What gets you through a slump?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 21 May 2016 21:14:15 -0400

Many of us struggle with finding out motivation to continue our careers. What gets you through aside from "my amazing subordinates"?

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made May 21 at 2016 9:21 PM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 21 May 2016 21:21:51 -0400

Vision. I keep looking ahead. When I just look at what is going on now, and I have lost my motivation - I look ahead. I visualize where I am going and what it looks like down the road.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made May 21 at 2016 9:30 PM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Sat, 21 May 2016 21:30:20 -0400

Find ways to force yourself to work outside of your comfort zone, where you feel like you have a big learning curve.

Response by Capt Brandon Charters made May 21 at 2016 9:44 PM

Capt Brandon Charters — Sat, 21 May 2016 21:44:51 -0400

Setting a goal, holding yourself accountable, and having milestones that lead up to your own personal success. Also, surround yourself with successful people and you'll be surprised how much of an impact that can have on elevating your own standards.

Response by SSG Roger Ayscue made May 21 at 2016 9:54 PM

SSG Roger Ayscue — Sat, 21 May 2016 21:54:52 -0400

When you get up in the morning, put on your uniform, and look in the mirror...Understand and know that what you do maters. WHAT YOU DO MATERS, and YOU stand on a wall...You stand on a wall and tell the entire country, Nothing is going to hurt you today, not on my watch.

Response by CPT Joseph K Murdock made May 21 at 2016 10:05 PM

CPT Joseph K Murdock — Sat, 21 May 2016 22:05:45 -0400

You are in the drivers seat in what is right, wrong, in a direction of growth. Treat the world as rays of sunshine.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 21 at 2016 10:17 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 21 May 2016 22:17:01 -0400

Because someone has to! I'm able and willing. If I don't who will. We all have to choose this and accept the worst conditions as an expectation of our line of work. With that being said you won't look at being a soldier as a burden. If we do we are beyond our usefulness to the country.

Response by SGT Robert George made May 21 at 2016 10:24 PM

SGT Robert George — Sat, 21 May 2016 22:24:45 -0400

Life is full of repetition and can be a drag from time to time but we ourselves usually make our own happiness so I would say surround yourself with people in same hobby's or like mindedness , Maybe its time for a job change but it helps to like what you are doing... I think its best to develop a strong inward constitution and carry on 20yrs comes by really fast..

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 21 at 2016 10:57 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 21 May 2016 22:57:35 -0400

99% of my job feels like red tape. I stay because of that 1% of the time where I get to make a real difference in the world. Some people live their whole lives and never make a real difference.

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made May 21 at 2016 11:24 PM

SGM Steve Wettstein — Sat, 21 May 2016 23:24:12 -0400

A change in scenery always worked for me when I was getting burned out in a duty position.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made May 21 at 2016 11:31 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Sat, 21 May 2016 23:31:41 -0400

SFC Private RallyPoint Member I missed out on the 'quit'. It takes time to develop DESIRE and WANT! More earlier guidance would have helped my career, but that would not have improved my ? GT Score of 128. Interestingly enough, both of my brothers were w/in 2 points of me.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made May 21 at 2016 11:33 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Sat, 21 May 2016 23:33:37 -0400

Move on and upwards, get into another game that might allow you to better direct your energies/focus. If you aren't straining to learn and progress, you need a ball of another shape!

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 21 at 2016 11:35 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 21 May 2016 23:35:38 -0400

SFC Private RallyPoint Member In any career you will have plenty of ups and downs. I started on the Space Shuttle program, three years before the first Space Shuttle flight. I stayed with the program until one month after the last Space Shuttle fight, Atlantis, July 2011. During the 33 years that I was part of the program, we lost Space Shuttles Columbia, Challenger, along with both crews. The fleet was grounded for a combined five years, while we worked hard to make the needed fixes. These were dark days, and there were plenty of other bad days. Watching a Shuttle launch, and accomplish mission objectives, all made it worthwhile. During the dark days, I would reflect on why I was working hard to do something that I believed in. I would also focus on tasks ahead of me, which would usually knock me out of my funk. In your case, you are a vital part of keeping America strong, and safe. I for one, admire our service men and women for the sacrifices that they make. Thank you!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 21 at 2016 11:36 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 21 May 2016 23:36:12 -0400

My soldiers are the main thing that drives me to get up and push it to the max everyday. Other than that my family keeps me going and just the overall pride of serving my country.

