TEAM

Training, Education, and Mentorship

Dana Gordon

• Publisher: Palmetto Publishing
• Year: 2021
• eBook ISBN: 9781638377405
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Social Sciences
• Subtopic: Social Science Biographies
• Index: Social Sciences

In this inspirational and informative "lessons learned" guide to teamwork, mentorship, growth, and development, highly accomplished U.S. Navy Captain Dana R. Gordon gives readers valuable insights into the things that have helped him in his life and career-all the way from being a successful high school student-athlete, college engineering student, to being a U.S. Naval aviator, decorated ship's captain, and now the Director of Engineering at Fanatics, Inc.

His objective was not to write a "this is how it should be done" or "how to do it" book on teamwork, but to provide insight into some of the most important things that helped him along the way. He hopes readers will find inspiration through his interpretation of the various quotes, phrases, and words of wisdom that have been a part of his growth and development throughout the various stages of his life and career.

PART ONE
TRAINING

CHAPTER ONE –

Every Day is a Training Day

Long before Denzel Washington reinforced this philosophy in his now infamous movie Training Day, and fitness enthusiasts took this motto as a way to ensure we work our bodies into shape, there were Mrs. Bernice Manigo, Pauline M. Davis, Barbara T. Martin, Corine Kimpson, Coaches Hank Betcher, Bobby Young, and Jim Parker, and all the other fabulous teachers on our history and social studies hall at Columbia High School in Columbia, SC.

Every day was indeed a “Training Day” for all their students and student-athletes for four wonderful years, as each of us were taught and trained in more than just U.S. and World History, Government Studies, or Civics. We were given the opportunity to learn many of life’s lessons as well as the true essence and meaning of life, along with how to be a responsible and productive citizen from these “old school” teachers and coaches.

This wonderful group of lifelong professional educators were nowhere close to having the demeanor nor did they demonstrate the over the top character portrayed by Denzel in Training Day; however, they did take a “tough love” approach towards educating their students to ensure you learned your lessons, both in a book and outside of it, while in their classrooms. You were always accountable for your work and your actions by each and every one of them: no hats on in their hallway, no chewing gum, talking, or sleeping while in their class, and while in their presence you were expected to treat everyone with dignity and respect every single day.

Not that this wasn’t the norm for most of our other teachers. I would suspect it is still the expectation with teachers today, but the difference with this group is their education went well beyond their classrooms. The true parental and mentoring influence by each of them and their life skills lessons are the reason many of their students and student-athletes, my classmates and fellow alumni, have all become outstanding and extremely productive citizens in today’s society.

I, as well as thousands of other fortunate high school students, had the opportunity of a lifetime to pass through the halls of Columbia High School during the tenure of these fabulous “teachers of history and of life,” and we, as well as all our families, our communities, and those we have all gone on to train, educate, and mentor, are so thankful that we did. Thanks to each of you for giving us the solid backgrounds and life-long fundamentals that so many of us still carry with us today.

I’m sure each of you has a “Training Day Mentor,” coach, role model, or favorite teacher in your past or in your present life. Be sure you find the time to thank him or her whenever you get the opportunity.

Retirement Celebration

CAPT Dana Gordon with high school teacher and longtime supporter Mrs. Barbara Martin

HSL-42 Change of Command Ceremony

CDR Dana Gordon with high school teacher Mrs. Ellen Parker, longtime supporter and spouse of high school basketball coach Jim Parker

Dana Gordon with legendary Columbia High School basketball coach Bobby Young and lifelong friends Karlton Dixon and John Smith

CHAPTER TWO –

You Gonna Learn Today

Maybe it ain’t the proper way to teach, but you gonna learn today.

– Tiffany Haddish

Think of how stupid the average person is, then realize that half of them are even stupider than that.

– George Carlin

I‘ve always revered great comedians and their art for telling a story that could make me laugh. Tiffany Haddish is indeed one of the great storytellers, along with comedians like Chris Rock, Eddie Murphy, George Carlin, Jerry Seinfeld, Kevin Hart, Richard Pryor, Wanda Sykes, and Dave Chappelle. Besides the obvious side splitting laughter component from each of them, hearing “life’s truths” from these comedians is always refreshing and educational in many ways.

