Be significant…

  • Published
  • By Chief Master Sgt. Maria Lacuesta-Siroin
  • Superintendent, 60th Comptroller Squadron
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE,Calif --  Last November, I was notified that I was a selected to become a chief. I had the great honor of traveling to my major command to attend a week-long conference with my fellow chief-selects for our orientation.

It was three days of information sharing with five meals in between. I thought, "Wow! I finally get to hang out with the coolest people on the planet!"

I was so worried about what I was going to talk about and what I would say at the table and then my 12-year-old daughter said to me, "Why don't you try listening?" Thank you, Chyna, which worked.

I walked into the room and already noticed first I was the only female; and second, I was only 5-feet, 1- inch tall and seemingly, everyone towered over me. The intimidation factor went up a notch or two, but I had the benefit of sitting at this table with seasoned chiefs for three days. Taking Chyna's advice, listened a lot.

I listened to stories of great intellectuals, travels, leadership, acts of bravery as well as inspiring acts of heroism. They had every reason to be confident while wearing those gigantic stripes! Then there was me, the only female chief select with no "war story" to bring to the table. "I then thought, I've only worked my entire career supporting them!" Don't get me wrong, I've been deployed three times worked hard and am proud of my service to our Air Force. I've travelled to 11 different countries but felt none of my stories could ever compare to fellow chiefs. Of course I was nervous, but then I read something about the three stages of reaction to work.

Stage one: I hope nobody figures out how stupid I feel.

Stage two: After a few months: Hey, I'm as smart as everyone else.

A few months later came stage three: Oh my goodness, we're in charge?

This three-stage reaction has been the same no matter where I've worked and it made me a lifelong member of the 2H club: Humble and Humility. I've learned that there is no substitute for hard work; for doing well at the job you're in. I remember being responsible for making coffee, processing travel vouchers, dealing with less than happy customers all day long, then cleaning out the coffee pot at the end of the day. I didn't even like coffee!

I thought my life was over, but I did it. I didn't complain. Well, I did -- a little, but along the way, I learned a lot and it prepared me for bigger jobs that were right around the corner.

A little humility also served me well. It helped me to focus on doing my best in the job I've got rather than plotting to get the job I thought I deserved. Stage two for me was realizing that my functional contribution was financing the fight and that's huge! We can't do the mission without money. Money is often the bottom line.

But I saw my job was to to make sure my Airmen understood this as well. It's important to know that, whether leading teams out in the field, in the office trying to write a report, taking care of our families left behind or picking up trash, you are providing a service that is essential to the success of our mission.

All of us have something to bring to the table. If success is your goal, then work hard, be humble, turn your focus on service and how significant you can be and I promise you that success will take care of itself.