[May 31, 2017] “Get your act together, boy!” This is how my grandmother would admonish me after I screwed up something important; to get my attention and to put me on the right path to manhood. And it now looks like the Iraqi military is about to get their act together to destroy the remaining elements of ISIS… Read More »
[May 30, 2017] Looking back over the last two centuries, the world has learned several important lessons regarding warfare and its close association to politics. One of the most fundamental is that appeasement doesn’t work and is deeply counterproductive when used. So it is with North Korea and the record of appeasement of that country going back to… Read More »
[May 29, 2017] Annually, on Memorial Day I give a speech about the meaning of this very special day. This day is special not just for those citizens of the United States but also for those in foreign lands where our military has gone to protect them from evil. Today, my speech is about what Memorial Day is,… Read More »
[May 28, 2017] Many of my commanders in the U.S. Army were among the best this nation ever had to offer but it also included a few of the worst. My first company commander was a man with many faults, one of which was that he often chose to ignore the consequences of his own actions. Ignoring consequences… Read More »
[May 27, 2017] If we were able to peer into the mindset of a narcissist, inexperienced manager, or failed leader the one thing we would find in common is their penchant at creating confusion. Yet, it is the epitome of great leaders to thrive on making the best of volatility, uncertainty, chaos, and ambiguity in complex environments. Experienced,… Read More »
[May 26, 2017] Get er done is an American colloquial phrase and philosophy that tells leaders to do the right things to succeed in life. There always seems to be too much to do and not enough time. Get er done helps push us to get what needs to be done and done without procrastination, hesitation, or excuses.… Read More »
[May 25, 2017] Having brutally frank, warts-and-all feedback is a crucial instrument in the leadership toolbox. Found in the U.S. military and a few commercial enterprises the after-action review (AAR) is a rare form of open criticism that is the perfect way to make a leader stronger, more resilient, and honest. It works! And it works only if… Read More »
[May 24, 2017] In the U.S. Civil War lives were shattered, families split apart, and property destroyed in one of the bloodiest wars of the century. It is also the beginning of the story of the Brooklyn Bridge which was opened on this date, May 24, 1883. It begins with a most important leader trait; vision, the ability… Read More »
[May 23, 2017] This past Friday I attended a Rehearsal Dinner for a wedding scheduled the next day. At the dinner I had an interesting and entertaining conversation with a young Jewish man who told me that in Judaism there is a dedicated effort to explain confusing language in the written and oral Torah. This is not that… Read More »
[May 22, 2017] On the battlefield and in the heat of extreme competition, courage and integrity are not enough to succeed. One must also be imaginative and flexible; traits that every leader must possess if they are to be a winner and achieve something of importance. Those who have participated in professional sports, combat, or the world of… Read More »