Make Those Shoes Shine

This is a picture of the USS Gettysburg during my one and only Navy deployment. Being in the military is a powerful experience. By powerful, I mean using sleep deprivation, intimidation, routine, starvation, exposure, and the stripping of personal privacy. How did they strip your privacy? Bootcamp = 90 men/boys, 5 toilets, and 0-bathroom stalls (not my favorite experience). Many things they taught/enforced are ideal for business.

Examples include:

• Dress Tips: Line up your trousers, belt, and shirt.

• If you can shave using your shoes as a mirror, they’re buffed properly (corfams are cheating).

• Wrinkles in your shirt/trousers speak about your character.

• Travel Tips: If sharing space with someone, mess = rude.

• Small spaces packed with a culturally diverse crew teaches interpersonal communication skills.

• Work Tips: Be early (you may get a chief’s boot to the posterior).

• Don’t miss work (missing ship’s movement = bad for freedom of mobility).

• Do the maintenance and be accountable for your job/equipment.

• Practice/drill constantly.

These lessons were hard earned and deep seated. The value of my military experience evaded me for 10-15 years. I never saw the value in attention to detail then, but I love it now. You walk in my office to do business with me, I’m judging your attention to detail in everything you do. Want to produce quality? Pay attention to the details. I love people/businesses that take time and energy to do it right. The rarity of those people/businesses make them like unicorns, to be treasured. When Allen Easley (aneelectricmaine.com) did the electrical fixtures for my space I KNEW he was military. Everything’s fit and finish was gorgeous and screamed of pride in reputation. It turns out Allen took a turn in the Army, including an overseas deployment. The second I saw his work, I knew his business would get ALL my work until I die, or he retires. I better do a good job with his money. (Allen is my friend & client, and wasn't compensated for these handsome photos) Below is Chris Oullette, Allens new aprentice.