The Promotion Playbook: Recent Episodes
Joshua Wells
The Promotion Playbook helps firefighters and first responders prepare for career advancement.
This podcast serves as a guide to empower you with the best tools and training on your journey.
You can purchase a copy of The Promotion Playbook on Amazon.
Here you will learn... -7 strategies with practical application tools to apply what you learn. -4 skills you must develop for any assessment center. -A toolbox full of guidelines and templates for common assessment center scenarios.
The Promotion Playbook is now available as an audiobook on Audible.com! Follow the link below to get your copy today. This episode will teach you some tips and tricks on how to best utilize this new resource on your path to promotion. https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Promotion-Playbook-Audiobook/B0B9VR22SB?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp&shareTest=TestShare
The following 3 questions are foundational to your preparation for any promotional test.
- Who are you?
- Why do you want to promote?
- What have you done to prepare?
Answer these questions with a captivating story and you will have an unfair advantage over your competition.
www.promotionplaybook.com
Buy the book here... 👇👇👇
https://www.amazon.com/Promotion-Playbook-Proven-Path-Department/dp/1735739502
We have reached 100 episodes! Thank you for listening!!!
This episode gives you the 30,000 view of the process covered with The Promotional Playbook and how you can apply these 4 pillars to your promotional test preparation.
The 4 Pillars to Your Promotional Test Success are….
- Story - You must tell the best stories as to why you are the best for the position.
- Strategy - You must implement the 7 strategies to ensure your victory on game day.
- Skillset - You must master the fundamental skills for the job.
- Stories from the Summit - Learn form others who have what you want and surround yourself with the best people.
Jim Moss is a fire captain and paramedic for the Metro West Fire Protection District in St. Louis County, Missouri. His fire service passions include leadership, training, and mentorship. Along with Chief Dan Kerrigan, Jim is the co-author of the #1 Amazon Bestseller: Firefighter Functional Fitness, available at FirefighterFunctionalFitness.com.
Jim is a contributor to Fire Engineering Magazine and FirefighterToolbox.com. He has shared his message at FDIC International, Firehouse, the International Society of Fire Service Instructors, the National Volunteer Fire Council, International Association of Fire Chiefs, and with fire departments nationwide.
Contact him via email at jim@firefightersuccessbook.com. Connect with him personally on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and follow him and Firefighter Success on the following social media outlets:
Instagram: @FirefighterSuccess and @FirefighterFFit
Facebook: @FirefighterSuccess and @FirefighterFFit
Twitter: @FireSuccessBook and @FirefighterFFit
FirefighterSuccessBook.com
FirefighterFunctionalFitness.com
FIREFIGHTER SUCCESS' 20 CORE PRINCIPLES:
CHAPTER 1 - COACHABLE
CHAPTER 2 - CURIOUS
CHAPTER 3 - CHAMPION MINDSET
CHAPTER 4 - CONFIDENT
CHAPTER 5 - COMMITTED
CHAPTER 6 - COURAGEOUS
CHAPTER 7 - CONVICTION
CHAPTER 8 - COMPETENT
CHAPTER 9 - COMPREHENSIVE
CHAPTER 10 - CONSISTENCY
CHAPTER 11 - CHARACTER
CHAPTER 12 - CREDIBILITY
CHAPTER 13 - CHARISMA
CHAPTER 14 - COMMUNICATION
CHAPTER 15 - CANDID
CHAPTER 16 - COMPASSION
CHAPTER 17 - COMPOSURE
CHAPTER 18 - CHANGE
CHAPTER 19 - COMMUNITY
CHAPTER 20 - COACH
The in-basket is a common simulation exercise used in assessment centers. It tests how the candidate will handle the responsibilities of the new position by presenting a range of problems they may encounter. During an in-basket, the candidate receives information about the role to be played, such as descriptions, responsibilities, and general context.
The candidate is then given the in-basket materials and asked to respond to contents within a particular time. As the candidate completes an item, it transfers to the "out-basket."
After completion of the exercise, a discussion with the evaluators often takes place. In this discussion, the candidate describes their justification for the decisions.
A few examples of items you may see during an in-basket are below.
- Employee problems
- Upset community member
- Apparatus problems
- Required training
- Meetings
Evaluators can score the candidates in the following areas.
- Identify key issues
- Set priorities
- Anticipate problems
- Create solutions
- Give reasons
Having a systematic approach is essential. You can organize your basket items by time or by priority.
- Time: If the items given have a time they occur, you can organize your responses based on the time of day you will address each area. Next to each item, you will assign a priority and description of how you will handle the situation.
- Priority: You can organize each time based on priority. High, medium, and low are the levels of priority. Place each item in the selection priority, then describe how you will handle the situation.
The 4 Skills to Ace the Inbasket along with the tools from The Promotion Playbook.
- Eliminate - Know the 4 Hazard Zones
- Delegate - Team Roster and Shift Prep Sheet
- Automate - Do sets and reps with the In-Basket Templates
- Do - Oral Board Prep Sheets
The Promotion Playbook: A Proven Path to Your Fire Department Promotion
by Amazon.com
Learn more: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1735739502/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_81RB0PMMVK0G3934N4NV
3 Secrets to a Successful Role Play Scenario
Secret #1 - Be Prepared. Study and practice the tools found in the Application Skills Section of The Promotion Playbook. Page 225
Secret #2 - Be You. Study and practice the Oral Board Prep Sheets in The Promotion Playbook. Page 204
Secret #3 - Be Present. You have 2 ears and one mouth. Listen more than you speak and be alive to the situation.
This episode tells you how to apply the tools from The Promotion Playbook to overcome your fear of public speaking.
The two tools are..
-The Oral Board Prep Sheets
-The Unspoken Art of the Oral Board
I also introduce a new framework called the 4 Pillars of a Persuasive Presentation
If you struggle to answer the question, “Why do you want to promote?”, this episode can help. Knowing your WHY is essential yet can be difficult to discover. Sometimes the best WHY is simple and superficial.
As you celebrate the end of 2021, this episode helps you set goals for the new year.
When setting goals, focus on these four areas of expansion.
- Faith
- Family
- Finance
- Fitness
To better understand this concept reach Strategy #5 in The Promotion Playbook. To set goals, follow the steps in Strategy #1 to choose goals for the near year.
