Moon

I've been offered a position to pitch with the minors. It doesn't pay much and I don't know if I'm good enough to make it to the majors. My dilemma is I've also been offered a fire job.

"Captain Bob's" Reply"

I had a dream of becoming a firefighter. A major firehouse was on my paper route in Oakland. Many times I was there when they rolled out. The hairs stood up on the back of my neck. I said some day.

I went to work for the Oakland Tribune driving truck. Many of those truck drivers tested and became firefighters. I never weighed enough. I failed my first written. Although the dream faded, it was never gone. Some day.

When I was 28 (the age limit then was 29-30), I got the fever. If I didn't do it now, it would never happen. I gained 25 pounds in three months and grew out of all my clothes. I took several tests. The last 2 I placed #1. I learned a formula that has helped almost 2,000 candidates get their badges too. When I had a job offer, for ducks I took the written for the first department I failed. I failed it again. Just goes to show you should never quit.

I can't help but wonder how it would be in an oral board when you told the panel you were a left handed pitcher in the minors or major league. How teamwork has been a major part in you life. Who else can tell that story?

It was a great felling when my son Rob decided to become a firefighter. It was a wonderful moment when he asked me to pin his badge. It was 19 years to the week that his mother pinned my badge. I felt like he got a degree and badge at the same moment. Rob just placed 10# out of 109 candidates for his captain's test. Many were snapping their heads around asking, where did he come from. It should be no surprise. He's my kid. Rob should have a captain's badge by spring. They're already calling him Captain Rob.

One of my firefighter friend's Son was in a similar situation. He was a shinning star ball player in high school. He went to college on a ball scholarship. One day he realized he would never be good enough to make the majors. He dropped out of the program. It broke his dads heart. John changed his major to fire science. He got his FF1 and his medic cert. His dad pinned his badge too.

"If you believe in yourself, you are given some strange kind of power to create conditions that produce the desired results."

"Shot for the moon. Even if you miss, you will land among the stars." -Les Brown

Follow your heart and the rest will follow.

"Captain Bob"

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Fire "Captain Bob" Smith has coached countless entry level and promotional candidates to get their badge. He is a retired 28-year Hayward, Ca. Captain, speaker/author of the audio/video program "Conquer the Job Interview," the books "Eat Stress For Breakfast" ISBN 09657620-3-3, "Fire Up Your Communication Skills" ISBN 09657620-6-8 and a member of the prestigious National Speakers Association. You can book him as a speaker or get a copy of his books and tapes by calling toll free at 888-238-3959.

E-mail: captbob@verio.com Web site: www.eatstress.com