy to fall into that path. 00:34:34.199 --> 00:34:48.360 And I don't think we ever really recognize that in ourselves because that in and of itself, I think, is a you know, a natural progression in our careers is to feel confident in the job that we're doing. 00:34:48.760 --> 00:34:53.640 But at what point does that confidence turn into the complacency? 00:34:53.720 --> 00:34:55.800 And that's got to be a really fine line. 00:34:55.960 --> 00:35:03.960 Like, is there is there a way that that you've found in in your career that you see in others that really help to distinguish between those two? 00:35:04.119 --> 00:35:16.039 And how do you how do you maintain confidence, competence, and uh the ability to do the job well without getting complacent? 00:35:19.000 --> 00:35:26.360 So whenever we think of complacency, you know, complacency itself impacts every aspect of the team. 00:35:26.519 --> 00:35:36.680 You know, that that's from the medicine to the communication amongst crew members, you know, their morale or that culture we talked about at the base. 00:35:36.840 --> 00:35:47.640 Um it affects your training, your attitude, and you know, it can even roll over to like safety, but ultimately the teamwork that you provide. 00:35:48.039 --> 00:35:56.760 So complacency, remember, doesn't you know, doesn't usually create like one catastrophic mistake, right? 00:35:57.000 --> 00:36:02.200 It it's not something big, it's the small things, and that's what I really kind of focus on. 00:36:02.440 --> 00:36:07.400 You know, it complacency really kind of creates hundreds of small shortcuts. 00:36:07.640 --> 00:36:09.960 That's what kind of makes up complacency. 00:36:10.200 --> 00:36:15.079 And eventually those shortcuts and those

shortcomings catch up to you. 00:36:15.559 --> 00:36:20.360 So as that adds up over time, you know, it it can uh catch up to anyone. 00:36:21.079 --> 00:36:29.079 Uh yeah, I feel like it's it I I as you're saying it, I'm I'm thinking back to times too when I'm just not at my best, right? 00:36:29.160 --> 00:36:42.119 And I and I feel those and and I'm actually being complacent and and I I hope that I'm not trying to hide it under like this confidence or or more false confidence, you know, in that aspect. 00:36:42.280 --> 00:37:05.480 But I but I do find, you know, I do find just looking back and and and thinking about things on when we're we're a busy industry, and and not only is like the hems world a busy industry, like there's so much that goes into each patient flight and encounter, right? 00:37:05.559 --> 00:37:11.000 And it affects so many different aspects of each provider, and then it affects us all differently. 00:37:11.160 --> 00:37:20.840 And then we put three or four people of that team in the aircraft trying to mesh and accomplish the same goal. 00:37:21.720 --> 00:37:33.240 And if we all have those little slips where we're not kind of at our best, and like you said, Mark, they're like the small shortcuts, you know, the small little things to just like, yeah, we don't really need to do that on this flight, you know, this one's fine. 00:37:33.400 --> 00:37:35.400 And then we get back and it's like, ah, you know what? 00:37:35.480 --> 00:37:38.680 I'll um I'll restock in just a little bit, you know. 00:37:38.760 --> 00:37:48.920 Let me, it's hot out, so I need to go eat, and then I need to go rest or or whatever. 00:37:49.079 --> 00:37:56.599 And so I think of those times that I easily do myself, and then like you said, it'll catch up to us, right? 00:37:56.760 --> 00:38:09.240 Because if if I didn't put everything back on the aircraft and um the next flight comes in, and then you're scrambling because you got to grab everything, get out to the aircraft, or you're trying to restock it real quick, and then that's when things get missed. 00:38:09.320 --> 00:38:11.320 And I think that's such a valid point. 00:38:11.400 --> 00:38:20.119 I'm literally speaking from experience, so but but I I think that's just such a valid point that it's so important for us to like stay the course, right? 00:38:20.280 --> 00:38:33.079 Like it, it it's hard because it it takes so much for each flight, and and it's just hard to describe, I guess, for people like if you haven't done it, and if if and for anybody listening that's in this field, I think everybody can relate to that. 00:38:33.160 --> 00:38:42.039 Though it's the long game on how to stay confident without being complacent and doing those things. 00:38:42.280 --> 00:38:50.920 So I guess my question, because I I'm literally thinking of all the things that I should be fully doing 100%, not even you know, 98%. 00:38:51.320 --> 00:38:54.280 I should be seeing it through each and every time, you know. 00:38:54.440 --> 00:38:57.559 Um, so how can we combat that? 00:38:57.720 --> 00:39:08.920 So, like what are the things that like like for me example, what can I do on my next shift to really make sure that I'm seeing things through and making sure I'm not being complacent? 