The Best Advice I Ever Ignored

Have you ever received advice -- and then ignored it?

It wasn't just yesterday, but I remember it well.

As I prepared for my pre-dawn drive to the Military Entrance and Processing Station in Los Angeles, my step-father offered some friendly advice. It was advice he learned -- and I suppose, followed himself -- when he served in the U.S. Navy during WWII.

His advice was short and simple: Never volunteer for anything.

Being an 18-year-old know-it-all, I ignored Big Rick's advice and volunteered for a couple of simple duties (e.g., dorm guard, element leader, etc.) during my first couple days of basic training.

Then I volunteered to serve to lead 12 other trainees.

After that, I volunteered to lead groups of trainees to chapel services on Sundays.

And then, in a move I still wonder about, I volunteered to lead a KP (i.e., kitchen patrol) team at the massive chow hall.

Since this facility served three meals a day to more than a thousand trainees, our job -- scrubbing pots and pans (with chunks of pumice, of all things), washing utensils and dishes, mopping floors, cleaning tables, refilling drink dispensers, removing garbage, etc. -- was daunting. (Shout out to my mom: Thank you for preparing me for this moment by putting me to work washing dishes as soon as I could reach the sink, Mom! Chores are good things, parents!)

In a sort of good news-bad news thing, my team did so well at KP that they "invited" us do it two more times.

Despite the extra work I took on by volunteering, ignoring Big Rick's advice paid off for me in many ways, both then and now.

• I experienced things I wouldn't have otherwise experienced
• I gained favor among the military training instructors and other staff, who then chose me for positions that had more authority, responsibility, visibility, and privileges
• I gained favor among the trainees who did not want to take on the roles I volunteered for -- they were glad somebody else stepped forward while they hid like wallflowers
• My errors were more readily forgiven because those in authority also saw me doing things well -- the mistakes of the non-volunteers were more noticeable because their errors were the only things the authorities ever saw, that is, they weren't overshadowed by other, more positive behaviors
• I gained leadership experience that I continue to draw on, even today
• I gained insight into the ways in which different people work
• I learned how to motivate -- and demotivate -- teams
• I learned that the most effective teams are comprised of members who are willing to both give and receive feedback -- e.g., praise, correction, direction, etc.
• I learned that you can make [almost] any job fun, even scrubbing huge pots with chunks of pumice and scalding water in a steamy room
• I learned that pumice is rough and it cuts your hands, but those cuts won't kill you
• I learned -- from my cut up hands -- that leaders need to be mindful of the challenges each member of their teams face, and they should do whatever they can to mitigate those hurdles (see this in action on one of my favorite shows, Undercover Boss).

So, what's the lesson?

Make and take opportunities to volunteer, even for the less attractive, most uncomfortable, and most thankless situations.

The work is there and it needs to be done.

You do it.

Volunteering is one of those rare and wonderful arenas in which you can both give and gain.

[Image: Breaking Home Ties by Norman Rockwell]

[Note: You can buy a print of "Breaking Home Ties" and other works by Norman Rockwell at Art.com. In case you're wondering, I am not an affiliate and I have no commercial interest in that store.]

____________________

What's the best advice you've ever ignored? You can share your thoughts below.