One of the most useful things I learned at the ATF Academy was how to breathe. (Another one: how to back up a car at a high rate of speed. I still use that a lot!)
You can’t imagine how tempted I was to post a picture that says “Just Breathe” and then watch 10,000 likes pile up. At least that’s how it seems to work when some random ‘LinkedIn-fluencer’ does it.
But you don’t ‘just’ breathe. You breathe deeply through your nose for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds, exhale everything through your mouth for 4 seconds, hold 4 seconds, and repeat 4 times. They called it “tactical breathing.”
It is amazing how it helps control stress in high-pressure situations. I still use it. I taught my kids to use it.
The first challenge, of course, is consciously recognizing that you’re under immediate stress, then taking the deliberate step to control it.
Lately I’ve talked to many people who are under stress. Change and uncertainty can do that to you. I’m flattered when people want my advice for dealing with difficult situations. Talking through them is usually helpful to me too.
That’s why I used the Scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz, rather than a vapid motivational poster, for this post. One friend I talked to this week said the advice he’s been getting was like the scarecrow pointing in both directions. (Plus, I love that movie. Here’s another post where I referenced it.)
So if you’re a government employee worried about the future, here’s my two cents (with a bit of lean toward those in law enforcement).
First, take some simple practical steps to prepare for whatever comes. If you subscribe to Chris Barfield, CPA, you saw examples in his latest newsletter (e.g., download your eOPF, make a copy of your contacts, make sure you can log into TSP from a personal computer with a personal email, etc.). If you don’t subscribe to his newsletter, do that today.
If you are in a leadership position (whether formal or not), project outward calm…even if you don’t feel calm. You may underestimate how people look up to you, and how reassuring it can be to have someone who appears to have a steady hand on the helm. No one looks up to a nervous pessimist.
In the face of hard questions, it is okay to acknowledge that you don’t know everything. But one thing is certain—the sky will not fall. Remind them of that. In the meantime, stay focused on the mission. It’s why you’re there.
Throughout my career I faced many stressful situations, but perhaps none more so than ATF’s nationwide critical incident response to the riots in the summer of 2020.
(And for those who may have forgotten: no agency made more felony arrests for crimes committed during those riots than ATF. It arrested hundreds for gun crimes, bombings, gun store burglaries, and commercial arsons (such as this one). After all, guns, fire, and bombs are the tools of terrorists and violent criminals, and no agency has greater expertise or authority for dealing with them.
At one point during that crisis, I marched out my favorite quote: “Calm seas don’t make good sailors.” I repeat it now. You’ll get through this storm.
If you’re leaving government—voluntarily or not—start preparing.
If you want to work, learn about life in the private sector. Find someone who has gone before you to share their insights (like I did). Don’t be shy about asking for help. If you don’t know anyone, reach out to me. I’m still trying to pay forward all the help I’ve received in my life.
Join a retirees association (like the ATF Association). You’ll be surprised how many people remain engaged long after they ‘hit the button.’ They want to help you and can be a wealth of knowledge and info about opportunities.
If you’re not sure whether you should retire or not, let me tell you that I retired in the pay period I became eligible. I loved working for ATF, but I haven’t regretted retiring for a single moment. When you join that retirees association, I challenge you to find a member that feels differently.
If you want to work after you retire, prepare your resume now (while you have easy access to dates and records). When you do, don’t just think literally about your government skills but rather how they translate to a commercial market. (You won’t literally be kicking in doors or investigating bombings for a publicly traded company.)
For instance, you undoubtedly have experience in operational and strategic planning, crisis management, media relations, critical communications, personnel management, compliance audits, employee training programs, and misconduct investigations. Businesses deal with all that too. Think about articulating how you will use those transferable skills, not just tell war stories.
Also, if you’re an agent, don’t limit yourself to jobs in the law enforcement and security industries. Yes, there is comfort that comes from dealing with what you know. And being on the ‘other side of the yellow tape’ takes some getting used to. But businesses of all types could use your skills and commitment to service. Think big and keep an open mind.
(At the same time, I realize how incredibly fortunate I am that my role at SoundThinking (formerly ShotSpotter) overlaps perfectly with my public safety experience. A friend of mine called it a “unicorn job!”)
But above all else, my advice is: Just Breathe. (Sorry…I couldn’t help myself.)