00:39:09.000 --> 00:39:13.880 And how can I do that and bring it to the team and base level? 00:39:14.360 --> 00:39:41.640 I think the biggest difference you can make is kind of reflecting back to when you first started the the career, and we can all relate how scared we were, both in uh getting on a truck for the first time or maybe the helicopter for the first time, and just not knowing, but this this industry is so big, so we should feel almost that way every time we come into work because there is so much to learn and do. 00:39:41.960 --> 00:39:49.559 So as you're kind of going throughout the career, I find that you know you should just stay a student forever. 00:39:49.800 --> 00:39:58.119 Because if you stay and you become the instructor, I always said, you know, to to teach is to learn twice, right? 00:39:58.360 --> 00:40:03.160 So we need to be on top of our games and learning more because there is so much more to learn. 00:40:03.400 --> 00:40:13.880 So for every shift that I walk into, I I start asking myself, especially whenever I start in to become more complacent, I ask myself, what can I learn today? 00:40:14.360 --> 00:40:16.039 What can I improve? 00:40:16.360 --> 00:40:23.880 And what what happened today that can make a difference in the future, if that's for my patients or for myself. 00:40:24.200 --> 00:40:40.119 So I I always kind of keep searching for mentors, uh never stop reading, always teach others, and like I said before, you know, that teaching forces you to keep learning and doing more. 00:40:40.360 --> 00:40:44.519 So that that growth is what you should be focusing on. 00:40:45.240 --> 00:40:54.119 I I really like that aspect of it, and I think that um you're certainly onto something in the regards of the education side of things. 00:40:54.280 --> 00:41:11.320 I think I've had some of the best shifts when I've come in and people have been engaged and wanting to go through training scenarios or some kind of education and not doing it by themselves, but doing it together so that we can talk through these things. 00:41:11.559 --> 00:41:14.599 I mean, look, we gotta we gotta train how we fight, right? 00:41:14.920 --> 00:41:36.440 And and I think that it's so easy to find yourself going down this rabbit hole of being complacent and just going through the motions rather than actually doing the full-on training the way that it's supposed to do, the way that you would communicate, the way that the you would build the muscle memory of going through some of those things. 00:41:36.680 --> 00:41:41.160 And I think that that can easily be translated into other aspects of the team dynamics. 00:41:41.240 --> 00:41:54.360 And I I think you know, a lot of what we've

talked about has been some of those, those internal noticing of complacency and how that affects us and really kills the overall our our own internal motivation. 00:41:54.599 --> 00:42:05.400 But I think when we talk about it from a team perspective, that this is like a this is a much broader and more dynamic topic, right? 00:42:05.559 --> 00:42:12.760 And and this this spreads out into your overall team dynamics, how you train, what your operations look like. 00:42:13.000 --> 00:42:17.000 Uh, and I think the overall attitude and morale of that specific team. 00:42:17.079 --> 00:42:35.320 And I and I think that, you know, I think the the training and the education that you mentioned is is certainly one way that we as individuals who are truly passionate about this job can hopefully have a positive influence on our team dynamics with. 00:42:35.400 --> 00:42:46.920 I I can think of many circumstances throughout my career where uh either myself or someone else has come in and really been like gun-ho about like, hey, let's do this education today. 00:42:47.000 --> 00:42:49.160 I really want to go through this and talk about it. 00:42:49.320 --> 00:42:52.280 And when you go through that with them, they're not just doing the motions. 00:42:52.360 --> 00:42:59.000 You know, think about the last time you had to drop your three tubes for the month to make sure that you're staying compliant for your, you know, for your team, right? 00:42:59.079 --> 00:43:16.200 Like, are you just dropping plastic or are you actually running through your RSI protocol and talking about what you would be doing to set yourself up for success and how you're gonna position the patient and the equipment you're gonna have and where you're gonna have the equipment, what medications you're gonna give, what the dosages are for that particular patient. 