I wish you a prosperous and happy new year!
The Promotion Playbook: A Proven Path to Your Fire Department Promotion
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1735739502/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_6SAFC25BT7NTWS57FSB9
There are 3 root causes of back pain. Awareness of these will help diagnose the problem and take action to resolve it.
- Emotional
- Chemical
- Mechanical
To heal, apply the 5 life forces found in the Capacity Pyramid.
- Light
- Air
- Water
- Fuel
- Function
How to apply the Capacity Pyramid to strengthen your immune system
Light:
- Get 20 minutes of sunlight each day and/or do 20 minutes of red light therapy or a sauna.
- Do a cold shower or ice bath every day for 2 minutes
- Test your vitamin D levels and supplement D3 accordingly
Air:
- Do breath training daily. https://www.wimhofmethod.com/wim-hof-method-mobile-app
- Breathe through your nose most of the time.
- Buy a nettie pot and use it daily.
- Buy a quality air purifier
- Buy an indoor humidity meter and keep indoor Humidity between 30 - 50%.
- If you get a respiratory infection, consider using nebulized hydrogen peroxide under the guidance of a medical doctor. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7308628/ https://www.georgekramermd.com/hydrogenperoxide/
Water:
- Drink plenty of water each day. “A gallon a day keeps the doctor away.”
- Springwater is best, second-best is a quality filter (Berkey Filter), third is reverse osmosis.
- Add electrolytes to your water but be aware of added sugar and artificial additives.
Best electrolyte recommendations...
- Pink Himalayan sea salt
- Key Electrolytes
- Gnarley Hydrate
- Drip drop
Fuel:
- Bulletproof diet road map https://www.bulletproof.com/diet/bulletproof-diet/the-complete-illustrated-one-page-bulletproof-diet/
- Avoid - refined fat/oil, factory-raised meat, pesticide-soaked produce, junk carbs/ high sugar, processed supplements, toxic metals, synthetic poison (msg, artificial sweeteners, food coloring, artificial ingredients), avoid or limit the amount of alcohol you drink.
- Eat plenty of organic vegetables, healthy fat (avocados, coconut oil, olive oil), farm-raised meat, whole nuts, and seeds,
Function:
- Stagnation kills. Get exercise daily, even when you don’t feel like it.
- Get plenty of quality sleep.
- Create a workspace that promotes good alignment and frequent movement. i.e. sit on the floor, stand, walk
- If you do get COVID19 consult your health care provider about taking a daily aspirin. A big problem with COVID19 is blood clots and a daily aspirin may help prevent clotting.
How to enjoy holiday cheer without guilt, shame or a painful hangover using the Capacity Pyramid.
https://www.bulletproof.com/diet/bulletproof-diet/alcohol-without-the-hangover-bulletproof-partying-business-networking/
Stats on back pain
https://www.cdc.gov/acute-pain/low-back-pain/index.html
https://www.iaff.org/back-injuries/
Healing Back Pain Book
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FOTRI4S/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1
Science of Yoga Book
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08WCHRJJG/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1
The 7 Devils of Diet: If you want to live a long healthy life, it is best to minimize your exposure to these "foods".
- Refined Fat - Margin, vegetable oil, canola oil
- Poorly Raised Protein - Factory-farmed animal products
- Soiled Fiber - Pesticide soaked produce, mold
- Junk Carbs - Refined grains, mold, GMO, Gluten, high sugar content
- Shit Supplements - Synthetic vitamins, flavor enhancers, food additives, fillers like GMO maltodextrin, high sugar content
- Toxic Metal - lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium
- Synthetic Poison - Plastic, msg, pesticides, food dyes, flavor enhancers, antibiotics, hormones, alcohol
Instead, choose the following...
The Bulletproof Diet Roadmap is a great resource for understanding quality foods.
https://www.bulletproof.com/diet/bulletproof-diet/the-complete-illustrated-one-page-bulletproof-diet/
“You're not sick, you're thirsty. Don’t treat thirst with medication.” Dr. Batmanghelidj MD
4 Pillars of Hydration
- Volume
- Source
- Minerals
- Vitamins
Resources
Bodies many cries for water
F. Batmanghelidj MD
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0970245882/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_JJRR9GEVJ6EMBNG5P1A0
Fluids and electrolytes
By David Anderson
The Salt Fix by Dr. James DiNicolantonio
Quench
by Dana Cohen and Gina Bria
Adult Dehydration https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK555956/
3 Benefits of Breath Training
- Improve mental capacity
- Improve blood PH
- Detox
Resources
- The Wim Hof Method
- Breath - By James Nestor
- Breathing for Warriors: Learn the Secrets of Pro Athletes, First Responders, and Coaches to Unlock the Path to Endurance, Strength, Precision, and an Unshakable Mental Game - by Dr. Belisa Vranich, Brian Sabin,
- The oxygen advantage - By Patrick McKeown
- Just Breathe: Mastering Breathwork for Success in Life, Love, Business, and Beyond - by Dan Brule
- Let Every Breath... Secrets of the Russian Breath Masters - by Vladimir Vasiliev
The sun is the source of life on planet earth.
To optimize your physical wellness you must optimize the use of light and dark along with hot and cold.
Training for cold exposure
https://www.wimhofmethod.com/wim-hof-method-mobile-app
Benefits of sauna
https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(18)30275-1/fulltext
Benefits of Hot Yoga
https://www.healthline.com/health/hot-yoga-benefits#getting-started
This episodes shares the lessons learned during the Stagecoach 100 mile Ultra Marathon.
How to optimize your capacity using the 5 elements. Light: Get 20 minutes of sunshine daily. Air: Do breathing practice daily using the Wim Hoff App Water: Begin your day with 33 oz of water. Fuel: Only eat during an 8-hour window each day. Function: Sit cross-legged on the floor for at least 5 minutes daily. Minimize your time in chairs.
If you are low on energy this episode is for you.
Capacity definition
- the maximum amount that something can contain.
- the amount that something can produce.
Energy - Law of Conservation of Energy (physics & chemistry)
- Energy can not be created or destroyed
- Energy may change form but is never destroyed.
-Kinetic vs potential energy (stagnation kills)
-Energy transformations
- Chemical > Motion
- Radiant > Chemical
- Electrical > Thermal
Your body is a power plant and you can generate POWER through. You are an energetic being in a physical body.
