Ignite and Fight: Navigating Darkness and Leading with Purpose

Welcome to Ignite and Fight, a leadership platform that will discuss many topics including the ability to navigate the dark spaces of life, ignite your passions, and lead with purpose.

Our journey begins with a significant memory in my life. Pictured is my Humvee with my squad at the Iraq/Kuwait border breach point on the first night of the Initial Invasion of Iraq in March 2003. If you study the photo closely, you will see a 360 degree security perimeter with our team conducting a rotation of sleep, security, and communication monitoring. In the distance you see pipeline fires and explosions in Southern Iraq near the town of Basra.

What you cannot get from this photo are the sounds. However, I can. I can still hear this image. Sounds of gunfire all night long in Iraq, the eerie sounds of silence and violence intertwined making up the sounds of war, and less suspense-fully, the sound of wild dogs running and getting caught in our c-wire perimeter (similar to barbed wire).

I was 20 years old and this was my first time at war. Bombs and gunfire were present throughout the night in the distance. I had a lingering worry that we might have to rush across the border to support a downed element. I ‘slept’ with my boots on in case we needed to go fight. I was afraid…but the ridiculous thing is that I do not recall being afraid of any of those things I just listed. I had prepared for combat with my team. We had prepared to fight well before that night. But I was afraid of something I had not prepared for. I was afraid of those WILD DOGS!

I couldn’t see them in the dark. They would run into our area of operations and I would hear them yowl, growl, and flee. Thank God we had that C wire perimeter or those wolves may have eaten us!

I was terrified of what these monsters would do if they got through… again, private Brittain was a scaredy cat that first night of the war in Iraq. However, it was not the bombs, it was not the gunfire. 20 year old Private Brittain was terrified of these monstrous dogs.

Yet, when the sun rose and the dogs were visible in the light, they were not monsters at all. They were just like every other dog and I LOVE DOGS. (Especially mine, shoutout to my baby girl Sergeant Sweetcheeks 🥰🐕).

These dogs were scared. They were running from the sounds of war. In the days ahead we befriended and fed them, named them and enjoyed their presence. They brought great joy instead of terror.

This memory stands as a metaphor for one of the most profound lessons I’ve learned: operating in periods of DARKNESS.

Simply: What seems so overwhelming, scary, and real in the DARK, can be a ridiculous falsehood or considerable misperception in the LIGHT.

This experience was the first of many during night operations that taught me that our perspective and ability to ‘see’ can dramatically alter our interpretation of the reality in situations. What we perceive as monstrous in the dark times of our lives, may just be a ‘harmless puppy’ that can even bring us joy when we operate in the light.

This realization is especially true for us as leaders.

Just as I had to navigate through the complexities and chaos of a combat zone, we all must find ways to traverse the dark times in our lives. The key is to turn our lights on and keep fighting for our purpose in life.

Before we can ignite our light, we must first put our lives in order. Dreams without disciplined action are merely delusions.

Through disciplined habits like sleeping well, eating healthily, working out, paying attention to our thoughts, practicing gratitude, and avoiding overindulgence, we can become the best version of ourselves and produce excellent work.

Once we have our lives in order, we can tap into the second greatest energy source for light in our lives – connection. A life without connection makes the world seem dark. Connection, whether spiritual, emotional, or physical, can make our world brighter and can make the monsters that attack our ability to lead seem less intimidating. We can connect by loving, serving, and sharing.

Through Ignite and Fight, I hope to share concepts and stories that help someone the way others have helped me. My hope is that for someone, some of the content here serves to guide you on your journey, shedding light on your path, helping you face your personal monsters, and enables you to live and lead with purpose.

Much LOVE,

Brooke