The Importance of Trust

Last week, I had the pleasure of spending time with attendees of the U.S. Coast Guard Alumni Association Women’s Leadership Initiative in Crystal City, VA. Approximately 100 Coast Guard service members representing myriad demographics gathered to discuss issues of import with senior leaders of the Service they clearly cherish.

As a corporate sponsor, I was offered a brief opportunity to address the attendees and share with them a little bit about Crisis1. We are a small business that gets things done. We listen to our clients, we make their problems ours, and we commit to finding workable solutions. To make this happen—we develop decision makers! This was the extent of my commercial.

The opportunity was a terrific reminder that I was extraordinarily fortunate to have worked directly with and for some of the finest Coast Guard executives—Admirals Jim Loy, Thad Allen, Roger Rufe, Kent Williams, Jim Card, Bill Merlin and Master Chief Vince Patton, just to name a few.

Since retiring from the Coast Guard, increasingly I have grown to appreciate the core values of this wonderful organization. President Harry Truman once remarked, “It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.” To me, this captures the essence of those of us who have served in the Coast Guard.

Crisis1’s senior leadership team joined me for the networking event and as I reflected on their contributions to the many important Coast Guard and DHS missions, I shared with the attendees that I had them asked them to join Crisis1 because I trust them—and they share the same values and vision—imbedded by this wonderful organization.

Whether just beginning a career, or looking to transition, I encourage others to seek opportunities that are first and foremost aligned with their core values and, second, reflect their unique abilities. Doing so will garner the most positive feedback, create the most fun, and provide the opportunity to make a difference.

In closing, I thanked them all for their service—because America needs leaders like them!