“Find a niche and fill it.” — Q&A with Capt. Martin R. Shirilla, Ret.
As part of our new web series, 10-Eight.com, we will be focusing on stories covering industry news, technology trends and most importantly “conversations” with your law enforcement officers and first responders. We will be featuring these conversations at 10-Eight.com, and also on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and iTunes. They will be Q&A style, borrowed from Tim Ferriss and his hit book, Tribe of Mentors.
The first Q&A on 10-Eight.com is with Capt. Martin R. Shirilla, Ret., current Records Manager at Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office, Virginia. He is also Chief Deputy, Retired from Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office. Capt. Shirilla is happily married to Katharine Simmons Shirilla, RN, NC, CNHP and has been a law enforcement professional for 38 years.
He holds other honored titles such as Retired adjunct instructor for Court Security & Civil Process and Rappahannock Regional Criminal Justice Academy in Fredericksburg, Virginia. He is Founding Coordinator, Lancaster County Crime Solvers, Inc. and Past President, Virginia Crime Solvers Association. Capt. Shirilla has taken on special projects in his career such as Grant Projects Director for Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office where he administered $2.85 million in federal and state grant programs including first computer operation implementation for the office. He also volunteers as Treasurer and Trustee for Bethel United Methodist Church in Lively, Virginia and is Past District Chairman Rivers District, Heart of. Virginia Council, Boy Scouts of America where he was the Recipient of the Silver Beaver Award, BSA, Eagle Scout, Troop 983, Mt.Vernon, VA.
What is the book (or books) you’ve given most as a gift, and why? Or what are one to three books that have greatly influenced your life?
First and foremost, the Bible. Given also as a gift to numerous children over the years, especially to those involved in Scouting. Along with the Bible I’ve read and reread several times Asimov’s “Guide to the Bible” for my own greater understanding of the politics of Biblical times.
Other books that have influenced me: “Founding Fathers” — chiefly about the post-presidential years of Adams and Jefferson, political opponents who became great friends later in life.
A plethora of self-improvement books, too many to mention (How to Win Friends, Rich Dad Poor Dad, Who Moved My Cheese, . . . .)
Who is the one person that has most influenced your life and/or career?
My several parents. Mom and Dad were divorced and remarried. My stepfather influenced indirectly my decision to pursue a career in law enforcement; he is a retired Washington D.C. homicide sergeant. My late father taught me by his demonstrated honesty, hard work and willingness to help others (although all of my parents set good examples in these and other areas). Also, the parents of my best friend treated me as their own son whenever I visited (which was most frequently!).
What purchase of $100 or less has most positively impacted your life in the last six months (or in recent memory)?
$100?! Are you kidding me? I spend that much on private label vitamins every month! Because of what I ingest every morning (one step down from an IV solution) my A1C levels are within normal limits (I’m a T2 diabetic), I have no joint pain, and my Vitamin D level is superb!
How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success? Do you have a “favorite failure” of yours?
I don’t call it failure — I call it Failing Forward! I washed out of the application process with a major metropolitan area police department because of my vision. I “landed” eventually and 38 years later retired as the second in command of the Sheriff’s Office. Along the way I met and married my awesome bride, and we raised two successful men. I can accept that kind of “failure!”
If you could have a gigantic billboard anywhere with anything on it — metaphorically speaking, getting a message out to millions or billions — what would it say and why?
Micah 6:8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.
The tautology “You don’t know what you don’t know. And you don’t know that you don’t even not know that you don’t know that you don’t know it.” — J.R.Ridinger
What is one of the best or most worthwhile investments you’ve ever made?
I’d say the investment of time working with youth. Each of us has a sphere of influence over others. When you can influence a young person to develop a strong moral character that is perhaps the best investment that can be made.
What is an unusual habit or an absurd thing that you love
Polish jokes! And trivia — love to try to stump my nephew!
In the last five years, what new belief, behavior, or habit has most improved your life?
RETIREMENT! And adopting a rescue German Shepherd.
What advice would you give to a smart, driven college student about to enter the “real world”? What advice should they ignore?
Avoid the 45/50 years trap of a job. Be an entrepreneur. Find a niche and fill it. Travel abroad before marriage. Find a confidant whose morals are higher than yours, and discuss your problems and successes with that person. Make your group of friends those who are more successful than yourself. Avoid negative people.
What advice would you give to a smart, driven new recruit about to enter the “public service”? What advice should they ignore?
Basic training is just that — basics. Seek out street level experts in all areas of your assigned duties, and pick their brains. When you have a problem and don’t know what to do, don’t gripe about it. Rather, discuss it with a senior officer whom you trust and offer a solution. Don’t be afraid to say “I don’t know” when you don’t know. And don’t be afraid to admit to a citizen that you are new in your assignment when you need to do that. Admit your mistakes. Avoid those who gripe and complain all the time. Avoid those whose answer is “That’s the way we’ve always done it. Don’t try and change it.” Remember that people hate change. When you become a supervisor, implement changes slowly if at all possible. And when you have the authority to do so, always take the new person around to other local government officials and introduce the new person to those people.
What are bad recommendations you hear in your profession or area of expertise?
The most common mistake I’ve encountered is with software changes. Instead of really finding out what the prospective customer is acclimated to or likes, vendors work hard on selling their specific new product and don’t take sufficient time to research what will make the sale/conversion easier. Software engineers don’t know, nor do they find out, what happens in the customer’s real world. The vendor rep/software engineer think they know more about what the customer does or needs than the customer.
In the last five years, what have you become better at saying no to (distractions, invitations, etc.)? What new realizations and/or approaches helped? Any other tips?
Right after retiring, I was swamped with offers to join various civic organizations because “Now you’ve got plenty of time!” I found it very helpful to decline those, and instead I. focused on what was important to me — family, church, and one specific non profit. I recommend keeping a calendar — I use my phone, and our kitchen calendar, my wife and I post all of our appointments there to insure we both are in synch with the other’s schedules. We also schedule time just for us.
In the last five years, what changes and/or trends has more affected your job? What new realizations and/or approaches helped? Any other tips?
Retirement! No full time job. Just trying to close out a project that I started long before retirement.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, or have lost your focus temporarily, what do you do?
First, I pray about the problem and release it. Then I tend to go for long walks and let my mind wander into nothingness instead of dwelling on the issue. I’ll also grab a sci-fi novel to read — that gets my mind off the issue, too. My subconscious mind will take over and I’ll get back on track. I’ve learned it’s better to “walk away” from the problem for break instead of beating my head against a wall.
