The One Question Every Firefighter Should Ask Before Taking Another Shift
- Jim Carlson
- May 13
- 1 min read
You're used to showing up when the alarm goes off. But before you grab that next shift, here's a question worth asking:
"Is this getting me closer to the life I actually want?"
That’s not a soft question. It’s the one that separates firefighters who react to every opportunity from those who build something lasting.
Time vs. Money: The Tradeoff No One Talks About
Extra shifts mean extra pay. But they also mean time away from your family, your body taking another beating, and the mental wear that piles up over a 25-year career.
If you're taking OT to survive the month, we need to talk about structure. But if you're taking OT because “it’s there,” the real planning starts now.
Ask Yourself:
What does "work optional" mean to me? Is it leaving the job early? Coaching your kid’s team without checking your schedule? Starting a business that runs when you're off duty?
Am I earning to build a plan, or just spinning in place? OT without a destination is just a higher-income version of burnout.
What if I could afford to say no? That’s financial independence. It doesn’t mean rich, it means option-rich.
The Blueprint Starts With the End
Smart planning doesn’t start with spreadsheets. It starts with clarity.
What kind of life do you want at 42, 48, or 55? Once you define that, we can reverse-engineer the steps to get there. That could include your pension, your 457(b), your side hustle income, or strategic debt moves that buy back your time.
