Why Emergency Managers Are The Welfare Recipients Of Government

Emergency managers are critical in guiding communities through disaster preparation, response, and recovery phases. Their knowledge and decision-making can save lives and transform communities. But there’s a troubling trend within this vital profession—a reliance on external funding for development and training that mirrors dependency, preventing growth and innovation.

If you are an emergency manager, this article may stir frustration; if it does, it's time for self-reflection.

Professional Advancement: Who Foots the Bill?

In most professions—law, medicine, or business—individuals invest in personal and professional development. Lawyers attend seminars, doctors pursue continuing education, and business leaders engage in conferences and mastermind groups, often at their own expense. This commitment to growth is not merely financial; it acknowledges that professional excellence requires continuous learning and improvement.

The principle is simple: people value what they pay for. When professionals invest in their development, they take it seriously, engage more deeply, and derive more significant benefits. When you pay for something, you value it. When you pay for something, you make the effort. You open the email, attend the webinar, and go to the summit, symposium, or conference. Those who invest in themselves understand that their career growth and effectiveness hinge on continuous learning.

Those who pay, pay attention.

The Reliance on External Funding in Emergency Management

Emergency managers, however, operate under a very different mindset. There’s a consistent theme across the field—a refusal to invest in any training or projects unless they are grant-funded. Many emergency management offices depend on state or federal funds to implement programs, upgrade skills, or attend conferences.

This reliance on external funding is limiting. Conversations with practicing emergency managers often reveal a hesitancy to pursue advanced training, certifications, or new methodologies unless the government or employers provide the funding. This dependency is a dangerous trap that stifles professional growth and community resilience.

The Consequences of Dependency: Stifling Innovation

Dependency on grants has significant consequences. For one, it stifles innovation. Emergency managers often miss learning new approaches or tools that could enhance their performance because federal or state grants don’t cover the training. This reliance hampers the professional’s ability to make timely, independent decisions about what’s best for their community.

Further, it creates a reactive, rather than proactive, culture. Managers wait for funding to act, making them dependent on government largesse, much like welfare recipients. This mindset fosters an unhealthy relationship with funding sources, wherein action is only taken when the money is available, limiting creativity, initiative, and long-term planning.

A Business Perspective: Reluctance to Collaborate

This dependency also limits collaboration with the private sector. Many emergency managers are only interested in projects if funding is guaranteed through grants. From a business standpoint, this attitude creates barriers to forming productive partnerships. When the focus is solely on external funding, innovation, and collaboration are stifled, cutting off opportunities for private-sector alliances that could bring fresh perspectives and resources.

In short, emergency management is in danger of becoming a welfare-dependent profession. Waiting for someone else to pay for growth and improvement risks stagnation.

Warren Buffett’s Wisdom: Investing in Yourself

Warren Buffett, one of the most successful investors in history, has said:

"The best investment by far is anything that develops yourself, and it’s not taxed at all…Whatever abilities you have can’t be taken away from you. They can’t be inflated away from you." - Warren Buffett.

This perspective is critically important for emergency managers. In a field where quick, decisive actions can save lives, investing in one’s professional development is paramount. Skills, knowledge, and leadership are the tools of the trade—and grants don’t hand them out. Waiting for external funds to improve your expertise or skill set diminishes the profession's impact.

Buffett’s advice holds especially true in emergency management, where lives are at stake. Investing in yourself means being always prepared, always improving, and always ready to serve your community in the best way possible.

Why Emergency Managers Are the Welfare Recipients of Government

Emergency management professionals are often too dependent on government funding. They avoid personal investment in their professional development, expecting external sources to pay for their growth. This dependency mirrors a welfare mindset, where progress is pursued only when funded by outside entities.

This isn't an attack on seeking grant funding—grants are essential for advancing public safety. However, relying solely on them creates a passive personal and professional growth approach. It discourages emergency managers from seeking new opportunities that might not be immediately funded but could yield significant long-term benefits.

You're playing a dangerous game if you’re waiting for the government to pay for your education, training, or career advancement. In a profession as vital as emergency management, self-reliance and investment in personal development are crucial. Just as doctors don’t wait for someone else to pay for their continuing education, emergency managers should not wait for a grant to further their knowledge.

The Path Forward: A Call for Personal Investment

Emergency management's future depends on professionals willing to invest in their development. It’s time to adopt a mindset of personal accountability. Waiting for external funding limits your potential and reduces your effectiveness as a community leader.

Here’s how we move forward:

• Recognize the Value of Personal Investment: Understand that paying for your own development isn't a burden but an investment in your career, skills, and impact.

• Don’t Wait for External Funds: Take ownership of your growth. Whether enrolling in a course, attending a conference, or seeking a new certification, recognize that the most successful professionals don’t wait—they act.

• Shift the Mindset: Stop relying on grants as the only way forward. Seek opportunities to collaborate with private entities, engage in self-education, and learn from every available resource, even if it means spending your own money.

• Commit to Continuous Learning: Don’t treat learning as a grant-funded event but as a lifelong process. There’s always something new to learn, and investing in that knowledge keeps you prepared for the next crisis.

Conclusion: Stop Waiting for a Handout—Start Leading

Emergency managers play a critical role in the safety and well-being of communities, and the consequences of inadequate training can be severe. It’s time to stop relying solely on government grants and take personal responsibility for our professional growth.

Yes, funding is helpful and often necessary for large-scale programs, but you are responsible for your own development.

Don’t be a welfare recipient in a profession that demands leadership, initiative, and resilience. Instead, be a proactive leader who invests in their growth for the benefit of all.

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Join us for the transformative Theory-N2-Practice Emergency Management Leadership Summit on February 21, 2025.

This month's theme, "Innovation & Change," focuses on embracing dynamic strategies in emergency management.

For just $149, participants will experience insightful keynotes and unparalleled networking opportunities designed to equip them with the tools to lead effectively in times of crisis.

Speakers:

1. Todd DeVoe

2. Dr. Randy Collins

3. Ginny Katz

4. Dr. Shirley Feldmann-Jensen

5. Dr. Terry O’Sullivan

6. Tim Padilla

Don’t miss this chance to connect with fellow leaders and pioneers in the field. Secure your spot now and be part of shaping the future of emergency management.

https://theoryn2practice.com/summit-sign-up