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Today’s guest post is written by Navy veteran, Adam Dince. Adam is the Director of Earned Media at Deluxe Corporation. He is also a sought after speaker and avid blogger about all things digital marketing. He keeps his own blog, www.adamdince.com, as well as guest blogs other highly reputable digital publications.
Photo by Peter Musk on Unsplash
Throughout the course of my adult life, I’ve been blessed to have a few incredible mentors. One of the most influential was United States Navy Recruit Division Commander, MRC (SW/AW) James Lowe. I met Chief a few days after arriving as a recruit to US Navy Basic Combat Training.
Prior to basic training, I was a failure in most aspects of my life. The rare glimpses of promise I showed, were quickly overshadowed by consistent shortcomings driven by low self-esteem. I made the decision to enlist in the Navy with the goal of building character and discipline–and it worked. Over the eight weeks of boot camp, Chief’s tough but fatherly guidance helped to shape the person I’ve become.
One piece of direction in particular, changed the entire trajectory of my personal and professional life. After our Division’s graduation ceremony completed, I headed back to the barracks. My Dad was supposed to attend the event, but his work schedule didn’t cooperate. As I sat on the barracks floor with my head in hands, the door opened. It was Chief. He asked me why I looked so miserable. I shared that throughout my life, I’d been a huge disappointment to my Dad and I wanted him to celebrate that moment with me. Chief responded by saying, “Airman Dince, you’re a man now. You don’t need your Dad’s approval anymore.” Those words empowered me and still do to this day. We then went in to his office and talked for what felt like hours. Towards the end of the conversation, Chief asked me what I wanted to accomplish in the Navy. I told him that my dream was to become a naval officer. He replied with words I’ve never forgotten.
“Airman Dince, you can either take what they give you or take over! If you see a job you want, learn it on your off-time and do it better than the person who trained you.”
That was the last time I saw or talked to Chief Lowe. However, Chief’s words have been the fuel that inspired me throughout my active-duty enlistment and professional civilian career.
I’ve accomplished so much in the 20 years since that conversation with Chief. I started my career stripping and waxing decks on an aircraft carrier and now have developed into a business professional who: leads digital marketing strategies across some the world’s most recognizable brands, leads/manages local and remote teams, speaks to paying audiences and writes for major industry publications. Chief’s mentorship and direction have been my continuous north star.
Over the years, I’ve learned to take Chief’s advice to mean something more philosophical than tactical. Our future does not have to be a product of our past. We can’t let where we are today, keep us from where we want to be tomorrow. The dreams we have for ourselves, our families and communities can be achieved through hard work and perseverance. Let’s face it—the daily grind of life can be effective at distracting us from who we are supposed to become. We can take what life gives us or we can take over.
There was one more lesson that I learned from Chief Lowe’s mentorship. Chief made the choice to be a Recruit Division Commander—he volunteered to mentor others. He made the decision to invest time in me (and I’m sure many more), he didn’t have to. We don’t have to look far to find people who need a Chief Lowe in their lives. It’s our responsibility to pay it forward and make a positive impact on as many lives as we can. That’s our legacy. That’s Chief Lowe’s legacy.