The Quiet Professional
Where has the quiet professional gone? As I sit here, reading posts by various persons, extorting exclamations of “this is the way is how it’s done” in broad, absolute and empirical statements, I ask myself “Where has the quiet professional gone?” As people state “look at me!”, “look what I’ve done!” and then berate those that think there are other ways to accomplish the same task, again I ask myself, “Where has the quiet professional gone?”.
The quiet professional; the one with the quiet confidence in what they do, that feels no need to draw attention themselves and has no desire to push their beliefs on someone, but rather offers up their thoughts on a matter, when asked. The one, that when he speaks, belies years of experience in brief, succinct, non-self-aggrandizing sentences. That guy. The one that has that knowing “look” in their eyes, that quiet confidence in their walk, that is immediately recognized by other (quiet) professionals. The one that is resilient, thoughtful, courageous and unrelenting upon his enemy; but takes no joy in extolling on their own impressive achievements to others. Where has that gone? That humility. That grace. The stuff that commands respect without saying a single f’ing word.
Perhaps it is the 15+ years of war and conflict that has culled these warriors from within our ranks. Perhaps social media has changed the paradigm, where the loudest voice, screaming of self-achievement, is who is now rewarded…leaving the quiet professional orphaned and lost in obscurity. Perhaps. Or maybe our culture has changed, in that those quiet professionals are just no longer as plentiful as before. But it is our loss; a loss immeasurable in its depths and breadth.
When I entered the military (USMC) at the bright eyed age of 17, the Berlin wall still stood, and Reagan was still the President. Upon entering the FMF, and promptly being deployed 3 weeks later, I remember being surrounded by many quiet professionals. Ones that lead by example, not words. Who’s resilience to hardship, pain and fear was demonstrated in what they did, and how they did it, for all to see…without a word of self worship. When working with members of Force Recon and SEAL Team 2, the environment was one full of professional warriors, intensely focused on the next mission. For sure, there was banter and shit talking, but it was generally in good nature and was not deprecating of another’s skills as a warrior. Generally it was more in line with some innocuous thing like their choice of clothing, a slutty girl friend or someone’s (excessive) love of porn. LOL! I still chuckle at some of the joking and ribbing that went on… But it was all business when the orders came down. When things were being prep’ed, there was a quiet air of professionalism and everyone going about their business, wiring their shit tight, going over last minute intel, reviewing ingress/egress details, mission goals, etc.
Down time for these warriors was often filled with an eccentric array of hobbies that were generally more in line with artists, not fearsome warriors. Playing a guitar, drawing or sketching, planning or discussing the next fly fishing trip; things that were a far cry from their main purpose in life of wreaking hate, and unleashing violence upon our adversaries. I remember it reminding me more of the bushido code of the warrior way. The “warrior poet” so-to-speak. I often think it was a matter of balance for most of them. A way to offset one skill (violence and predatory drive), with another, one of creation or appreciation for the beauty of things in our lives. Upon seeing it, I was always reminded of a saying my grandmother had told me as a child, when I was maybe 8 years old or so. When I was reveling in the fantasies and desire of being a Marine and being tested in combat. She (being Chinese, and all of about 4’ 10”) told me when I didn’t want to study or do my chores and would rather be out building forts or playing “war”, she said “We have a saying where we come from. There are three great people in life. The poet, the teacher and the warrior. The power to create, the power to preserve and pass on knowledge, and the power to destroy. If you truly want to be great, you need to become proficient at all three.” What I saw of the “quiet professionals” in my life, exhibited this in spades. Professionals who were students of war, teachers of these skills to the younger members, and artists both in the combative skills, but also in their other hobbies and interests. They were well rounded individuals. Complete, solid and utterly reliable. I often wonder if the issues we see with veteran suicide are because of this; young warriors that have never been taught or had time to mature into that well rounded warrior. The quiet professional that has learned how to balance violence with peace.
What I see today is a far cry from that. This incessant need for attention, narcissistic actions that are driven by the ego (versus what is good for the team/group), inflation of personal ego for monetary gain, it all seems very prevalent these days. Ego. Vanity. Envy. Greed. Especially in our little community here. I guess when you see some publishing books, others racking up twitter/FB followers to bolster their monetary demands, or becoming spokespersons/representatives of companies and products, it pushes others to do the same, and maybe that’s why we see what we do today(?). I don’t know for sure, but…
I have to say, it’s pretty sad. Not that people do these things, per se, but that we (as a community) have let it come to this. That we haven’t policed our own ranks. That it has become so common, and acceptable (hell, even desirable). The fact that we have lost that element of “the quiet professional”, and what was once a group of alphas and leaders (That were respected and admired), is now reduced to a bunch of bloviating, arrogant, self-important individuals, massing as a unorganized herd of animals racing to the trough of fame and money, is just pathetic and sad.
Don’t get me wrong, some quiet professionals still fill our ranks; but they are the exception, not the rule. And that does not bode well for the future of our community.
Perhaps I’m just getting old, or maybe I’m just complaining/bitching, but I think it’s worth throwing this out for people to think and contemplate on.
Where has the quiet professional gone?
Do you even desire to be that “quiet professional”?