00:43:16.440 --> 00:43:41.800 And and I feel like even the people who are in that situation doing it with you, that you clearly don't want to be doing that with you, by the time you're done running through that training iteration, a lot of times those people are very engaged in the conversation and really having the necessary conversations and going through the necessary skills to make sure that they're setting the whole team up for success. 00:43:42.039 --> 00:43:48.840 And I really think that that's one super good way that you mentioned that can help combat some of that complacency. 00:43:48.920 --> 00:43:50.840 And it may start off rough, right? 00:43:51.079 --> 00:44:03.079 But like by the end of it, like if you can have that positive impact on your team, I mean, that that's that's helping your overall dynamics, that's helping the morale, that's helping the way that you work together, and that's ultimately helping our patients. 00:44:03.400 --> 00:44:09.559 And and I think that we forget about sometimes the impact that we can have just by doing those little things. 00:44:09.640 --> 00:44:13.240 And that's why I love that you ended up bringing that particular topic up on it. 00:44:13.480 --> 00:44:14.519 Yeah, absolutely. 00:44:14.840 --> 00:44:21.960 So, you know, as you kind of had said, complacency is the the biggest part there and becoming comfortable. 00:44:22.119 --> 00:44:27.000 So it's just staying a student and uh just staying at it, keep learning, you know. 00:44:27.240 --> 00:44:27.640 You said. 00:44:28.039 --> 00:44:30.599 Teaching is learning it twice. 00:44:30.840 --> 00:44:34.599 And I I really like that because I I do a lot of teaching. 00:44:34.840 --> 00:44:41.720 And I also think I'll probably learn things like probably five or six times by the time I end up teaching it correctly. 00:44:41.880 --> 00:44:43.960 So like you usually need to learn things the hard way. 00:44:47.880 --> 00:44:49.480 That's usually how it goes. 00:44:49.720 --> 00:44:53.480 But I really like that you said that teaching, you know, is learning it twice. 00:44:53.559 --> 00:45:06.840 And and I'm willing to bet after this, after the show gets um on the air, Mike's gonna get emails being like, Man, my education department heard this, and now we're all running through scenarios every day. 00:45:07.079 --> 00:45:13.960 Like it's a all three of us, we're gonna get emails on this and be like, ah But no, it's what you gotta do. 00:45:14.119 --> 00:45:15.000 Like you you have to. 00:45:15.240 --> 00:45:16.519 Someone's life depends on this. 00:45:16.680 --> 00:45:16.920 Absolutely. 00:45:19.880 --> 00:45:20.840 It really does. 00:45:21.079 --> 00:45:23.400 How many, how many of us have always said this, right? 00:45:23.480 --> 00:45:29.400 They're like, when you've worked on the on the rig and or or in the hospital, we've all said this. 00:45:29.640 --> 00:45:37.400 I will work the worst station you have, I will work the worst area, I will run all night as long as I have a great partner. 00:45:37.800 --> 00:45:39.960 The like I can do anything, right? 00:45:40.039 --> 00:45:42.280 And and I feel like that is that is so true. 00:45:42.360 --> 00:45:54.200 And I feel like Mark, if if if we were all to work together, uh, I just feel like that the way that you present yourself bringing that positivity, I I I feel like it would be a great shift. 00:45:54.360 --> 00:45:56.440 We'd probably do a lot of training. 00:45:57.240 --> 00:46:02.760 And uh I f but um but I really think that's such a non-training team building. 00:46:04.200 --> 00:46:19.720 But it's such a it's it's it's it's a very important aspect, I think, that we we really have to to remember that we like us as individuals, we it's easy for us to complain about all the things that like we can't change. 00:46:19.800 --> 00:46:24.360 And and when we talked about that earlier, I it just hit me as like, well, why the hell do we focus on that? 00:46:24.519 --> 00:46:29.960 Why do we sit here and bitch about like, oh, this schedule sucks, you know, or oh, I don't really like going over here. 00:46:30.119 --> 00:46:36.840 It's like, yeah,

well, you know, I chose this, you know, so I I I might as well just be happy doing it, you know. 00:46:36.920 --> 00:46:40.519 And I just wonder, you know, how we can all get better. 00:46:40.680 --> 00:46:48.680 Uh and I think Mark, you brought up that that's that first step is just making that conscious choice to just be positive, you know, about it. 00:46:48.760 --> 00:46:52.680 And then and I think, like you said, that spreads over and into the rest of the team. 00:46:52.760 --> 00:46:55.320 Um I'm guilty, guilty as charged. 