Response by Capt Michael Greene made May 21 at 2016 11:55 PM

Capt Michael Greene — Sat, 21 May 2016 23:55:18 -0400

I first asked myself that question when the Navy implemented a fitness test years ago. Nobody had ever been fitness tested before and a whole lot of Chiefs were huge around the middle. As I started to run and felt the first pains as I ran short of breath, I said to myself:
The pension is worth a million freakin dollars! GO. GO. GO.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made May 22 at 2016 1:03 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 22 May 2016 01:03:31 -0400

Not sure if you are asking just for discussion or for advice for yourself. So if I were you I'd get out of Hood. One of the best things about the Army is the opportunity to travel and live in different parts of the world. Before I was a 1SG I would remind myself why I do what I do and what kind of reputation would I be setting for myself if I didn't show up to PT, or attend mandatory training. Punking myself basically, and that would do it for me. As a 1SG though, I can honestly say I have yet to hit a rut. You stay so busy and everyday brings something new so it keeps you on your toes. Knowing what I know now striving to be a 1SG would have gotten me out of a rut back in the day. This is by far the best, challenging, rewarding job in the Army.

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made May 22 at 2016 8:55 AM

2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 22 May 2016 08:55:38 -0400

For me it's just finding people who I enjoy interacting with at work and bring out the best in the work atmosphere. They are mostly positive, fair minded, disciplined, good listeners when you need to talk to someone, and not petty. I also find people with high emotional intelligence to be good to work with. Just knowing I have people like that in my sphere of influence gives me energy. I also pray. I know it sounds taboo. God's helped me many times in the past.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 22 at 2016 2:25 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 22 May 2016 14:25:09 -0400

For me it was always the bigger picture of what my job meant to the overall mission. That, and the consequence of what could happen if I didn't ensure these soldiers were ready for war. The fear of losing one of them kept me laser focused. Even through the wining the boring ass meetings and the backstabbing. I also always tried to keep a circle of non military friends too, because they had different things to talk about and weren't experiencing the rat race that me and my army pals were.

Response by CPT Joseph K Murdock made May 22 at 2016 4:41 PM

CPT Joseph K Murdock — Sun, 22 May 2016 16:41:19 -0400

If you have to get up and dust yourself do so. Keep a stiff lip and look into the future. Think about what and who you love, and fill your head with those thoughts, to displace the swirling negative thoughts. I know I was burnt out after my divorce and asked for help.

Response by MAJ Raúl Rovira made May 22 at 2016 4:52 PM

MAJ Raúl Rovira — Sun, 22 May 2016 16:52:00 -0400

I go for a long swim of about 2 miles to think about the facts. Then over coffee I reflect on them and find my way.

Response by MSG Pat Colby made May 22 at 2016 8:28 PM

MSG Pat Colby — Sun, 22 May 2016 20:28:53 -0400

Humor. I have an addiction to practical jokes. Also, sometimes I just say the most arbitrary statements possible to see if people are really listening.

LOTS of people learned early on to never lend me their pen while I had a cup of coffee. I'd stir my coffee with it and then give it back and I'd just walk away.

Response by SSG Michael Hale made May 22 at 2016 8:45 PM

SSG Michael Hale — Sun, 22 May 2016 20:45:40 -0400

I'm a warrior n didn't have a lot of struggle back in my days. We were warriors

Response by SMSgt Matthew Hoyer made May 22 at 2016 10:16 PM

SMSgt Matthew Hoyer — Sun, 22 May 2016 22:16:29 -0400

You're right, sometimes being burned out, not even your family can really do anything for you. Little bits of solitude help me, time to think, reflect, pray, that kind of thing. If nothing else, just a stretch of silence helps me recharge a lot. One of the guys that works for me takes 10 minutes every day during the duty day (from 1400-1410, I think) to just close his door, open a window, turn off his music and just relax. Helps him out a lot.
Also, i ask if I can either take on something or move jobs. As an airborne linguist, you effectively have a day job when you aren't linguisting, and i've asked to move to a different one if i had exhausted the one i was in before. Change of pace is important.

