The clock goes off, and you wake up in bed. You run through your morning routine—a mix of autopilot habits and intentional moments to get ready for the day. Before you know it, you’re in the car, locked into the rhythm of your commute to your station. You roll up to your house for the day, settle in, and prepare for shift change, ready to start the day at zero seven hundred.
Fast forward 24 hours, and you’re on your way home. How do you feel in that moment? Accomplished, excited, exhausted? Are you ready to be done? Ready to get home? Maybe you dream of sinking into your couch or grabbing a nap.
Do you ever reflect on your day during those drives home? How do you figure out if it was a good day or a bad day? For most of us, it can be pretty obvious. If we’re up all night, it was probably a bad day. If the day was non-stop—a rush of calls and no down time—then it might feel like a bad day too.
But here’s the deeper question: What does success look like over your 24 hour shift?
For Me, A Successful Day Starts With Intentions
At the firehouse, I try to bring a positive attitude. It’s not always easy, especially if I walk in feeling tired or stressed before the day even begins, but it’s something I can control. Being mindful and present with the truck—checking my tools and gear—matters too. I want to know that when the big one comes in, I’m ready to go to work in an instant without hesitation or doubt.
Success also looks like growth most days, with recovery others. I aim to get better at one thing, even if it’s small or feels insignificant in the moment. Maybe it’s improving a skill, deepening my knowledge, or reflecting on a tough situation from a previous shift.
It also means making conscious choices to move more than I sit, and listen more than I talk. Whether it’s staying active or deepening my connection with the people around me, every small habit builds toward a successful day.
I try to find time to read and study—it reminds me that this profession is equal parts physical and mental. Some days I skip the nap entirely, but I’ve learned to be kind to myself too. If a nap is what I need to stay sharp, I take it without guilt.
Then there’s the basics: whole foods, hydration, and kindness. Eating well fuels the body for what this work demands of us. Drinking enough water helps us stay sharp, even when fatigue starts to creep in. And above all, treating people with thoughtfulness, empathy, and humility—whether it’s my crew or someone we’re called to serve—is something I strive to keep front and center, no matter how tough the day gets.
What I Can Control Vs. What I Accept
For anyone in this line of work, there’s a mix between what’s within your control and what’s simply given—things you accept before you even walk through the door.
Sleeping on shift? Hardly guaranteed. Calls in the middle of the night? Pretty much expected. Uncomfortable moments we have to push through? It comes with the territory.
But success doesn’t hinge on those outside factors. For me, success comes from what I can control. When I manage those small controllable actions well—whether it’s keeping a positive attitude, staying ready, treating people with kindness, moving my body, or fueling myself properly—I can look back on the day and say I did my part.
Success Can Also Mean Growth From the Tough Calls
Some days, success looks less obvious. You might not walk away feeling great, especially after a tough call or a long shift without much sleep. But even on the hard days, I ask myself what I’ve learned, how I performed, and what I can do better next time.
Let’s say we were first due on a structure fire. For the victims, it was no doubt a horrible day—one that changed their lives forever. But if I performed well—if I stayed sharp, did my part, and put my training into action—then even in the midst of something so devastating, there’s growth to be found. If I’ve learned something from that rep—something I can apply the next time—the day wasn’t wasted. I’ve succeeded. But you have to take time to reflect, and find ways to grow.
How Do You Define Success?
It’s easy to let the hard days overshadow the moments in which you quietly succeed, but I think it all comes back to intention. Success doesn’t have to mean perfection. It doesn’t have to mean a smooth, easy day with no calls and plenty of rest.
For me, success means doing the work—physically, mentally, and emotionally—and controlling what I can when I can. It means finding growth, even in the tough moments.
So, what does success look like to you?
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