00:46:55.480 --> 00:46:57.559 Definitely sometimes I'm not my best at that. 00:46:57.800 --> 00:47:16.599 Yeah, I think a big part of that is uh with Mike, what you had said earlier about innovation and just going through the scenarios and training, uh, a lot of times we just go through it quickly and yeah, we check the boxes, yeah, we innovate the plastic head, and it's just part of the job. 00:47:16.760 --> 00:47:23.800 But it's really, you know, we a lot of us, especially innovating and stuff, is not a skill you're just born with. 00:47:23.880 --> 00:47:26.280 It's something you have to practice over and over with. 00:47:26.519 --> 00:47:33.240 And even when you have that skill kind of uh established, it you're still creating that muscle memory. 00:47:33.320 --> 00:47:42.280 So I think going back, doing the scenarios and acting like it's a real patient and kind of uh establishing that baseline. 00:47:42.360 --> 00:47:50.039 So whenever we get that call at 2 a.m., we're able to perform like any other because that's just part of our memory now. 00:47:50.360 --> 00:47:52.200 Yeah, it's never at like 10 a.m. 00:47:52.360 --> 00:47:58.280 that that call happens when you're like you got you you came in, you did your check, you had your breakfast, you know, you did everything. 00:47:58.360 --> 00:48:00.519 It's it's never when you're like you think you're prepared. 00:48:00.599 --> 00:48:01.559 It's always 2 a.m. 00:48:01.720 --> 00:48:03.079 when that call comes in for that. 00:48:03.400 --> 00:48:04.280 Oh, of course. 00:48:04.519 --> 00:48:05.559 That's always the way it goes. 00:48:05.720 --> 00:48:21.320 And and I think it, you know, obviously you have some really good points there, Mark, on on how that looks from a team perspective, but I feel like there's more to turning complacency into motivation than just doing education or training with your team, right? 00:48:21.400 --> 00:48:23.720 Like it's it's how you interact with them. 00:48:23.960 --> 00:48:27.720 It's maybe you bring in some food and cook that day as a crew. 00:48:27.960 --> 00:48:32.519 Maybe it's, you know, that you guys have planned to do something after work, right? 00:48:32.680 --> 00:48:43.880 Like you you build that that team atmosphere and and then you know, like are there any other tricks that you have up your sleeve when you go in and and say your partner is like just not feeling it today? 00:48:44.039 --> 00:48:51.720 Your partner is totally lacking motivation, doesn't want to really get up and do a whole lot, uh, is really resistant to anything that's going on. 00:48:51.800 --> 00:48:56.840 Like, how do you um help to motivate them in a positive way? 00:48:57.000 --> 00:48:58.680 Because it's more than just doing the training. 00:48:58.760 --> 00:49:00.840 Like there, there's a lot of other aspects that go into it. 00:49:00.920 --> 00:49:06.200 Like, what tricks do you have that maybe I can try next time I go in and my partner's not feeling? 00:49:06.519 --> 00:49:10.440 Or let's be real, next time I'm not feeling it, my partner needs to deal with me. 00:49:10.599 --> 00:49:22.039 Like, what are some things that that maybe would help to push things in the positive direction when you maybe have that difficult team member who is is really not or is on the struggle bus with motivation that day? 00:49:22.360 --> 00:49:30.200 So the biggest thing I would say is uh, you know, you you spoke on complacency and motivation and uh how to change that. 00:49:30.519 --> 00:49:38.360 So something to keep in mind is you know, you you can still love your career and have become too comfortable now. 00:49:38.519 --> 00:49:40.440 So that's something to consider. 00:49:41.160 --> 00:49:46.519 So you have to start incorporating discipline kind of in your daily routine. 00:49:46.840 --> 00:49:55.320 And honestly, that discipline matters more than the motivation you may feel to get out of bed and stop hitting the snooze button, right? 00:49:55.480 --> 00:50:00.680 So you gotta create that routine and discipline to just get up even when you don't feel like it. 00:50:00.920 --> 00:50:06.119 And uh, you know, as that motivation comes, it goes, you have to create a standard for yourself. 00:50:06.360 --> 00:50:11.559 And uh standards, you know, they determine who you become. 00:50:11.800 --> 00:50:20.200 So I think a lot of people kind of look for that motivation, and that can be motivated at times, especially some videos you may see here or there. 00:50:20.440 --> 00:50:25.240 But uh, you know, you need to chase fulfillment in everything you do. 00:50:25.559 --> 00:50:33.000 So, and honestly, a a good uh public speaker that talks on this specific uh point is Tony Robbins. 00:50:33.160 --> 00:50:39.480 If you guys have listened to him, he he does a full um podcast on the art of fulfillment. 00:50:39.640 --> 00:50:44.599 So I think I really focus on that is feeling fulfilled in what you're doing. 00:50:44.840 --> 00:50:47.559 And uh, you know, he he speaks highly on it. 00:50:47.720 --> 00:50:56.119 And the biggest takeaway is you know, that fulfillment comes from serving something bigger than yourself and what you do every day. 00:50:56.280 --> 00:51:08.599 So that could be serving your patients, serving your students, maybe your family when you come home, the community that we serve at work, or you know, our partners. 00:51:09.160 --> 00:51:11.079 You know, you gotta have that purpose. 00:51:11.559 -->

