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You only get one shot: Train for the moments that matter

Eminem’s anthem about owning a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity applies to hard truths in the fire service

Palms sweaty? Knees weak? Arms heavy? Good. That means you care.

Zam’s borrowing a page from Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” to underscore a hard truth about the fireground: Sometimes you only get one shot. There is no rewind on a mayday, no reset button on a rescue and no do-over on a critical command decision. Zam draws parallels between elite athletes training for their Olympic moment and firefighters preparing for the call that will test everything they know. Sharing stories from the sports world and his own experience on the job, Zam urges you to remember this simple fact: Every call deserves your full attention. Every drill should be treated like the one that could define your career.

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Previously on the Better Every Shift Podcast
Retired Orlando firefighters Chris DeMaagd and Joseph McCluan share how a bench, a walk and firehouse camaraderie became a proactive approach to mental health
Cherry Grove Fire and Rescue shows what can happen when CRR starts with the needs firefighters see every day
Captain Lisa Burton breaks down what firefighters are asking for from training — more relevance, better instruction and fewer checkbox exercises
FDNY Chief of Department John Esposito recounts FDNY’s devastating losses, the decisions that saved thousands of lives and why honoring 9/11 means preparing the next generation to meet the moment
From 9/11 to major disasters across the country, Frank Leto shares what the fire service has learned about peer support, recovery and protecting firefighters for the long haul