Life in Small Bites

Below is a summary written by Brian Johnson, CEO of Heroic Benefit Corp, of Fred Roger’s book, “Many Ways to Say I Love You”.  See more info on Heroic at: https://bit.ly/4c0nDBS

Below is a summary written by Brian Johnson, CEO of Heroic Benefit Corp, of Tim Grover’s book, “Relentless”.  See more info on Heroic at: https://bit.ly/4c0nDBS

• Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong.
• Keep skunks, bankers, and politicians at a distance.
• Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.
• A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.
• Words that soak into your ears are whispered, not yelled.
• The best sermons are lived, not preached.
• If you don’t take the time to do it right, you’ll find the time to do it twice.
• Don’t corner something that is meaner than you.
• Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.
• It don’t take a very big person to carry a grudge.
• You cannot unsay a cruel word.
• Every path has a few puddles.
• When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.
• Don’t be banging your shin on a stool that’s not in the way.
• Borrowing trouble from the future doesn’t deplete the supply.
• Most of the stuff people worry about ain’t never gonna happen anyway.
• Don’t judge folks by their relatives.
• Silence is sometimes the best answer.
• Don‘t interfere with somethin’ that ain’t botherin’ you none.
• Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.
• If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin’.
• Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.
• The biggest troublemaker you’ll ever have to deal with watches you from the mirror every mornin’.
• Always drink upstream from the herd.
• Good judgment comes from experience, and most of that comes from bad judgment.
• Lettin’ the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin’ it back in.
• If you get to thinkin’ you’re a person of some influence, try orderin’ somebody else’s dog around.
• Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll enjoy it a second time.
• Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
• Most times, it just gets down to common sense.

Below is a summary written by Brian Johnson, CEO of Heroic Benefit Corp, of Gen. Colin Powell’s book, “It Worked for Me”.  See more info on Heroic at: https://bit.ly/4c0nDBS

The demobilization of all AmeriCorps teams — particularly those under AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps), which are often deployed for disaster response — would have serious short- and long-term implications on the U.S. disaster response landscape. Here are some key effects to consider:

 1. 

Reduced Surge Capacity During Disasters

AmeriCorps teams are often first responders during major disasters, especially for:

• Debris removal
• Shelter operations
• Sandbagging
• Damage assessmentsWithout these teams, local emergency managers may lack the surge manpower needed in the first 72 hours after a disaster.

 2. 

Slower Recovery Timelines

AmeriCorps NCCC and other service programs often assist in:

• Rebuilding homes
• Volunteer coordination
• Long-term recovery operationsWithout their support, recovery will likely:
• Take longer
• Cost more (due to need for private contractors)
• Increase stress on local governments and nonprofits

 3. 

Increased Vulnerability for Underserved Communities

AmeriCorps teams frequently serve vulnerable populations who might otherwise be overlooked:

• Elderly residents
• Low-income families
• Rural or isolated communitiesThe absence of these teams could widen inequity in disaster response and recovery outcomes.

 4. 

Strain on Partner Agencies

Agencies like FEMA, the American Red Cross, and local VOADs (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) rely heavily on AmeriCorps for:

• Logistics
• Volunteer coordination
• Community engagementLosing AmeriCorps means these partners must either:
• Overwork their staff
• Leave gaps in response
• Divert funds to cover what AmeriCorps volunteers did for free

 5. 

Loss of a Trained Civic Workforce

AmeriCorps teams are trained in:

• CPR/First aid
• Incident Command System (ICS)
• FEMA certificationsDemobilizing the program means losing a pipeline of future emergency managers and disaster volunteers.

 6. 

Long-Term Impact on Community Resilience

AmeriCorps often engages in mitigation and preparedness work:

• Educating residents
• Strengthening infrastructure (like fire breaks or flood control)Without them, communities may face more severe impacts from future disasters.

Possible Mitigations (if demobilization is unavoidable):

• Expand funding to other national service partners (like Team Rubicon or state-level Conservation Corps)
• Establish local Civilian Climate Corps or community resilience hubs
• Offer incentives for retired professionals or faith-based groups to help fill the service gap