00:51:14.360 So it's not about starting a TikTok, right? 00:51:17.880 --> 00:51:19.400 I mean, I guess it could be, right? 00:51:19.480 --> 00:51:27.400 Like if that's something you and your teammates want to do together, but I can think of most of my teammates who would probably punch me in the face if I said, let's go do this. 00:51:29.640 --> 00:51:34.760 But I mean, whatever works, you know, like you said, but but Mark, you said the discipline word. 00:51:34.840 --> 00:51:43.400 And like instantly I cringe because there's like, man, should I just be like, should I just order pizza and just be lazy today? 00:51:43.640 --> 00:51:48.840 And like my right brain says, Yes, I should 100% do that. 00:51:49.960 --> 00:51:57.079 Then the left brain's like, uh, that sounds good, but no, you know, like man, uh oh gosh. 00:51:57.160 --> 00:52:07.640 I I maybe I'm just speaking from like terrible personal experience of just like this lack of discipline, I guess, at times when it when it comes to I don't know, eating pizza and being lazy. 00:52:10.519 --> 00:52:17.079 And I do really like that aspect of it, Mark, and in that you gotta find your why, right? 00:52:17.240 --> 00:52:21.640 And and I I think that like this is something that we preach in like a lot of different areas. 00:52:21.800 --> 00:52:30.280 And I I know when um we have our academies for flight career assistance and support team for people who want to come and join the peer support. 00:52:30.519 --> 00:52:35.800 Like that's like lecture number one is that you need to find your why. 00:52:35.960 --> 00:52:37.960 Like, why are you here doing this? 00:52:38.119 --> 00:52:40.920 And is is this for your benefit? 00:52:41.079 --> 00:52:43.000 Is this for the benefit of others? 00:52:43.240 --> 00:52:49.640 Um, and what is the reasoning behind that motivation for you to be here? 00:52:49.880 --> 00:53:03.400 And I think that it's so often easy for us to forget that and to fall down this other path that we just don't want to go, whether that be individually, as a team, or quite frankly, as an industry. 00:53:03.559 --> 00:53:07.800 And and I I think I've seen so many changes in the industry over the years. 00:53:07.960 --> 00:53:27.160 And um, you know, that's why I I end up following so many of uh people like yourself, Mark, who who are motivated, who do see the validity of the job, the passion of the job, uh, who are really truly interested in continuing to motivate others. 00:53:27.400 --> 00:53:30.440 Because I think that we're we need more of that. 00:53:30.599 --> 00:53:36.280 I feel like in in our world, we see death and destruction on a daily basis. 00:53:36.440 --> 00:53:43.800 It's all of the bad things that are happening in life, uh, it's all of the negative sides of things, and we forget sometimes to focus on the positive. 00:53:43.960 --> 00:53:54.519 So when I see people like yourself and many of the others that are out there on social media that are trying to make that positive influence, uh to me, that's something that I really appreciate and enjoy watching. 00:53:54.599 --> 00:54:08.200 Um, whether that be an educational experience or just something lighthearted and humorous and something to brighten the day, I think that those are things that we all need to start getting behind and doing a little bit more or being more engaged in. 00:54:08.440 --> 00:54:13.640 Because, like I said before, and like I've said many other times, this is the best job in the world. 00:54:13.800 --> 00:54:18.519 There are some days I don't want to come to work, but this is still the best job in the world. 00:54:18.680 --> 00:54:22.680 And I think that it's so easy to forget that from a team perspective sometimes. 00:54:22.920 --> 00:54:34.920 And and if we bring that negative attitude to work, um, we may be having a bad day, but that has an even bigger impact on the team that we're affecting and the patients that we're caring for. 00:54:35.079 --> 00:54:39.880 And I think that's what I struggle with sometimes is I I try to show up with a positive attitude all the time. 00:54:39.960 --> 00:54:45.800 As long as I'm fed and caffeinated and get a little bit of rest, I can usually do that okay. 00:54:46.200 --> 00:54:51.079 However, you know, there are some days where it's easier said than done. 00:54:51.400 --> 00:54:55.400 As long as it's these specific, very specific requirements, I'm 100% positive. 00:54:57.480 --> 00:54:58.519 Yeah, exactly. 00:54:58.760 --> 00:55:09.240 But like I I appreciate that you know, people like you, Mark, are willing to come on here and have this conversation and and really identify that like this is something that affects each and every one of us. 00:55:09.400 --> 00:55:17.320 We all go through this in our career to some extent in some way, or we are affected by it in one way or another. 