- Light = Solar
- Air = Wind
- Water = Hydroelectric
- Fuel = Fossil Fuel
- Function = Fire/ kinetic energy
The 4 Biggest Killers of Firefighters are...
- Inflammation
- Infection
- Ischemia
- Injury
We will talk about ways to minimize these risks in future episodes. For now, start to pay attention to what is killing the most firefighters and how you can help improve safety and well-being.
Your identity is shaped by what you believe about yourself and the world around you. These beliefs are shaped by the questions you ask and how you answer.
Questions lead to stories and stories hold beliefs that shape your identity.
The 3 questions that define your identity are who, why, and what...
Who are you? / Who must you become?
Why does this matter?
What have you done? / What will you do?
This episode continues the conversation on how your physical health has a major impact on how well you do with your promotional test.
The 7 Strategies in the Promotion Playbook can be applied to your promotional test and they can also help to optimize your physical fitness.
The 7 Strategies are...
-
Path - Choose to commit.
-
Proximity - Build community.
-
Prize - Get clear on what you want.
-
Plan - Consistency is King.
-
Purpose - Find your convictions
-
Pit - Do courage and face adversity.
-
Peak - Celebrate!
This episode gives an introduction to the new series on firefighter fitness.
Over the next several weeks the focus of this podcast will be on how to optimize your physical fitness. This and the following episodes will help you optimize your energy during preparation and show up on test day ready to shine.
Future episodes will cover the 7 strategies found in The Promotion Playbook, along with tips and tricks on reducing stress, improving clarity, reducing fatigue, and accessing power.
Chuck Montgomery has over 37 years in the fire service. He recently retired as Deputy Chief with Glendale Fire Department, AZ where he ran the Glendale Regional Public Safety Training Center.
Chuck is currently the Executive Director of the Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting located in Phoenix, AZ.
In this episode Chief Montgomery draws upon his vast experience to share fundamental lessons on leadership.
https://hallofflame.org/
Charles “Chip” Huth is a Major with the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department. He has 28 years of law enforcement experience, commands KCPD’s Traffic Division, and is the State of Missouri’s defensive tactics subject matter expert. He also consults for international law enforcement, military, and corporate clients. He formerly led the Street Crimes Unit Tactical Enforcement Squad and has planned, coordinated, and executed over 2500 high-risk tactical operations.
Chip regularly gives keynotes and other presentations to law enforcement, corporate, government, and other audiences. A few of these engagements include speeches at TEDx, WINx, police departments nationwide, U.S. Army Medical Command, and U.S. Air Force Aviation Commands. Chip is also an accomplished author: He co-wrote Unleashing the Power of Unconditional Respect—Transforming Law Enforcement and Police Training, a textbook used in officer development and graduate programs
Chip has a bachelor’s degree in multi-disciplinary studies from Grantham University and an associate’s degree in political science from Park University. He is the former president of the National Law Enforcement Training Center, a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to delivering effective training to the international law enforcement, corrections, security, and military communities. He has 35 years of experience in martial arts and is a veteran of the U.S. Army.
This episode covers the 4 skills of communication to best listen to others and express yourself with confidence.
The 4 skills along with the tools found in The Promotion Playbook are…
Space - tool: The Unspoken Art of the Oral Board
Speech - tool: The Oral Board Prep Sheets
Stories - tool: The Story Blueprint Template
Stats - tool: The Essay Blueprint Template
Don’t mistake your gift as a dysfunction. If you have been labeled as OCD, ADHD, depressed, etc, etc,… there is a good chance you have a mislabeled gift. This gift can potentially be your greatest strength when directed towards a massive target driven by purpose. Don’t strive to me normal, strive to get results that matter.
Captain Rodriguez shares his advice on how to succeed with promotional testing.
He also shares leadership lessons he learned as a Captain at Sedona Fire District, the President of IAFF Local 3690, and a youth basketball coach.
Captain Eric Lewis has successfully promoted to the rank of Captain at Sedona Fire District. He has been successful with his own promotion and has helped many others place at the top of their promotional list.
The quality of your questions determines the quality of your life.
The 3 questions you must know fully are... WHO, WHY, WHAT.
Know these 3 questions for these three areas .... self, position, department.
In this episode, we share a letter written by Eric Marsh to the Prescott City Council Members.
This letter shares the who, why and what of the Granite Mountain Hotshots.
I encourage you to visit this website and study the words of this letter.
https://ericmarshfoundation.org/pages/about-eric
In preparation for your promotional test, you must be clear on WHO you are, WHY you are testing, and WHAT you have done/ will do.
It is extremely important for you to know these questions for yourself, your position, and your department.
On June 30th, 2013 the Yarnell Hill Fire erupted through the mountain community of Yarnell, Arizona, and claimed the lives of 19 firefighters. This was the greatest loss of life for the U.S. fire service since the September 11 terrorist attacks. Fire service leaders, plus family and community members, shared their grief.
Amanda Marsh lost her husband that day, Eric Marsh. In this episode, she honors the memory of Eric by sharing her journey through grief. Amanda has faced this adversity with courage and is now helping others endure loss through the Eric Marsh Foundation.
The Eric Marsh Foundation is a 501 C 3 nonprofit based in Prescott, Arizona. EMF was founded by Amanda Marsh, the widow of Eric Marsh, Superintendent of the Granite Mountain Hotshots. EMF is a passion project designed to give back to those who give so much.
https://ericmarshfoundation.org/
Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park
https://azstateparks.com/hotshots/explore/trails
In remembrance of the Granite Mountain Hot Shot Crew:
SUPT. ERIC MARSH, CPT. JESSE STEED, SB. CLAYTON WHITTED, SB. ROBERT CALDWELL, SB. TRAVIS CARTER, LC. TRAVIS TURBYFILL, LC. CHRIS MACKENZIE, LC. ANDREW ASHCRAFT, CM. JOE THURSTON, CM. WADE PARKER, CM. ANTHONY ROSE, CM. GARRET ZUPPIGER, CM. SCOTT NORRIS, CM. DUSTIN DEFORD, CM. WILLIAM WARNEKE, CM. KEVIN WOYJECK, CM. JOHN PERCIN, CM. GRANT MCKEE, CM. SEAN MISNER.
