[December 11, 2015] Strong leaders have the capability to rally people to a great cause, inspire others, and lead them to achieve something no one else is able to do. Strong leaders can be controversial, divisive, and even a bit of a rebel … but they have clarity in their bold vision and are pragmatic in their goals.… Read More »
[December 10, 2015] Being a senior military officer comes with a number of challenges to the profession to include bearing responsibility for the lives and well-being of many troops who serve within the military. Yet, not unlike their civilian counterparts, military officers have difficulty admitting things that, if they did, could make them better leaders. Several friends of… Read More »
[December 9, 2015] General George S. Patton was one of America’s greatest generals and there is hardly a person alive today who has not heard of him and his exploits during World War II. But that’s only part of the story. Patton surrounded himself with some of the best minds in operational warfare and allowed them to do… Read More »
[December 8, 2015] Largely unknown to the American public is that Theodore Roosevelt – once a U.S. president, war hero, and educated man – was also a creative writer. He wrote on a variety of topics but especially on military history, politics, and how personal effort will turn to success. No book he produced was on the topic… Read More »
[December 7, 2015] One of the most infamous days in American history was the surprise attack by the Japanese military on United States’ air and naval bases in Hawaii on this date in 1941. The attack was a tactical success, even perhaps better than those planning the raid could have hoped. However, it proved to be a strategic… Read More »
[December 6, 2015] Today Hanukkah begins at sundown and is celebrated starting on the 25th day of Kislev. Hanukkah means “dedication” and lasts eight successive days celebrating the rededication of the Jewish Temple following a victorious rebellion by the Jews against their oppressors. Leaders show wisdom and respect by recognizing holidays and special occasions that are meaningful and… Read More »
[December 5, 2015] Someone once said that when you see how people handle crises, you get to see what kind of people they are. I agree. I will also add that character is not only developed through hard times but it is done daily, day after day, many times over by knowing what is right and doing what… Read More »
[December 4, 2015] One of the best ways to learn about senior leadership and what it means is to observe the exceptional behavior of some of the best leaders a nation produces. Whenever someone is willing to stand up to their boss and tell the truth about what’s in their expertise, then they are showing moral courage and… Read More »
[December 3, 2015] About once a month or so I highlight a “hero” who showed an unusually high degree of physical or moral courage. It’s rare to find those who display both and why I’m pointing out the case of Zofia Kossak (later Kossak-Szczucka). Although there are many who were killed and their names will never be known,… Read More »
[December 2, 2015] As conversation would have it, our young adult children are great fans of the Star Trek series and the (so-called) unemotional character Commander Spock. The fictional character Spock is of a human-Vulcan heritage, but it’s his control over emotions and the logical manner that they liked most. Over the Thanksgiving holiday we discussed whether emotions… Read More »