00:55:17.559 --> 00:55:25.960 And so I love that you're willing to come on and have those conversations because I think that this is something that is so important that is it's easy to get caught in that bubble. 00:55:26.119 --> 00:55:40.119 It's easy to forget about the big picture, to remember the why, to put yourself back in those shoes of you being, you know, a baby EMT who is just enamored by everything that's going on in the EMS industry. 00:55:40.680 --> 00:55:52.039 And I think it's healthy for all of us to kind of take that step back and maybe sometimes be forced to remember what is so freaking amazing about everything that we get to do every single day we get to go to work. 00:55:52.360 --> 00:55:57.880 Yeah, I think the biggest point, you know, you you had even spoke on is that why. 00:55:58.119 --> 00:56:05.640 And, you know, a lot of people have trouble finding their purpose kind of even in this industry, like many. 00:56:05.880 --> 00:56:18.920 And uh, you know, uh it's actually a recent question that I've been getting actually pretty frequently is like how to find that purpose, especially in this kind of career, is

uh creating that purpose. 00:56:19.160 --> 00:56:21.880 So I think that's actually the wrong question. 00:56:22.039 --> 00:56:23.960 We're looking at it in a sense. 00:56:24.039 --> 00:56:36.599 So perf purpose isn't necessarily something you discover, so it's something you choose every day, and you find that purpose and meaning in maybe the career you're doing, but in life, you know. 00:56:36.920 --> 00:56:43.960 So you know, that purpose, especially for us, maybe helping a patient or teaching a student, like you said earlier, Blake. 00:56:44.200 --> 00:56:51.960 And uh, you know, the next time we're we're coming home to family, we're we may be serving them and find purpose in that. 00:56:52.119 --> 00:56:58.840 So you gotta find meaning and purpose in what you're doing today, because purpose follows meaning. 00:56:59.400 --> 00:57:02.840 You know, it it may be just serving the person right in front of you. 00:57:03.960 --> 00:57:12.280 That's not to say not to celebrate the wins, you know, absolutely celebrate the wins and those small things that build up. 00:57:12.760 --> 00:57:16.360 That's that's kind of create creates that motivation, that discipline. 00:57:17.079 --> 00:57:29.079 But it's so much more than just the wins necessarily to kind of keep in mind because it's not the achievements that you gain, it's a person you become. 00:57:29.240 --> 00:57:30.599 So that's what I really hard on. 00:57:31.240 --> 00:57:32.360 Yeah, that's really good. 00:57:32.519 --> 00:57:54.039 You know, I think when when we I can think of many people that I've looked up to over the years that when they've retired and and moved on, you know, I don't remember all the certs they had or all the other accolades that they had, but I do remember how they were as a person, how they treated patients, and then how they treated the team, you know, and how they were with everybody. 00:57:54.119 --> 00:58:07.400 And I think that's a a really, really good point to to bring up that that's that's that thing that sticks with people, that how you're remembered and how you help other people feel about themselves and the patient, that's that's a really huge point. 00:58:07.640 --> 00:58:10.920 Yeah, I love that you kind of harped on that point too. 00:58:11.160 --> 00:58:18.440 The the biggest thing I want to everyone kind of listen and to remember is to find that purpose and all that. 00:58:18.680 --> 00:58:28.119 You don't need a new year, you don't need a new job, you don't need the perfect circumstances where you know we we we have to have our copies. 00:58:28.440 --> 00:58:29.640 Come on, that was my excuse. 00:58:30.119 --> 00:58:32.360 Oh man, I'll start tomorrow. 00:58:32.599 --> 00:58:33.640 I'll start tomorrow. 00:58:35.640 --> 00:58:39.400 And uh, but essentially what you need is a decision, right? 00:58:39.640 --> 00:58:44.119 Growth is a decision, and that fulfillment we talked about earlier is a decision. 00:58:44.360 --> 00:58:47.079 So being excellent is a decision. 00:58:47.320 --> 00:58:52.840 Every morning you have to kind of wake up and be that better version of yourselves. 00:58:53.000 --> 00:59:03.800 So kind of a couple of questions I go back on is you know, to kind of create that purpose and meaning, I ask myself, like, um, who can I serve today? 00:59:04.200 --> 00:59:05.640 What can I learn today? 00:59:05.880 --> 00:59:08.920 And how do you become better than you were yesterday? 