Battling up that hill to success is more fulfilling then riding down the other side because you know what’s at the bottom, nothing..and the only good part about that is when you’re on the bottom there is no one standing behind you, then it is all you to get back on top again.

The 5 hardest years on a rigs life is its first 5, you will have many hills and valleys through that first 5 years but when you stand back and look at your overall production you will see that there is many hilltops and those hilltops continuously get taller and those valleys get shallower. 

The times when you’re in those valleys remember what it felt like to be on that hilltop, remember the way that every day was a chance to see what you could do better, different or new to make what you did for that day stand as “special” or “outstanding”.

If we all picked that one productive item and marked it as outstanding for the day and you can pass down the knowledge of how to do that to the rest of your team mates, then you have done two outstanding things for that day and not just one.

Spreading what you have learned laterally to each team onshore and on board the rig and continue implementing the continuous improvement process is good for not only your personal success but the rig as a whole. 

When you are going up the side of the hill, I would like to share a few things that you can use in your everyday activities: 

  • Build Relationships with Your Co-Workers- You live, breath, eat and enjoy the same working space as everyone else onboard at any given time. Share your laughter and camaraderie with the rest of your team, it’s infectious and brings up morale. When you have the choice of whom to associate with, choose the ones that inspire and challenge you and not just the ones you are comfortable around. 
  • Reflect on Your Accomplishments For The Day- How many lessons did you miss because you didn’t take the proper time to reflect on what is happening in your department and how you and the team can learn from it. Remember, you can learn from reflecting on what others have done as well, there is a take away in everything that you do. 
  • Dream, And I Am not talking about while on the Job- Don’t let persistent activity push out your time to focus on your dreams. While there are those that dream and do, there is the equal amount that dream and don’t do. If you fall into the latter of the category then you will not aspire high enough, either for yourself or your team. 
  • Schedule Activities That Promote Growth- You cannot grow your team by yourself, you need the support of all the people involved on a daily basis, if you have only done what you’ve always done then you will never master new skills. The team can benefit from this simple technique, listen to audiotapes from leaders in your industry, watch a DVD or take a course. Just make sure that you infuse these ideas into your team and always promote creativity. 
  • Get Your Sleep- Caffeine and energy drinks will only last for so long. An important clue that you need more sleep is that things that you liked to do previously is no longer important to you. If your energy level is low, then you will suffer as well as your team. 
  • Find a Role Model- Learn from people you admire. Don’t just read about them- watch them first hand. Find that person that is worthy of your time, those who lead in a manner you aspire to lead and those who have impacted others. 
  • Mentor Someone- You know you’re making an impact when a team member approaches you and asks you to be their mentor. Take this with the utmost gratitude and look from their eyes as developers and through your eyes of the teacher. Step out of the box and show them that it is okay to do this with others. 
  • Live like a King even If the Circumstances don’t allow it- Undesirable things happen to you or your team, it’s inevitable and unavoidable from time to time. It’s how you build the confidence inside of your team to mack a quick comeback. You either learn from it or stay in the same path. The next time you encounter the same issue, live like a king in it, conquer it and move on.