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2016 1:14 AM

SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 May 2016 01:14:54 -0400

What has gotten me through rough times in my career is knowing that someone else is having it worst than me. I am blessed to have a career and should be thankful for the success I have had to this point.

Response by SFC Marcus Belt made May 23 at 2016 2:02 PM

SFC Marcus Belt — Mon, 23 May 2016 14:02:06 -0400

1st and the 15th.
I don't like poverty.

It sounds flippant but as bad as it has ever gotten, I dislike poverty enough to keep on going.

It used to be the "mission",but after 13 years after I crossed the berm into Iraq, both Iraq AND the US are more jacked up than they were then. How's that for success?!?

It's often been my ability to reach difficult Soldiers and I enjoy that aspect of the job.

But when all else fails, payday ALWAYS falls on the 1st and the 15th.

And I hate poverty.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2016 4:42 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 May 2016 16:42:50 -0400

Taking leave to get your mind right. Most leaders forget to take care of themselves.so they get burned out and Trickle's down to the troops then you have a real problem. Stay motivated.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2016 9:46 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 May 2016 21:46:23 -0400

Change in scenery and finding something to do on off time. Volunteer at a local animal shelter or fire department (if your CoC allows). It will allow you to meet new people and give you even more sense of accomplishment, not to mention a wider experience.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 24 at 2016 7:25 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 May 2016 07:25:52 -0400

My husband and children.

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made May 24 at 2016 8:28 AM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Tue, 24 May 2016 08:28:07 -0400

This might be a little narcissist but being a sexy beast helps out a lot.

Response by Sgt Christopher Wenzel made May 24 at 2016 9:08 AM

Sgt Christopher Wenzel — Tue, 24 May 2016 09:08:54 -0400

The desire for money and material things.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 24 at 2016 1:28 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 May 2016 13:28:07 -0400

It is worth having a long term goal that surpass your time in the military. Most of us are so preoccupied by what is going on in our current situation that we forget to take a look at what may be ahead of us. A success in your future will come with some kind of headache in the present. Shake it off and live to enjoy life another day.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made May 24 at 2016 3:04 PM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Tue, 24 May 2016 15:04:24 -0400

My little girls. When I get home, they're always waiting for me by the door with smiles on their faces. It doesn't matter how bad of a day I've had, when I see those 2 little faces smiling at me, my world is brighter and I'd sacrifice anything for them.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 28 at 2016 9:49 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 28 May 2016 09:49:46 -0400

I've had great mentors. Also like other people on this thread have suggested focus on the 1st and the 15th and find something worthwhile to do in your off time. We are all more than just the uniform. Don't let what you put on to go to work define you as a person. If you're unhappy at work don't that take over your life. The military is not the be all end all to life.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 28 at 2016 11:48 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 28 May 2016 23:48:45 -0400

Sometimes false motivation gets me through the hard times. Other times it takes drastic changes to snap me out of it. Like a PCS, NTC rotation or just a different job gets me back. It gets rough out there, keep your chin up and keep pushing forward.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 1 at 2016 6:48 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 18:48:21 -0400

I always keep in mind that nothing last forever except bills and death........

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 11 at 2016 1:19 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 11 Jun 2016 13:19:44 -0400

Setting a goal and driving towards it... I am answering this generically.

You always have to have vision and direction on where you want to go. It does not have to be a complete plan or even a partial plan, but something as simple as were going to the beach in June, I'm volunteering and helping two people or I'm losing 5 pounds can provide real motivation to move forward.

Now tied to career, if your feeling boredom or just tired of people, place or things... It's time to get a new skill and move on. Maybe this is Lean Six Sigma through the military or civilian. Or maybe transfer to another organization on the same base. The military is typically composed of motivated people, so if you are getting "bored" it's just time for a new adventure.

Finally, sometimes it's outside things that makes the job feel blue. Meaning relationships, work/social balance or debt. Good luck and stay positive!