00:59:09.640 --> 00:59:10.280 Love that. 00:59:10.519 --> 00:59:11.079 Damn. 00:59:11.320 --> 00:59:22.280 And and I think you you hit the nail on the head with with the purpose side of things and the choice to to be excellent, the choice to be motivated, the choice to make the right decision. 00:59:23.079 --> 00:59:35.720 And I I think taking it back to the beginning of the the entire podcast today of talking about that um you need to have that work-life balance. 00:59:35.880 --> 00:59:43.240 I feel like part of having purpose is being something other than a flight clinician. 00:59:44.280 --> 00:59:44.760 Right? 00:59:44.920 --> 00:59:47.000 Like you need to have that. 00:59:47.320 --> 01:00:16.840 Well, I'm also uh an avid hiker and I love to go boating, or I enjoy riding my motorcycle, or whatever it is for you, you know, reading books, being with the kids, like you need to have that purpose, not just at work, but outside of work, to have that healthy work-life balance, to bring more meaning to the things that you're doing on a daily basis, so that you can hopefully be more deliberate about the decisions that you're making. 01:00:17.000 --> 01:00:24.840 Uh, at least that's how I equate it, listening to a lot of the things that that we've that you're talking about, Mark, and the conversations we've been having over the past hour. 01:00:25.160 --> 01:00:39.160 You know, I really feel like there are so many things that are such a motivating factor that are constantly beat down by all the demotivating factors that surround us on a daily basis. 01:00:39.320 --> 01:00:53.720 And without having that purpose and that true sense of why behind it, both inside and outside of the jobs that we do, I feel like we're we're probably missing a piece of the puzzle if we don't have both of those aspects. 01:00:53.800 --> 01:01:10.680 And so it's not just about showing up at work and making the right decision, it's about deciding to, you know, maybe not skip that workout or to spend that extra time with the family or to do that thing that you've been thinking about doing that you just haven't done in a while. 01:01:10.920 --> 01:01:18.280 You know, I'll be the first to say, I'll I'll love an excuse to not have to go back to the gym until New Year's, and I know I need to get my butt back there. 01:01:18.519 --> 01:01:27.160 But like, you know, uh, it's so easy to make an excuse and to not do those things because it's easy to lose that purpose. 01:01:27.240 --> 01:01:33.480 And you have to wake up every day and choose that purpose

and choose to be excellent and choose to be motivated. 01:01:33.640 --> 01:01:34.760 And it's not easy. 01:01:34.920 --> 01:01:39.640 It is not easy because if it was, everybody would be doing it, right? 01:01:39.800 --> 01:01:53.240 So I, you know, I love how you kind of phrase things in that like this really is your choice, and you can choose to be in a good spot with your team, or you can choose to bring those team dynamics down. 01:01:53.480 --> 01:01:59.240 But all of these things are things that you have control over around you. 01:01:59.480 --> 01:02:08.920 And and so I I I appreciate being able to have that conversation because I think that these are concepts that like we we don't we don't think about, we don't delve into it enough. 01:02:09.000 --> 01:02:25.079 We just kind of go with the flow and whatever mood is around us, we mimic that or we go along with it, and and we don't realize that we can truly be the catalyst for a change just by doing some very simple things or making some very simple decisions. 01:02:25.400 --> 01:02:29.880 So I really appreciate that you've come on and joined us today to have that discussion. 01:02:30.200 --> 01:02:31.160 Yeah, absolutely. 01:02:31.320 --> 01:02:32.280 Thank you for having me. 01:02:32.519 --> 01:02:33.960 Well, I learned a lot. 01:02:34.920 --> 01:02:51.880 I learned a lot of um like that self-reflection and and really looking back and just remembering the you know how young and motivated and the hair that I had way back when when I first started your flowing locks. 01:02:52.200 --> 01:02:52.760 Oh, yeah. 01:02:52.840 --> 01:02:54.680 No, that that actually never happened. 01:02:57.559 --> 01:02:58.920 I need pictures now. 01:03:00.039 --> 01:03:03.800 When I was like five, probably, that's probably when my hair was its longest. 01:03:04.760 --> 01:03:07.400 But no, Mark, I I really appreciate, man. 01:03:07.559 --> 01:03:20.280 Um in a world of you know, like social media is just it's every day, it's everything, it's every aspect of everything that everybody does pretty much nowadays. 01:03:20.440 --> 01:03:21.880 And I think it's great. 