[July 31, 2020] Multiple times throughout my blog, I define leadership as the ability to get people to do things they would not ordinarily do and to do those things because they want to do them.1 That, however, is only half of what great leadership is about. Great leadership also means to know evil and face evil; only… Read More »
[July 30, 2020] We all experience it. We’ve all been there. Moral failure is the bane of the average person and always will be a problem. Yet, there are those failures that are of such epic proportions that we must tell and retell the story so that even the most ignorant or ideological blind cannot close the eyes… Read More »
[July 29, 2020] A good leader can come in many different shapes and forms, depending on who, what, and where they need to lead. But no matter what the situation, there are some qualities that shine through all of the best leaders – as John C. Maxwell famously described a good leader as one who “knows the way,… Read More »
[July 28, 2020] Date: the early morning hours of December 7, 1941. This day was beautiful by any standard. Most wars start with a surprise attack. When the Japanese attacked ships in Pearl Harbor and planes on the airfields of Hawaii, things happened elsewhere too. You have probably never heard of the Battle of Schofield Barracks. Maj. Gen.… Read More »
[July 27, 2020] My indoctrination to the U.S. Army as a Second Lieutenant began when I reported to my first Battalion Commander, a tight-lipped large man. His stern expression gauged my military potential, and his scowl indicated an unfavorable prognosis. I was about to be introduced to leadership in the real world. Four of my classmates and I… Read More »
[July 26, 2020] Yesterday afternoon, after taking my wife around to three estate sales, my newest book order finally arrived. For days, I’d looked forward to reading it, and while I have yet to read it all, I wanted to get something out to my readers. The book is What Are Generals Made Of? (1987) First Edition by… Read More »
[July 25, 2020] This is a two-part mini-series about preparing strategic leaders. Yesterday, I noted that there are similarities among senior leaders that should be explored (see link here). This life-long exploration is something I’ve invested considered time and energy. This series is a summary of some of my observations and thoughts. As previously noted, the first pattern… Read More »
[July 24, 2020] As we look across the landscape of successful senior leaders, there are common threads that are worth investigating. Whether such leaders were developed long ago or today and regardless of where they originate, their journeys are not that different. This two-part mini-series explores those similarities of strategic leaders, how they think, and what they see.… Read More »
[July 23, 2020] During the American Civil War, casualties were extraordinarily high. More than any other war in which the United States participated, the proportion of those killed and wounded is the highest. There were many factors, but incompetence among senior Army officers was the most profound. Eventually, the military used merit for promotions. At the beginning of… Read More »
[July 22, 2020] Experienced leaders understand that not everything they do is intuitive or makes complete sense on the surface of it. When it comes to carrying out one’s duties, success is often hard-won, complex and ambiguous, and requires good judgment. That is why the concept – if you want peace, prepare for war – is both controversial… Read More »