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Captain Bob

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So far Captain Bob has created 17 blog entries.

Stories Get Badges

2023-05-08T23:51:21+00:00

Stories Get Badges During the interview process, raters are often doing a lot of writing. Time after time, candidates tell me when they start telling one of their signature stories, the raters will stop writing, look up, put down their pens, and are taken on a journey with the story. This adds energy and builds candidate confidence.  Stories work effectively because they go directly to the brain and entertain. They do not require the mental processing of more formal nonfiction writing. Stories have heart and ring true. They are relatable. Stories are more than facts. If you can recreate the [...]

Stories Get Badges2023-05-08T23:51:21+00:00

It’s All in the Presentation!!

2023-05-08T23:52:47+00:00

  It’s All in the Presentation!! When it comes right down to it, your presentation skills are everything! In a group situation like the ORAL, it is even more important. I say this because being able to put your best foot forward while in front of a group is one of the top fears among candidates. In my experience, I have witnessed many who tend to panic. Read this quote: "The toughest thing to do in making a speaking presentation, or an interview, is to be yourself on purpose." - Patricia Fripp, National Speakers Association Now, read it again: "The toughest [...]

It’s All in the Presentation!!2023-05-08T23:52:47+00:00

Captain Bob – A Simple Q & A (Part 2)

2023-03-07T02:07:26+00:00

Captain Bob – A Simple Q & A (Part 2) The Q & A continues: Captain Bob” Smith is a retired firefighter and fire captain. A member of the MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER HALL OF FAME, Captain Bob speaks on the topics of overcoming stress and developing superior communication skills. He has written 2 books:  Eat Stress For Breakfast and  Fire Up Your Communication Skills.  With three successful start-up businesses, education, and over 40 years of research, Captain Bob thoroughly enjoys helping others. Enjoy this Q & A, part 2,  with Captain Bob. Q. Captain Bob, who has been the most influential [...]

Captain Bob – A Simple Q & A (Part 2)2023-03-07T02:07:26+00:00

You Must Come Out Swinging!

2023-05-08T23:17:58+00:00

You Must Come Out Swinging! If I have witnessed it once, I have witnessed it 100 times. Too many candidates get sucked into concentrating too much on the check-off list for their tactical without realizing it. In the process, they lose control of the fire and their score gets hammered. Q: What's your best tactic for rescuing or knocking down the fire? A: An aggressive attack on the fire! Yes, you want to cover all the bases to make sure boxes are checked off on the rating sheet. That said, isn’t the best tactic for putting out an aggressive fire [...]

You Must Come Out Swinging!2023-05-08T23:17:58+00:00

A Little Advice

2022-10-06T20:42:59+00:00

A Little Advice When I was working at the firehouse, my friend, Paul, was called into work. Knowing I had done some communication and relationship work, Paul took me aside and said, “Bob, my marriage is in big trouble.” As I have mentioned before, the divorce rate of firefighters is extremely high. I asked Paul to tell me more. He told me that six months earlier he and his wife had what I call “the talk.” The talk can come whenever situations build up and aren’t resolved. It usually blindsides one of the partners. I listened as Paul told me [...]

A Little Advice2022-10-06T20:42:59+00:00

Man In the Mirror

2022-09-27T22:48:22+00:00

Man in the Mirror We get it. You want to be a firefighter so badly, that you can taste it. It is all you have ever dreamed of. Right? Right! Here is the key. The best way to get hired and earn that badge is to put yourself in a position where the department can't go around you. Here is what I mean. If you have the attitude that the system is against you, you will give off that vibe. If you have the attitude that you are being passed over because of minority hiring, you will send that message. [...]

Man In the Mirror2022-09-27T22:48:22+00:00

Always the Bridesmaid

2022-09-27T22:49:46+00:00

Always the Bridesmaid Just about every day, Captain Rob and I receive emails from folks who want a career in Fire Service. Some of the emails are written as a thank you. Some are about problems they have run into. Some – like this one – are worth sharing. Doing so might help somebody else. At least, this is our hope. Captain Bob, I was one month from being hired for a notable fire department in Washington when I received a letter stating that I was NOT recommended for hire. I had taken the medical, and psych, and turned in [...]