01:03:21.960 --> 01:03:50.200 And I'm really happy that that Mark that you're out there putting out the positive vibes and really throwing out there that you are capable of so much more, and I think sometimes people just don't hear it enough, you know, and um, and even in the small things, and I think that's where people will find that confidence in themselves and and and you don't have to become complacent, like we're all gonna make mistakes, and like you said, that complacency part will always be there and roll in. 01:03:50.280 --> 01:04:05.079 But I think that if we can just be better and kinder to each other day in and day out, it starts with us, and then that just flows into everything else that you do being a better husband, uh, brother, you know, family clinician. 01:04:05.160 --> 01:04:08.599 It it just it it rolls into so many other aspects. 01:04:08.760 --> 01:04:25.960 I think if we can really keep that, like you said, Mark, um you know, teaching is learning twice, you know, staying humble, staying motivated, and being better than yesterday, and asking yourself those questions on who you can serve better today, I think that's great, man. 01:04:26.039 --> 01:04:28.920 And I really appreciate you coming on and and talking about that. 01:04:29.079 --> 01:04:31.320 I I definitely had a lot of self-reflection. 01:04:31.400 --> 01:04:34.760 I didn't plan on this being a therapy session, but I appreciate it. 01:04:35.400 --> 01:04:38.920 This was this was a really great conversation to have. 01:04:39.079 --> 01:04:40.280 So thank you. 01:04:40.519 --> 01:04:42.519 Yeah, I hope I motivated you guys. 01:04:42.680 --> 01:04:54.599 You know, I I think onto your point earlier, like was you know, at the end of your career, people won't remember you for your flights, for your innovation skills. 01:04:54.840 --> 01:05:04.840 It's it's really how you made them feel, both as a patient, maybe as a team member, uh as a community member, walking through the store and just doing your daily life, right? 01:05:05.000 --> 01:05:10.360 How they feel is their kind of perspective on life and how you can really change it. 01:05:10.680 --> 01:05:20.440 So, you know, you have to kind of create uh that atmosphere and uh, you know, lead by example, and that's what people will remember you for. 01:05:20.680 --> 01:05:29.320 So, and the biggest topic, especially uh Mike, you kind of mentioned there earlier was that progress that we should always be seeking. 01:05:29.400 --> 01:05:33.480 And uh, you know, progress isn't just like part of happiness. 01:05:33.800 --> 01:05:36.599 I define progress as happiness. 01:05:36.760 --> 01:05:40.200 So we have to kind of make progress in anything and everything that we do in life. 01:05:40.360 --> 01:05:55.079 If that's uh, you know, going home and serving our family, or maybe riding dirt bikes on the weekend, or uh working in the careers that we do, you have to make progress and you have to kind of uh keep looking at the positive side of things. 01:05:55.400 --> 01:05:56.200 Yeah, I love that. 01:05:56.280 --> 01:06:08.519 And I think um we need to challenge ourselves every day to look for that progress and to also challenge others to find that in themselves. 01:06:08.760 --> 01:06:28.680 Uh and I think that focusing on these little things, you know, every every team, every crew, the entire industry for that matter, is going through a lot of changes, has some ups and downs, there's peaks and valleys, and there are a lot of things that we are going through as an industry, both and you know, uh locally and globally. 01:06:28.920 --> 01:06:52.519 And I think just focusing on some of the little things that you've talked about, Mark, uh, and bringing that to light and challenging each other to do the right thing in the right way with the right attitude, I think is really uh the key to us as an industry being healthier, being stronger, and uh being happier at the end of the day. 01:06:52.680 --> 01:06:55.400 And so I really appreciate you coming on and joining us. 01:06:55.559 --> 01:07:01.320 And obviously, if you know, if you guys, if our listeners out there, if you have not already followed Mark, please go and do so. 01:07:01.480 --> 01:07:10.599 Uh it is great, lighthearted videos to be able to see on a daily basis that really is something that can bring a smile to your face in the craziness of everything else that's going on. 01:07:10.680 --> 01:07:12.599 Um, so keep doing what you're doing, Mark. 01:07:12.760 --> 01:07:16.119 Really appreciate you joining us, and this has been a fantastic conversation. 01:07:16.440 --> 01:07:17.400 Thank you guys so much. 01:07:17.480 --> 01:07:18.599 You guys are awesome. 01:07:18.840 --> 01:07:27.720 And uh, if you guys are all caught up on the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, make sure you head on over to verticalhellcast.com where you can check out the Hangers E podcast, helicopter podcast, vertical MRO podcast. 01:07:27.960 --> 01:07:33.240 Special thank you to all of our listeners out there for your continued support of the Vertical Hellcast platform and the Valor Flight Crew Podcast. 01:07:33.400 --> 01:07:34.920 Be safe, and we'll see you next time.