Last weekend, one of the civilian analysts I work with during my reserve drill weekend told me that her little brother was just commissioned in the Marine Corps and was starting The Basic School in Quantico, VA. She asked if I could give him some advice as he began his career, and when he shot me an email, one of the first thoughts that came to my mind was an advice one of my mentors (an old Marine infantry Captain) gave me back in 2002 when I was a brand new butter bar.
"You may never be the strongest or the fastest and probably not the smartest, but you better always strive to be the toughest."
Of course, the context he gave me this advice was as a brand new platoon commander of an infantry platoon. However, I've thought of this advice in many different ways throughout my adult life.
I will say though, the one that I still laugh at even now is the one that my first battalion commander gave to me and two other Second Lieutenants when we checked in to our first infantry battalion:
"I'm going to treat you like the leaders that you are. But if you fail to act like one, I'm going to bend you over that conference table and fuck you. And it's going to hurt me more than it's going to hurt you."
Yeah, we all left his office with "WTF was that look." He turned out to be one of the best officers that I've ever worked for/with.
So what is the best or the most memorable advice you have received or even given?
- If you are a hot dog, always be the meat
- If you say you are going to do something, Fuk'ing do it
- your wife is always right
And my dad meant that beyond sports - he meant it in life in general. Don't blame circumstances for your failures. Find a way to overcome them and prevail.
For some reason that made an impression on me, and here I am, about to turn 71 on Wednesday.
leave the house on an an errand so both of you can cool down.
Married 50+ years with bliss.
It just clicked with me. To this day, whenever I have a decision to make, It comes down to whether the options fit whatever the purpose is.
That's not a good advice. It's not all Asians you can't trust with a hut; just a few. I'm sure David in LA would never burn down a hut...it's too environmentally unhealthy for him.
Not sure that was what he was saying. I'm sure it was more..."You like dudes? Join the Navy."
NTTAWWT
and
Avoid all phrases that begin with "at least I'm not..." you are automaticaly devaluaing who you are and who you can be.
and
Avoid all phrases that begin with "at least I'm not..." you are automaticaly devaluaing who you are and who you can be.
So it's wrong for me to say, "At least I'm not Jon from PA" when I want to convey that I'm not a simpleton? Gotcha.
Well, you can strive to be like Bill2 if you weren't a total simpleton. And as far as cam goes, you can be like him if you like to incessantly turn every thread into your own Penthouse sex story.
A lot?
A lot?
Yeah...we knew exactly what you were trying to say. You just happened to say it incoherently like almost anything you have said on BBI. You might as well stop while you're behind.
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I meant me as in you..what's stopping you...grrrr forget it.
Yeah...we knew exactly what you were trying to say. You just happened to say it incoherently like almost anything you have said on BBI. You might as well stop while you're behind.
Sorry, I'll rephrase so maybe you can understand it better...
Not wong...
Jon from PA : 10:36 am : link : reply
but you should dink more arong rine of what stopping me from being more like Birr2? or Cam?
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In comment 12048759 Jon from PA said:
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I meant me as in you..what's stopping you...grrrr forget it.
Yeah...we knew exactly what you were trying to say. You just happened to say it incoherently like almost anything you have said on BBI. You might as well stop while you're behind.
Sorry, I'll rephrase so maybe you can understand it better...
Not wong...
Jon from PA : 10:36 am : link : reply
but you should dink more arong rine of what stopping me from being more like Birr2? or Cam?
Why don't you take Big Al's advice right below your post? I think you're grasping at straw at this point trying to make yourself not come off as stupid (like you usually do) by going after the low hanging fruit of racial stereotyping. Maybe try a little harder next time if you want to be funny, insulting, or witty.
Pretty sure you're being trolled.
Sorry, brah...I'm totally playing. Your racist stereotyping just needed a bit of a stronger returning insult, especially since I only talk like that when I'm drunk.
Besties?...:)
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sorry man. Just goofing around..thought you were too. My bad.
Pretty sure you're being trolled.
Fuck, Brett...I hate it when he's right.
Very true
Yes...I admit that I shed a single tear.
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In comment 12048843 Jon from PA said:
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sorry man. Just goofing around..thought you were too. My bad.
Pretty sure you're being trolled.
Fuck, Brett...I hate it when he's right.
Which is always.
I don't know about 'best', but 'Everyone is full of shit, including yourself' was a good one.
Actually that's a good one. I've heard something similar.
Brent sucks.
Always be honest, especially to yourself.
Have a destination, but more importantly, enjoy the ride- you're gonna be riding a lot longer than you're gonna be staying at your destination.
--Coach K
"You will never find time for anything. If you want time you must make it."
--Charles Buxton
And from Randy Pausch, who I had the good fortune to know:
- We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.
- You just have to decide whether you are Tigger or an Eeyore.
- Find the best in everybody.
- The brick walls are not there to keep us out; the brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something.
More Randy Pausch quotes - ( New Window )
But that actually goes against what boot camp's purpose is, which is the wholesale indoctrination of civilian into the military way of life. Now as a leader of these young troopers, that isn't a bad idea to pass on that advice, especially to those on the verge of getting out.
Haha...that is definitely something you tell your young enlisted when you get them in your platoon, section, etc. Sad to say though that many don't listen and get hitched to the first fat hog, who drops her panties.
But during boot camp, these guys are barely relearning to wipe their asses without pissing off the drill instructor/sergeants...not the best time to give them advice on life...:)
The best were a few college kids from OCS that had never really attended boot camp and were sorta like "teachers aids" for our drill instructors for a few weeks.
Nothing more hilarious than officers in boot camp.
Except maybe officer candidates in boot camp. We made one chick cry.
The best were a few college kids from OCS that had never really attended boot camp and were sorta like "teachers aids" for our drill instructors for a few weeks.
Nothing more hilarious than officers in boot camp.
Except maybe officer candidates in boot camp. We made one chick cry.
Hmm...so now you're going to compare boot camp to OCS? I'm sure those in boot camp and those in OCS are all pretty much the same except for age, education level, and possibly the PT score. They're all just trying to get through each day without pissing off the wrong person/people.
Mikey obviously didn't listen:
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5 to 9 days before calling a girl after getting her number.
Mikey obviously didn't listen: