COMMENTARY>>Don't major in the minor

By Chief Master Sgt. Anthony Brinkley
19th Airlift Wing command chief

One of the greatest attributes I have witnessed from leaders that I admire is their ability to keep the main thing the main thing.

We are all challenged daily with multiple concerns that jockey for our attention and action. The key to keeping down stress while leading a productive professional and personal life is how we determine where to place our focus and energy.

I’d like to offer a couple of simple suggestions on ways of not majoring in the minor. First, ask yourself what is the most important task at hand, then continue to list your activities based on level of importance. This list will serve to keep you focused as you function daily. So now that you have your list of priorities, the next thing to do is to stick to the plan.

If you don’t have the discipline to follow your list of priorities to completion, you stand the risk of limiting your success in all areas. So ask yourself, “am I sticking to the plan or am I going with the direction the wind blows?” Fitness is a great example of where people drop off. Many of us made resolutions to get in better shape as the New Year kicked in. So now it’s time to go back and assess how well we are following through on the big projects in our lives.

You see, not majoring in the minor keeps the little irritants from causing distractions in our lives. Each time something comes our way, we need to assess does this add or detract from the goals ahead. Distractions come in the form of a noun; they can be people, places, or things. So my challenge to you is look at the people you surround yourself with, the places you invest time in, and the things that you value. Once you do that I hope that focus coupled with dedication will lead each of you to higher plateaus in life.

Combat Airlift!