On this episode of the Inspiring Great Leaders Podcast, Craig Johns speaks with Adam Blum about Easy Target, serving for the NSW Rural Fire Service, and coping with emotional and mental struggles.

We also dive deeper into how we should handle behavioral problems at work, separating the problem from the person, and how we could shift negative thoughts into positive ones and turn them into inspirations as well. 

Adam Blum – Easy Target

Adam Blum is a first responder in the NSW Rural Fire Service, suicide survivor and the author of Easy Target. He faced many challenges in life from childhood surgeries to navigating bullying, ADHD and suffering severe depression.

His career involves 13 years in the NSW Rural Fire Service as a volunteer firefighter, Deputy Captain and leader in Fire Mitigation.

Adam Blum talks about:

• 
  
• Easy Target
  
• Growing up as a part of a family in service
  
• Not achieving the dream of joining the military and how he handled it
  
• The people of the Rural Fire Service
  
• What is the Red Cordial Moment?
  
• Confrontation vs. Conversation
  
• Dealing with different personalities on the job
  
• Coping mechanisms toward trauma
  
• Having his own support system
  
• Separating the problem from the person
  
• Emotional and mental struggles that served as inspirations
  
• Turning negative thoughts into positive ones
  

Tweets

“As a crew leader and a deputy captain, my main concern is getting my crew home to their families and my safety is the last thing that comes to mind. It’s always my crew first. It’s something that leadership does. You really grow as a person when you’re a leader.” Adam Blum talks about caring for your team on the Inspiring Great Leaders Podcast.

“There’s nothing worse than being belittled in front of other crew members or other people around you. So you have a quiet word with them and say, “Look, your behavior is not acceptable, and we will be dealing with this when we get back to the station at the end of shift.” Handling inappropriate behavior by Adam Blum on the Inspiring Great Leaders Podcast.

“As a leader, no one likes yelling at people. It’s  not nice to belittle someone because you feel that they’re doing a job too, but that’s part of leadership. Sometimes you have to make tough decisions and tough calls.” Separating the problem from the person by Adam Blum on the Inspiring Great Leaders Podcast.

Resources Mentioned in this show:

Adam Blum LinkedIn
Adam Blum Instagram
Craig Johns www.craigjohns.com.au
Craig Johns craig@nrg2perform.com
Craig Johns LinkedIn
Craig Johns Faa human beigncebook
Inspiring Great Leaders Podcast
NRG2Perform www.nrg2perform.com

Book

Easy Target: Taming The Black Dog