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Live a Life of Integrity

Live a Life of Integrity
By Tony Dallojacono
Mideast Area Vice President

It’s very hard for people to step up to positions with which they are unfamiliar. Some people are shy, others do not like public speaking and some want others to do the work for them. This is a common problem among people. It’s not just true for people’s work lives, but their personal lives, as well.

Some people are born with leadership qualities; others are not. Some people develop and learn how to be leaders; others never will. In our careers, there are numerous jobs in numerous fields in which we can try and, hopefully, succeed. There also will be times we fail, but if we fail because we tried our best, then that is a lesson we learned.

If we failed because we did or said the wrong things to better ourselves, then we will not learn from that experience. A friend of mine once told me many years ago, when I was a letter carrier and he was a successful entrepreneur, that it isn’t what you do as a career, rather, be the best at it and that’s what makes you a success.

For those who feel they cannot accomplish the duties of being a NAPS officer, you can get out there and try. We have people to help us when we are unsure of things. There isn’t a person out there who knows everything. We are learning something new every day.

When you decide to become an officer, you should not do so for the title. There are many responsibilities and duties that come with any position in NAPS, the Postal Service and life. You should be doing it because this is what you chose, were elected for and want to do. It takes time, dedication and lots of hard work to do any job correctly. Remember, a ladder has many steps; you must start from the bottom step to get to the top.

We must work with each other to be successful. Henry Ford said, “Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress and working together is success.” We can’t accomplish anything without working together. There is no “i” in we and no “i” in team. We need to continue to grow as a team. The more we grow as a team, the more we have a chance at winning a championship.

This relates not just to NAPS, but also to your job in the Postal Service and your personal life. The titles we take in our careers and personal lives entail responsibilities that need to be fulfilled. In our personal life, it starts with childhood, being a brother or sister and helping each other however possible. When we become adults, there are many more responsibilities, such as work, home finances and more.

If we get married, we have to learn how to become a couple and turn to each other for help and guidance. If we become parents or step-parents, we take on even more responsibilities daily, while still managing our careers. Some of us become grandparents and enjoy the moments we spend with our grandchildren. We all have challenges in life and the titles we have, but we must uphold and cherish whatever they are.

Nothing will ever come easy. Everyone has different viewpoints we must take into consideration. Whether it be our careers, NAPS or personal life, we must always be honest, respectful and understanding to everyone around us. When we are honest and respectful, we should get the same in return.

I would like to take John F. Kennedy’s famous quote, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country,” and suggest: “Ask not what NAPS can do for you, ask what you can do for NAPS.”