Always the Bridesmaid2022-09-27T22:49:46+00:00

A Little Bit About Coaching

2022-09-27T22:50:06+00:00

A Little Bit About Coaching Being a person of faith helps tremendously in this job. Personally, my faith seems to give me a moral compass, a code of honor that keeps us out of trouble and helps with decision-making. I think that it helps many with this. In my experience faith has helped people dig a little deeper when they have needed it the most. You see, as firefighters, we see a lot of things nobody wants to see. Daily, we go into very sad and difficult situations. Over the years, my fire department has lost more on duty than [...]

A Little Bit About Coaching2022-09-27T22:50:06+00:00

Information is Key!

2022-09-27T22:51:19+00:00

Information is Key! If we have said it once, we have said it 100 times. After 40 years in Fire Service, we know a thing or two about earning your firefighter’s badge. As retired Fire Captains, Rob and I have found ways to share this knowledge so that others can have their dream job as a firefighter. After all, being a firefighter is like having a front-row seat to the greatest show on earth. Here is tip Number 1 - As you may know the written and the physical ability are both pass/fail. Why does this matter? Well, it tells [...]

Information is Key!2022-09-27T22:51:19+00:00

To Take the Job or Not!

2022-09-27T22:51:39+00:00

To Take the Job or Not! A few years ago, one of our candidates, Gavin, was going to a chief’s oral for a training position. Several older and in-service firefighters were offering Gavin their advice. They were saying that he should not be doing this. They said it could limit his chances of being hired by another department where he was on the list. Gavin was focused on what "they" said. Gavin decided to play hard to get in the Chief’s Oral. My take on this advice is that after you have been a firefighter for a while, you forget [...]

To Take the Job or Not!2022-09-27T22:51:39+00:00

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Using Capt Bob’s program I was called back for the chiefs oral. I ended up #2 on the list and...
Becoming a Firefighter
5
2018-04-22T16:44:54+00:00
Using Capt Bob’s program I was called back for the chiefs oral. I ended up #2 on the list and now proudly wear the badge for Denver. I would not have been in this position if it wasn’t for “Captain Bob’s” program.  
“I tested for 10 years taking 73 tests. My next oral was in two weeks. I wanted to figure out...
Becoming a Firefighter
5
2018-04-22T16:47:33+00:00
“I tested for 10 years taking 73 tests. My next oral was in two weeks. I wanted to figure out what the heck I was doing wrong… with Captain Bob’s program and coaching, I was shocked to see I had ranked number one and got my badge.”  
“The only hinder that I found myself with was not passing the oral… For all of the candidates out there...
Becoming a Firefighter
5
2018-04-22T16:51:46+00:00
“The only hinder that I found myself with was not passing the oral… For all of the candidates out there that don’t believe this, try passing and ranking #1 on orals with a stuttering problem…I did.” – Dave, FF/PM  
Using Capt Bob’s program I was called back for the chiefs oral. I ended up #2 on the list and...
Becoming a Firefighter
5
2018-04-22T17:01:21+00:00
Using Capt Bob’s program I was called back for the chiefs oral. I ended up #2 on the list and now proudly wear the badge for Denver. I would not have been in this position if it wasn’t for “Captain Bob’s” program.
“Well, I never thought I would be writing this to you, Captain Bob, but it happened to me also… Out...
Becoming a Firefighter
5
2018-04-22T17:02:45+00:00
“Well, I never thought I would be writing this to you, Captain Bob, but it happened to me also… Out of a possible 120 pts, I scored 119.87 pts! I couldn’t believe it! … Just wanted to say THANK YOU!” – Armando  
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Becoming a Firefighter

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Phone: +1 888-238-3959

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