Books to consider...
Influence - Robert Cialdini
Never split the difference - Chris Voss
Start With No - Jim Camp
To avoid criticism .. say nothing, do nothing be nothing
Or
Choose counsel wisely & embrace the feedback
Build up resilience by using strategy # 2 ….. Power of Proximity
-Coach
-Crew
-Counsel
Not everyone is entitled to an opinion on your life. Stop trying to please your critics.
I don’t care about their rank, relationship, status... if they are not building you up, they don't deserve a voice in your life.
Officer Brandon Griffith shares how he almost died from a cardiac arrest at a young age. This adversity fueled his passion to save more lives from cardiac arrest and be a force for good.
If you are going to excel at a promotion you must have a strong purpose and believe in the mission of the organization.
To find out more about Griffith Blue Heart visit the link below.
https://griffithblueheart.com/
Regardless of how committed you are to your promotion, your greatest resistance will likely from yourself.
Engineer Jon Scaife shares how he overcame the challenges in 2020 and placed #1 on the Engineer test.
Don’t be a one-dimensional douchebag!
Constantly strive to expand your life in the following areas.
-Faith
-Family
-Finance
-Fitness
Be a 4 Dimensional Firefighter. Not perfect, but a constant work in progress.
Captain Dylan Lee shares what he learned with his promotion at Northwest Fire District in southern Arizona.
“The master has failed more times than the beginner has even tried.”― Stephen McCranie
This episode emphasizes the need for patience and perseverance on your path to promotion.
The Promotion Playbook offers a proven path to your promotion yet this path is not guaranteed. Adversity is part of the path.
When faced with adversity consider these guidelines to navigate..
-Choose a story to empower you using The Situation Size Up, Strategy #6.
-Share your pain with your family/ crew. Pain shared is pain divided.
-Every adversity carries with it the seed of equal or greater benefit.
-NEVER go victim.
In this interview Captain Jake Cecil shares what he learned with his promotional testing experience and how he placed #1 on his promotional list.
Jake Cecil is a Captain with Copper Canyon Fire District in Arizona.
This episode shares the next stage of this podcast called Stories from the Summit. I will be interviewing people who have been successful with promotional testing.
This gives an overview of the fundamental size up sheets found in The Promotion Playbook.
This guide will help navigate various role-play scenarios you may encounter during an assessment center. This model is similar to the steps used in managing an emergency incident. These initial pages give an explanation of the process and the following pages give the template for practicing the various scenarios you may encounter.
As you work through the template you will complete the following actions for your scenario…
- Make a preplan
- Do an initial size up
- Complete a 360 assessment
- Create an initial action plan
- Document and followup
You will also see the use of a C.A.N. report. (Conditions, Actions, Needs)
When you do counsel an employee it will usually be because of a behavior problem or a performance problem. Performance problems can usually be solved with training and accountability. Behavior problems require good communication and use of the appropriate resources.
Below are some common scenarios you may encounter:
- Organize and run a team meeting.
- Dealing with an under-performing member of your team.
- Dealing with unacceptable conduct by an employee.
- Influence someone from the public or partner agency towards your agenda.
- Run a simulated call with your crew.
Below are some basic guidelines to consider:
- When dealing with a group, gather everyone together early.
- Conflict is normal and similar to a fire. Extinguish the spark early before it becomes an inferno.
- Know when it’s best to talk as a group and when it is best to meet individually. If meeting for a volatile situation, have someone else in the meeting.
- Problems related to safety, operational readiness, legal, or public relations typically rank as high priority.
- Use closed-loop communication to ensure clarity of communication.
- Create solutions, not problems.
- Seek to understand.
The template inside The Promotion Playbook gives an outline for role-play scenarios.
This video gives a quick overview of The Shift Prep Sheet found in the Promotion Playbook.
Awareness of these 4 areas can make or break your promotional test.
There are four areas that create significant problems for you and your organization if not handled appropriately. Anytime you come across one of these “hazard zones”, use caution. Be prepared to navigate these issues during an assessment center.
Awareness is the first step. Knowing your resources along with understanding policies and procedures will guide you in dealing with these issues.
The four hazard zones are safety, emergency response, public relations, and legal.
Safety: Anything that compromises the health and wellness of your employees. Examples: driving, PPE, emergency scenes, station hazards, etc.
Operational Readiness: Anything that compromises your ability to respond to emergency calls or perform your required job.
Examples: mechanical problems, staffing problems, location, etc.
Public Relations: Anything that damages the public perception of your organization.
Examples: social media, behavior while in the community both on and off duty, etc.
Legal: Anything that can create legal problems.
Examples: harassment, discrimination, confidentiality, substance abuse, violence, etc.
Application skills are anything not covered in study, speak, and write. These are the unique skills for the position you are testing for.
The Promotion Playbook has tools to help develop the following areas.
-In basket
-Roleplay
-Emergency incident management
-Personnel management
STORY BLUEPRINT TEMPLATE
Two elements of persuasive communication are logic and emotion. Both are important to your success in an assessment center. Telling stories will emotionally engage your audience in your message. Interweave facts into your story to cover both logic and emotion.
This Story Blueprint Template will help you create and refine stories to use in your assessment center. Writing out the story gives you clarity. After writing out the story, practice speaking the story. This template will help you prepare for oral boards, presentations, writing assignments, narratives on reports, and many other areas in the assessment center.
There are 5 basic elements to structure your story. Once you have your basic structure, you can expand the story as needed.
Who: Who is the main character in the story?
Where: Where does the story take place?
Want: What does the character want in the story?
Problem: What is the problem or conflict that keeps the character from getting what they want? Conflict helps to create an emotional connection.
Resolve: How does the story end? Does the character get what they want? How does the character evolve in the process?
Example:
Who: Firefighter Jake
Where: Canyon Fire Department, AZ
Want: He wants to be successful at promotion and follow his father's footsteps.
Problem: He keeps failing at promotional tests.
Resolve: He finds a mentor who helps him succeed and test #1 on the captain’s test.
It is important to keep your stories relevant to the position you are testing for. Use your life experience, both personal and professional, as long as it relates to the position you are testing for.
Some of the stories you should prepare for the test include the following:
Why do you want to promote?
What have you done to prepare for the position?
Your life experience that makes you stand out from the other candidates.