At any rate, it’s taken me a bit to write this down, and try and get the wording correct to reflect my intended point, so I’ll just put it out there…
Are you a “quiet professional”? Because I think we could use quite a few more in our ranks…
Where has the quiet professional gone? As I sit here, reading posts by various persons, extorting exclamations of “this is the way is how it’s done” in broad, absolute and empirical statements, I ask myself “Where has the quiet professional gone?” As people state “look at me!”, “look what I’ve done!” and then berate those that think there are other ways to accomplish the same task, again I ask myself, “Where has the quiet professional gone?”.
The quiet professional; the one with the quiet confidence in what they do, that feels no need to draw attention themselves and has no desire to push their beliefs on someone, but rather offers up their thoughts on a matter, when asked. The one, that when he speaks, belies years of experience in brief, succinct, non-self-aggrandizing sentences. That guy. The one that has that knowing “look” in their eyes, that quiet confidence in their walk, that is immediately recognized by other (quiet) professionals. The one that is resilient, thoughtful, courageous and unrelenting upon his enemy; but takes no joy in extolling on their own impressive achievements to others. Where has that gone? That humility. That grace. The stuff that commands respect without saying a single f’ing word.
Perhaps it is the 15+ years of war and conflict that has culled these warriors from within our ranks. Perhaps social media has changed the paradigm, where the loudest voice, screaming of self-achievement, is who is now rewarded…leaving the quiet professional orphaned and lost in obscurity. Perhaps. Or maybe our culture has changed, in that those quiet professionals are just no longer as plentiful as before. But it is our loss; a loss immeasurable in its depths and breadth.
When I entered the military (USMC) at the bright eyed age of 17, the Berlin wall still stood, and Reagan was still the President. Upon entering the FMF, and promptly being deployed 3 weeks later, I remember being surrounded by many quiet professionals. Ones that lead by example, not words. Who’s resilience to hardship, pain and fear was demonstrated in what they did, and how they did it, for all to see…without a word of self worship. When working with members of Force Recon and SEAL Team 2, the environment was one full of professional warriors, intensely focused on the next mission. For sure, there was banter and shit talking, but it was generally in good nature and was not deprecating of another’s skills as a warrior. Generally it was more in line with some innocuous thing like their choice of clothing, a slutty girl friend or someone’s (excessive) love of porn. LOL! I still chuckle at some of the joking and ribbing that went on… But it was all business when the orders came down. When things were being prep’ed, there was a quiet air of professionalism and everyone going about their business, wiring their shit tight, going over last minute intel, reviewing ingress/egress details, mission goals, etc.
Down time for these warriors was often filled with an eccentric array of hobbies that were generally more in line with artists, not fearsome warriors. Playing a guitar, drawing or sketching, planning or discussing the next fly fishing trip; things that were a far cry from their main purpose in life of wreaking hate, and unleashing violence upon our adversaries. I remember it reminding me more of the bushido code of the warrior way. The “warrior poet” so-to-speak. I often think it was a matter of balance for most of them. A way to offset one skill (violence and predatory drive), with another, one of creation or appreciation for the beauty of things in our lives. Upon seeing it, I was always reminded of a saying my grandmother had told me as a child, when I was maybe 8 years old or so. When I was reveling in the fantasies and desire of being a Marine and being tested in combat. She (being Chinese, and all of about 4’ 10”) told me when I didn’t want to study or do my chores and would rather be out building forts or playing “war”, she said “We have a saying where we come from. There are three great people in life. The poet, the teacher and the warrior. The power to create, the power to preserve and pass on knowledge, and the power to destroy. If you truly want to be great, you need to become proficient at all three.” What I saw of the “quiet professionals” in my life, exhibited this in spades. Professionals who were students of war, teachers of these skills to the younger members, and artists both in the combative skills, but also in their other hobbies and interests. They were well rounded individuals. Complete, solid and utterly reliable. I often wonder if the issues we see with veteran suicide are because of this; young warriors that have never been taught or had time to mature into that well rounded warrior. The quiet professional that has learned how to balance violence with peace.
What I see today is a far cry from that. This incessant need for attention, narcissistic actions that are driven by the ego (versus what is good for the team/group), inflation of personal ego for monetary gain, it all seems very prevalent these days. Ego. Vanity. Envy. Greed. Especially in our little community here. I guess when you see some publishing books, others racking up twitter/FB followers to bolster their monetary demands, or becoming spokespersons/representatives of companies and products, it pushes others to do the same, and maybe that’s why we see what we do today(?). I don’t know for sure, but…
I have to say, it’s pretty sad. Not that people do these things, per se, but that we (as a community) have let it come to this. That we haven’t policed our own ranks. That it has become so common, and acceptable (hell, even desirable). The fact that we have lost that element of “the quiet professional”, and what was once a group of alphas and leaders (That were respected and admired), is now reduced to a bunch of bloviating, arrogant, self-important individuals, massing as a unorganized herd of animals racing to the trough of fame and money, is just pathetic and sad.
Don’t get me wrong, some quiet professionals still fill our ranks; but they are the exception, not the rule. And that does not bode well for the future of our community.
Perhaps I’m just getting old, or maybe I’m just complaining/bitching, but I think it’s worth throwing this out for people to think and contemplate on.
Where has the quiet professional gone?
Do you even desire to be that “quiet professional”?
At any rate, it’s taken me a bit to write this down, and try and get the wording correct to reflect my intended point, so I’ll just put it out there…
Are you a “quiet professional”? Because I think we could use quite a few more in our ranks…
