COMMENTARY>>Choosing to be uncommon

By Capt. Robert Shaw
19th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron commander

One makes thousands of decisions every day. Whether to get out of bed in the morning, to stop at the next stop sign, to do physical fitness training today, to uphold the Air Force’s core values today and many more.

It sounds easy right? Well that isn’t always the case. The decisions an individual makes every day can have a profound effect.

They can both positively and negatively effect your own life and career as well as the lives and careers of those you care about.

These decisions along with the values, attitudes, ambitions and allegiances to which one adheres, and how we respond to adversity are how one can become uncommon.

When Coach Cal Stoll told his University of Minnesota freshman football team “Success is uncommon, therefore not to be enjoyed by the common man,” it really spoke to Tony Dungy. Dungy carried that mantra with him through his days as a student, as an NFL player and as a Super Bowl-winning coach. He realized early on that success doesn’t come easy and requires one to make the right decisions. Throughout Dungy’s playing and coaching career he lived life with purpose, character, integrity and courage, and he knew there was more to life than football.

Coach Dungy believed his primary job was building men worthy of being role models to a nation of boys who look up to them. He built men with confidence and humility who knew the value of family and faith. The thing that impressed me about Dungy is he stuck to his principles and values even through the suicide of his teenage son and countless other monumental hurdles in his life. I’m not saying he’s perfect, no one is; but he strove everyday to do the right thing for his wife, children, players, coaches, and friends. All the while understanding that his life was more than football; he realized that in his position he could positively affect the lives of many. It wasn’t about him.

So what does it take to be uncommon? It’s about doing the right thing, all the time; whether you’re on base, off base, on leave or TDY. It’s living the Air Force core values of integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do 24/7/365. Not because the Air Force or your supervisor want you to, but because you know it’s the right thing to do for you and those important people who surround you. Your family, friends, and coworkers all benefit because you strive for excellence and integrity. Your example and actions will not only continue to make the U.S. Air Force the world’s most capable and feared Air Force, but will also make your career a rewarding one and give you a life of purpose.

I believe many of the life lessons gleaned from Tony Dungy’s book, “Uncommon: Finding Your Path to Significance,” transcend football and are very applicable to all of us in the Air Force. We are all role models and heroes and people watch what we do on and off duty. We can quickly be scrutinized for improper behavior or actions, or worse, be punished.

The next time you’re faced with a tough decision, think about the difference between the common person’s choice and the uncommon person’s choice. Being uncommon isn’t always easy and requires taking an uncommon path. Dungy passionately believes that there is a different path to significance, a path characterized by attitudes, ambitions, and allegiances that are all too rare but uncommonly rewarding.
So ... are you ready to be uncommon?