Example of time you have successfully managed conflict.
Your strengths
Your weakness
A role model in your life and why.
A time you had to overcome adversity
www.promotionplaybook.com
Have you ever gone to write a paper and couldn't think of anything to write?
If so, this template will help.
There are five basic steps to the Essay Blueprint Template.
- Purpose
- Title
- Introduction
- Body
- Conclusion
The attached picture shows the 1 Target and 4 Skills from Strategy #3 Define the Prize.
This can be helpful for writing assignments also. To apply this to writing the 1 Target represents your 1 main point and the 4 skills are the 4 reasons used to back up your main point.
Introduction
1 Main point
3-4 Reasons to support the main point/
Conclusion
The Oral Board Prep Sheet consists of three categories you must know for the oral board. The three categories you must know and sell with the oral board are: Self, Position, and Department.
- Self: Your knowledge, skills, and experience that make you the best for the position.
- Position: Your understanding of the position along with your competence and experience.
- Department: Understand the culture, values, goals, current challenges of the department you are testing for.
Under each of these 3 categories, you want to prepare in 3 areas: Facts, Stories, and Goals.
- Facts: The logical information as to why you are the best for this position and that you understand yourself, the position, and the department. Some examples are numbers, time in position, dates, etc.
- Stories: For each category, there is a story that will define the emotional connection with you, the position, and the department. Your stories will help you stand out as unique. Your stories represent your job experience, relationships in your life, events that define you, how you handle conflict, and various others. Stories drive culture in any department and may include the mission, vision, and values.
- Goals: It is essential to have well-established goals that are relevant to the position and organization.
The oral board prep sheet helps you organize these ideas and prepare your script for the oral board. This will give you clarity and help you remember the critical information for your oral board. As you complete this document remember to keep everything relevant to the position you are testing for.
This 5-minute episode covers the basic categories you have to consider when preparing for your oral board test.
This audio covers the tools found in The Promotion Playbook to develop your speaking skills.
This episode covers the SQ3R study template and how to get the most from your study sessions.
1: Protect the test space at all costs.
2: Get enough sleep the week before the test.
3: Optimize your nutrition.
4: Show up dressed to win.
5: When in doubt, go with your first choice.
6: Manage your time well.
7: Preplan the testing location.
8: Use your 5 senses.
- Sight
- Sound
- Smell
- Touch
- Taste
9: Remember to breathe deeply.
These 7 tips will help in your preparation for the written test:
1. Read the books and policies cover to cover several times.
2. Don’t prepare alone.
3. Don’t just learn it…teach it.
4. Use repetition.
5. Use rewards to keep you motivated.
6. Use various resources to learn yet not as a substitute for reading.
7. Make use of all the time you have.
This episode gives an overview of the Game Day Toolbox. These tools will help you develop the skills to rise above your competition in the assessment center.
This episode gives you an overview of the 7 Strategies along with an assessment tool to see if you are on course with your promotional test preparation.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Psalm 23:4
Why do you want to promote?
Knowing your answer to this question can be one of the most important things you do in preparation for your test.
🔥 If you have a strong WHY, it will fuel you on your path to promotion and allow you to shine on test day.
Finding a strong WHY requires you to dig deep. You must learn to harness the power of both pain and pleasure, dark and light.
To find this fire 🔥 look into the 4 areas of life that matter most.
🙏 Faith
👨👩👧👦 Family
💰 Finance
💪🏿 Fitness
If you are going to test for a promotion at work I recommend you begin your training plan at least 90 days out. 🏔
This plan is based on 90 and the elements of this plan are as follows. ⏰
90 Days > 30 Day Benchmarks > Weekly Check-Ins > Daily Work 🪓🪓🪓
The foundation of this entire plan is doing the daily work. Small simple steps done consistently over time will get you much farther than cramping the weekend before the test.
Consistency is King! 👑
Don’t be a wandering generality, be a meaningful specific. -Zig Ziglar
To have your best chance of success in your promotional test or any other goal in life, you must have clarity.
What you measure, you can manage. 📐
The tool found inside The Promotion Playbook is called the
1 target 🎯 and 4 skills 🛠
Choose one specific target and then develop the 4 skills that will get you there.
For promotional testing we organize the skills for a successful promotion into 4 categories
Study 📚
Speak 🗣
Write ✍️
Apply 🚒
Birds of a feather flock together. If you want to soar like an eagle don’t hang out with pigeons.
Proximity: The PEOPLE and PLACES you surround yourself with.
Proximity: The PEOPLE and PLACES you surround yourself with.
Under people, there are 3 areas..
- Coach/ Mentor
- Crew
- Counsel
Proactively choose the best people and places to support your success. Also choose what people and places you will avoid/ minimize during your test preparation.
19I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;
Deuteronomy 30:19
Choose what path you will take and choose to invest your time, money, and effort to make this path the right path.
Once a decision is made, you should stop worrying and start working. It’s not always what we know that makes it a good decision. It is what we do to implement and execute it that makes it a good decision.
John C. Maxwell
THE PROMOTION PLAYBOOK 7 STRATEGIES
1 CHOOSE YOUR PATH
2 POWER OF PROXIMITY
3 DEFINE THE PRIZE
4 MAKE YOUR PLAN
5 FIND YOUR PURPOSE
6 EMBRACE THE PIT
7 CELEBRATE THE PEAK
The one target is the metaphor used to represent your promotional test. It represents the one big outcome you have. To reach your target, you must have a simple, single, obsessive focus.
It is crucial to start with the main target, then break it into smaller parts. As the saying goes, if you are going to eat an elephant, you would do it one bite at a time. The 4 Skills represent the foundational skills you must develop to ensure your success.
The 4 Skills used for a promotional test are study skills, speaking skills, writing skills, and application skills. Every area of the assessment center can fit into one of these four categories. These categories are not an exact science. You may need to be flexible when developing your training plan depending on the position you are testing for. Don’t worry too much about getting it right.
Regardless of the position, you are testing for, there will be an element of these 4 Skills you must address in your preparation.
The Toolbox is organized into four categories to represent the 4 Skills.
