To what degree have you actually controlled the course your life has taken?

I controlled my responses to things that changes that were beyond my control.

A lot of things you can't control. But you can control yourself and better yet, redefine yourself. When you're AD, you get a new start every few years and bigger ones if a promotion is in the mix. I got used to it. Then I went reserve and into Fed work. If you do stuff to make the organization and others move forward, you have more control. If you redefine yourself and branch out into different areas as part of your job, you become something else. I did that through developing reverse marketing seminars for contractors who wanted to do government work. Wasn't in my PD, but it made a difference. So my jobs were never static as I'd get too bored. Always checked out other employment opportunities every 2-3 years and decided to stay or move, mostly stay and redefine. So I'd say it's more of a matter of you taking control vs. somehow it's there already. It isn't. Left alone, other people will fill in the control vacuum for you.

I can control how I pursue self-development, and how I choose to develop my military, and civilian career. I have planned, and developed primary, alternate, and contingency courses of action for my personal, and professional goals. However, I cannot entirely control the first, second, and third order effects of the events that surround me. With that said, I can control how I respond, manage, and resolve any consequences (positive, and negative) of either my decisions, or decisions that affect me.

For example, I used to weight 139 lbs. after I graduated from college. I decided to change that, and now I weigh a healthy 161 lbs. after pursuing weight-lifting and healthy nutrition for 1 1/2 years. I can control this facet of my life, because I am 100% in-control of how I proceed to further develop myself in this regard.

On the other hand, I cannot control how my immediate supervisor reacts to the decisions made by others. I can control how I adapt, and respond to any immediate changes, thus wavering the overall outcome in my favor depending on how I ultimately respond to the second, and third order effects.

Great post, SSG Shavonde Chase! Appreciate it.