I equate their “Truth Telling” and many stories to the opportunity of a lifetime I’ve had growing up with childhood friends like Royal McKenney, John and Kenny Smith, and Karlton Dixon; college roommates like Robbin Vaughn, Kerry Lavette, Galen George, and Hugo Hodge, and Navy mentors and friends like RADM Earl Gay, RDML Dwight Shepherd, CDR Ken Durbin, and AWRC Bruce Alexander. Of course, I can never forget the invaluable life lessons learned from all of my fraternity brothers of Omega Psi Phi. Listening to each of them and their stories, and more importantly, often times being the butt of their jokes and pranks, I would always learn something that day and come away with a life lesson, whether I liked it or not.

Learning can come in many shapes and forms. I definitely didn’t think about it while growing up and living through the trials and tribulations of life, but as I reflect, in many ways, those life lessons from your “truth tellers” are our best and most important teachers. Friendly teasing or “ribbing,” as we called it, was often reinforced through laughter, sometimes at your own expense, but were some of the life lessons that you will probably never, ever forget.

Remember, in many instances, getting an education from those life lessons may not be the proper way to learn, but if you’re able to see through and look at the truth of the story or event, you’re always likely gonna learn something from those experiences.

Best Friends for Life

USS IWO JIMA Tiger Cruise and Homecoming Celebration John “Dusty” Smith, James “Royal” McKinney, Captain Dana Gordon, Kenny “Jaws” Smith, and Rolanda Gordon

Retirement Ceremony Celebration

LCDR Scott Palmer, AWRC Bruce Alexander, CAPT Dana Gordon, CDR Ken Durbin, and AVCM Bill Lukander

CHAPTER THREE –

No Process, No Success

Without a Process, there is no Success.

Dana R. Gordon

Ordinary people focus on the outcome. Extraordinary people focus on the Process.

– Anthony Moore

Don’t focus so much on the wins as the Process. If you have the right Process in place, the winning will come.

– Nick Saban

I have found that there’s typically an easy way and a hard way to do things, but that you can get much more done if you develop a process and create an easier way to do it.

– Dana R. Gordon

If I mentioned the names Phil Jackson, John Wooden, Bill Belichick, and Nick Saban, what would be the first thing that would come to mind? With a combined 34 World or National Championships to their credit, the word winning or the phrase winning tradition would likely be what you would think. Maybe you’d say, they are great coaches and great leaders of their respective teams and players, but I contend that the one thing they all have in common, regardless of personality, leadership traits, or interpersonal skills, is that they each have a proven process or system that they put in place: one that transcends even the greatness of the individual players who play for them and stands the test of time and presents success, almost in a plug and play, next man up, type situation.

I have always found that to be successful at any level, from my most junior positions of leadership to my most senior, you have to have a plan and a process in place from which to deviate. In the absence of a plan, someone else will make one for you or start down a route from which you and your team may not be able to recover. You must always look to develop a process, put it in place, and at least have something to steer your team towards; otherwise just like a rudderless ship or a tail rotorless helicopter, you will eventually drift or spin out of control and crash.

Coaches coach, and leaders lead, allowing players and employees to execute, but proven processes are always successful and are what ultimately win championships. By making your team focus on their daily mission and teaching them the correct, winning processes you want, you can get them to focus on just doing their job within that winning process, which will eventually lead to success.

Within the two organizations I had the pleasure of leading during my time in the Navy, I always found that once we had the right proven processes in place, we then just needed to ensure those carrying out their daily duties did the job they were supposed to do. “Just do your job” wasn’t a catch phrase, but had relevant meaning since as we know, “a chain is only as strong as its weakest link.” This theory is never more clearly proven once you have the correct process in place. Once your pla...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Table of Contents
• About the Author
• Dedication
• Note to the Reader
• Part One - TRAINING
• Part Two - EDUCATION
• Part Three - MENTORSHIP