- STUDY
- SPEAK
- WRITE
- APPLY
The 7 Strategies
1. Choose Your Path
2. Power of Proximity
3. Define the Prize
4. Make Your Plan
5. Find Your Purpose
6. Embrace the Pit
7. Celebrate the Peak
This Story Blueprint Template will help you create and refine stories to use in your assessment center. Writing out the story gives you clarity. After writing out the story, practice speaking the story. The Story Blueprint template in The Promotion Playbook will help you prepare for oral boards, presentations, writing assignments, narratives on reports, and many other areas in the assessment center.
There are 5 basic elements to structure your story. Once you have your basic structure, you can expand the story as needed.
Who: Who is the main character/characters in the story?
Where: Where does the story take place?
Want: What does the character want in the story?
Problem: What is the problem or conflict that keeps the character from getting what they want? Conflict helps to create an emotional connection.
Resolve: How does the story end? Does the character get what they want? How does the character evolve in the process?
Example:
Who: Firefighter Jake
Where: Canyon Fire Department, AZ
Want: He wants to be successful at promotion and follow his father's footsteps.
Problem: He keeps failing at promotional tests.
Resolve: He finds a mentor who helps him succeed and test #1 on the captain’s test.
It is important to keep your stories relevant to the position you are testing for. Use your life experience, both personal and professional, as long as it relates to the position you are testing for.
Some of the stories you should prepare for the test include the following:
-Why do you want to promote?
-What have you done to prepare for the position?
-The life experience that makes you stand out from the other candidates.
-Example of time you have successfully managed conflict.
-Your strengths
-Your weakness
-A role model in your life and why.
-A time you had to overcome adversity
Buy the book here... 👇👇👇
https://www.amazon.com/Promotion-Playbook-Proven-Path-Department/dp/1735739502
To soar through your firefighter promotional test you must be able to answer these three questions.
1. Who are you?
2. Why are you testing?
3. What makes you the best?
The best way to answer these questions is to tell a story that includes facts and is relevant to the position and department you are testing for.
Buy the book here... 👇👇👇
https://www.amazon.com/Promotion-Playbook-Proven-Path-Department/dp/1735739502
This marks the start of Season 2 for The Promotion Playbook.
We cover the tools to guide your path to promotion in 5 minutes or less.
www.promotionplaybook.com
The elements of The Promotion Playbook are...
🎯 1 Target
✍️ 3 Stories
🛠 4 Skills
♟ 7 Strategies
Buy the book here... 👇👇👇
https://www.amazon.com/Promotion-Playbook-Proven-Path-Department/dp/1735739502
The Incident Size Up Sheets are simple, one-page size-up forms you can use to give a clear, concise size-up report. There is a form to cover structure fire, wildland fire, and motor vehicle accidents.
The foundation of all these forms is a C.A.N. report:
Conditions
Actions
Needs
The initial size-up report is followed by a 360 follow-up report. If you get overwhelmed, just remember to give a C.A.N. report and take command. Everything else is the details related to the type of incident.
To find out more visit www.promotionplaybook.com
The in-basket is a common simulation exercise used in assessment centers. It tests how the candidate will handle the responsibilities of the new position by presenting a range of problems they may encounter. During an in-basket, the candidate receives information about the role to be played, such as descriptions, responsibilities, and general context.
The candidate is then given the "in-basket" materials and asked to respond to the contents within a particular time. As the candidate completes an item, it transfers to the "out-basket."
After completion of the exercise, a discussion with the evaluators often takes place. In this discussion, the candidate describes their justification for the decisions.
A few examples of items you may see during an in-basket are below.
Employee problems
Upset community member
Apparatus problems
Required training
Meetings
Evaluators can score the candidates in the following areas.
Identify key issues
Set priorities
Anticipate problems
Create solutions
Give reasons
Having a systematic approach is essential. You can organize your basket items by time or by priority.
Time: If the items given have a time they occur, you can organize your responses based on the time of day you will address each area. Next to each item, you will assign a priority and description of how you will handle the situation.
Priority: You can organize each time based on priority. High, medium, and low are the levels of priority. Place each item in the selection priority, then describe how you will handle the situation.
The two templates in The Promotion Playbook give examples of how to organize your in-basket exercise. One is organized based on time, and the other on priority.
Buy the book here... 👇👇👇
https://www.amazon.com/Promotion-Playbook-Proven-Path-Department/dp/1735739502
www.promotionplaybook.com
This guide will help navigate various role-play scenarios you may encounter during an assessment center. This model is similar to the steps used in managing an emergency incident. Below is an overview of the Role Play Size Up template found inside The Promotion Playbook.
As you work through the template you will complete the following actions for your scenario…
- Make a preplan
- Do an initial size up
- Complete a 360 assessment
- Create an initial action plan
- Document and followup
You will also see the use of a C.A.N. report. (Conditions, Actions, Needs)
When you do counsel an employee it will usually be because of a behavior problem or a performance problem. Performance problems can usually be solved with training and accountability. Behavior problems require good communication and use of the appropriate resources.
Below are some common scenarios you may encounter:
- Organize and run a team meeting.
- Dealing with an under-performing member of your team.
- Dealing with unacceptable conduct by an employee.
- Influence someone from the public or partner agency towards your agenda.
- Run a simulated call with your crew.
Below are some basic guidelines to consider:
- When dealing with a group, gather everyone together early.
- Conflict is normal and similar to a fire. Extinguish the spark early before it becomes an inferno.
- Know when it’s best to talk as a group and when it is best to meet individually. If meeting for a volatile situation, have someone else in the meeting.
- Problems related to safety, operational readiness, legal, or public relations typically rank as high priority.
- Use closed-loop communication to ensure clarity of communication.
- Create solutions, not problems.
- Seek to understand.
The template inside The Promotion Playbook gives an outline for role-play scenarios.
Buy the book here... 👇👇👇
https://www.amazon.com/Promotion-Playbook-Proven-Path-Department/dp/1735739502
www.promotionplaybook.com
There are four areas that create significant problems for you and your organization if not handled appropriately. Anytime you come across one of these “hazard zones”, use caution. Be prepared to navigate these issues during an assessment center.
Awareness is the first step. Knowing your resources along with understanding policies and procedures will guide you in dealing with these issues.
The four hazard zones are safety, emergency response, public relations, and legal.
Safety: Anything that compromises the health and wellness of your employees.
Examples: driving, PPE, emergency scenes, station hazards, etc.
Operational Readiness: Anything that compromises your ability to respond to emergency calls or perform your required job.
Examples: mechanical problems, staffing problems, location, etc.
Public Relations: Anything that damages the public perception of your organization.
Examples: social media, behavior while in the community both on and off duty, etc.
Legal: Anything that can create legal problems.
Examples: harassment, discrimination, confidentiality, substance abuse, violence, etc.
Buy the book here... 👇👇👇
https://www.amazon.com/Promotion-Playbook-Proven-Path-Department/dp/1735739502
The Shift Prep Sheet is like an accountability board to help with staffing. It will help clarify who you are working with, along with what qualifications your crew has. For example, if you are responsible for an ALS engine and have an all BLS crew, that would need to be addressed immediately.
The Shift Prep Sheet may also reveal the strengths and weaknesses of your crew that day. It will help anticipate and overcome any challenges the day may bring. This will help you to best meet the needs of your crew.
During your assessment center, pay attention to the details of all crew members and take notes. It is common for assessment centers to give you essential information throughout different parts of the testing process. For example, you may have to solve an employee challenge during an in-basket exercise and then see this same employee in a role-play scenario later in the day.
www.promotionplaybook.com
To be successful in a promotional test there are 3 areas you must learn to master:
- Story
- Strategy
- Skillset
The first is your story. The story you tell about yourself and the promotion will determine how well you do. Your stories direct your mindset and your beliefs on how you see the world.
The second is your strategy. You must have a proven plan and path to follow, otherwise, as Benjamin Franklin declared, “by failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”
The third area is your skillset. This includes all the practical skills required for the position and test. Your skills are paramount to your success but if they are not combined with a strong story and strategy, it won't be enough.
The Promotion Playbook has three sections designed to cover the story, strategy, and skillset that will help you succeed with the promotional test. After reading this book you will have a story to follow along with strategies and skills to implement.
www.promotionplaybook.com
There is both an art and a science to oral boards. The art is your ability to create an emotional connection with your audience; science is the logical data to validate your case.
The Oral Board Prep Sheet consists of three categories you must know for the oral board. The three categories you must know and sell with the oral board are: Self, Position, and Department.
- Self: Your knowledge, skills, and experience that make you the best for the position.
- Position: Your understanding of the position along with your competence and experience.
- Department: Understand the culture, values, goals, current challenges of the department you are testing for.
Under each of these 3 categories, you want to prepare in 3 areas: Facts, Stories, and Goals.
- Facts: The logical information as to why you are the best for this position and that you understand yourself, the position, and the department. Some examples are numbers, time in position, dates, etc.
- Stories: For each category, there is a story that will define the emotional connection with you, the position, and the department. Your stories will help you stand out as unique. Your stories represent your job experience, relationships in your life, events that define you, how you handle conflict, and various others. Stories drive culture in any department and may include the mission, vision, and values.
- Goals: It is essential to have well-established goals that are relevant to the position and organization.
The oral board prep sheet helps you organize these ideas and prepare your script for the oral board. This will give you clarity and help you remember the critical information for your oral board. As you complete this document remember to keep everything relevant to the position you are testing for.
Buy the book here... 👇👇👇
https://www.amazon.com/Promotion-Playbook-Proven-Path-Department/dp/1735739502
www.promotionplaybook.com
Have you ever gone to write a paper and couldn't think of anything to write?
If so, this template will help.
There are five basic steps to the Essay Blueprint Template.
- Purpose
- Title
- Introduction
- Body
- Conclusion
Buy the book here... 👇👇👇
https://www.amazon.com/Promotion-Playbook-Proven-Path-Department/dp/1735739502
One of the biggest challenges with writing assignments is knowing what to write. This process will give you several guidelines to help improve your writing skills. The guidelines are organized into three steps. Using these three steps will help organize your thoughts and develop a systematic writing process.
The three steps are…
- Set up
- Write
- Review
Compare this writing process to the process of building a house. The set up is like laying the foundation. Writing is like building the frame and completing the structure. The review is similar to passing your final inspection.
SET UP - Lay the Foundation
- Know your audience
- Know your intent
- Research your topic
- Choose the right medium
WRITE - Build the House
- Start with an outline
- Don’t go for perfect, just go
- Be Human
- Be Specific
- Keep it simple
REVIEW- Pass Inspection
- Proofread
- Enhance Your Message
- Use Discretion
- Give credit where credit is due
Use this process anytime you create written communication. The three steps covered are set up, write, and review. Practice using these three steps, and you will develop a habit that will help you effectively communicate in writing.
The following page gives a visual metaphor to help you "hit a home run" oral board answer. The analogy is a baseball game where you are up to bat with each oral board question. It provides an excellent structure to follow when answering your oral board questions.
In this metaphor, each question is a ball, and the evaluator is the pitcher. The first step is to connect with the "pitcher" by listening to and understanding the question. When they "pitch" the question, you make it to first base by answering the question.
You reach second base by giving a personal story or example to enhance your answer. To reach third base, you must make your answer relevant to the position you are testing for. To bring your answer in for the home run, tie your answer into the department you are testing for.
These are the elements of this metaphor.
Batter: You
Pitcher: Person asking you the question.
Ball: Each question
First Base: Answer the question.
Second Base: Give a personal story or example to back your answer.
Third Base: Relate your answer to the position you are testing for.
Home Run: Relate your answer to the department.
Buy the book here... 👇👇👇
https://www.amazon.com/Promotion-Playbook-Proven-Path-Department/dp/1735739502
www.promotionplaybook.com
The 4 categories of questions you are likely to encounter during an oral board are explained here. The 4 categories are character, position-specific, conflict management, and personnel management.
1. Mindset, Values and Character 👨🏻🚒
These questions seek to understand your mindset, values and character. Be prepared for these by knowing what you stand for and have stories prepared that reflect your strengths in character.
2. Position Specific 🚒
These questions test your knowledge and competency in the position. They may include a scenario-based question or simply ask you about a policy or procedure. Do your homework in advance. When you answer these, elaborate your answer with a personal example of how you apply this, then relate to the position and department.
3. Conflict Management 🥊
These questions evaluate how you deal with challenging situations in your work relationships. Prepare by having some examples in advance. Share examples of how you faced conflict to create a positive outcome. In most situations, it is ok to use a personal example as long as you make it relevant to the position you are testing for.
4. Personal Relationships 🤝
These questions are looking at how well you work with other people. Showing that you have the ability to work in a team and get along with others is important. If this is a company officer test you also must demonstrate your ability to successfully lead others.
When asked a question, seek to understand the intent behind the question and be prepared to answer accordingly.
Buy the book here... 👇👇👇
https://www.amazon.com/Promotion-Playbook-Proven-Path-Department/dp/1735739502
SQ3R is a reading strategy that conditions the skills necessary for active reading. The method offers a more efficient and productive approach to reading textbook material. It is composed of five steps, survey, question, read, recite, and review.
Step #1: Survey
Before reading, survey the text. Notice the title, subtitles, illustrations, and graphics. You can also read the first paragraph, last paragraph, and the text summary (if provided). The purpose of surveying the text is to trigger background information and focus the mind on the task of reading.
Step #2: Question
After the survey, formulate questions about the text to engage, concentrate, and build general awareness of the text topic. Generating questions before reading will create a sense of purpose and help you remain focused on the text.
Step #3: Read
Actively read the text with your self-generated questions in mind. Ideally, you will find answers to the questions that arose during step two of the strategy. It is essential to re-read unclear portions of the text. When you have a purpose for reading, reading becomes intentional, making active reading a smoother and more natural experience.
Step #4: Recite
After reading the text, think about the information in your own words. Summarizing the text will help you conceptualize the material. You are more likely to remember the information from the text if you can clearly describe it.
Step #5: Review
The last step in the SQ3R method is to review the text in a more detailed manner. At this point, you should be able to answer the questions you formulated before reading the text. You can enhance this with a group discussion, teaching this content to someone else, creating flashcards, using a study guide, or a variety of other options.
The SQ3R method promotes concentration while reading. If done correctly, it is a valuable skill that empowers you to extract as much information as possible from a text.
9 Game Day Guidelines to Smoke the Firefighter Written Exam:
#1: Protect the test space at all costs.
#2: Get enough sleep the week before the test.
#3: Optimize your nutrition.
#4: Show up dressed to win.
#5: When in doubt, go with your first choice.
#6: Manage your time well.
#7: Preplan the testing location.
#8: Use your 5 senses.
- Sight
- Sound
- Smell
- Touch
- Taste
#9: Remember to breathe deeply.
Buy the book here... 👇👇👇
https://www.amazon.com/Promotion-Playbook-Proven-Path-Department/dp/1735739502
Most assessment centers include some form of a written exam. These tests can be multiple-choice, essay questions, and various other formats. Many times these are pass or fail tests. If you don’t pass the initial test, nothing else matters.
Many people don’t understand the importance of the written exam. Failing to adequately prepare for the written test has been the downfall of many would-be promotions. At the same time, many people thrive because they understood the importance of this test and they showed up prepared.
These 7 tips will help in your preparation for the written test:
1. Read the books and policies cover to cover several times.
2. Don’t prepare alone.
3. Don’t just learn it…teach it.
4. Use repetition.
5. Use rewards to keep you motivated.
6. Use various resources to learn yet not as a substitute for reading.
7. Make use of all the time you have.
Use these 7 tips to enhance your learning and don’t be surprised if you actually enjoy the process. Remember to review the testing announcement from your organization because it may have critical information relevant to the written test.
This audio gives and overview of the 7 strategies including a review of the 7 Strategies Assessment Tool.
Why do you want to promote?
Knowing your answer to this question can be one of the most important things you do in preparation for your test.
🔥 If you have a strong WHY, it will fuel you on your path to promotion and allow you to shine on test day.
Finding a strong WHY requires you to dig deep. You must learn to harness the power of both pain and pleasure, dark and light.
To find this fire 🔥 look into the 4 areas of life that matter most. 🙏 Faith 👨👩👧👦 Family 💰 Finance 💪🏿 Fitness
Buy the book here... 👇👇👇
https://www.amazon.com/Promotion-Playbook-Proven-Path-Department/dp/1735739502
To hear the podcast on this chapter go here…
https://anchor.fm/joshua-wells85/episodes/Strategy-4---Make-Your-Plan-epgq4u
Also check out www.promotionplaybook.com.
“If I know I make this much trouble, I never climb Everest.” Tenzing Norgay
If you are going to test for a promotion at work I recommend you begin your training plan at least 90 days out. 🏔
This plan is based on 90 and the elements of this plan are as follows. ⏰
90 Days > 30 Day Benchmarks > Weekly Check-Ins > Daily Work 🪓🪓🪓
The foundation of this entire plan is doing the daily work. Small simple steps done consistently over time will get you much farther than cramping the weekend before the test.
Consistency is King! 👑
Buy the book here... 👇👇👇
https://www.amazon.com/Promotion-Playbook-Proven-Path-Department/dp/1735739502
“Don’t be a wandering generality, be a meaningful specific.” -Zig Ziglar
To have your best chance of success in your promotional test or any other goal in life, you must have clarity.
What you measure, you can manage. 📐
The tool found inside The Promotion Playbook is called the
1 target 🎯 and 4 skills 🛠
Choose one specific target and then develop the 4 skills that will get you there.
For promotional testing we organize the skills for a successful promotion into 4 categories Study 📚 Speak 🗣 Write ✍️ Apply 🚒
Buy the book here... 👇👇👇
https://www.amazon.com/Promotion-Playbook-Proven-Path-Department/dp/1735739502
“Do or do not, there is no try.” Master Yoda. If you are going to test for a promotion, you need to be committed to giving it 100%. The 3 commitments are 1. Money 2. Time 3. Effort.
Birds of a feather flock together. If you want to soar like an eagle don’t hang out with pigeons.
Proximity: The PEOPLE and PLACES you surround yourself with.
Under people there are 3 areas.. Coach/ Mentor Crew Counsel
Proactively choose the best people and places to support your success. Also choose what people and places you will avoid/ minimize during your test preparation.
Get your copy of The Promotion Playbook on Amazonia to get a free version check out www.promotionplaybook.com
7 strategies on the path to promotion. 1. Choose your Path 2. Power of Proximity 3. Define the Prize 4. Make your Plan. 5. Find your Purpose 6. Embrace the Pit 7. Celebrate the Peak.