[January 21, 2019] When my son was growing up, he often enjoyed playing on our small-town’s sports teams. We all know the ones; no kid is refused a spot on the team, and everyone gets to play. His baseball team was in last place; 11th and yet he came home with a trophy. He thought it was “really… Read More »
[January 18, 2019] With the 100 anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I, there has been a renewed focus on the mistakes that started the war. That is a noble and worthwhile cause. On the other hand, today is the anniversary of the beginning of the WWI peace talks; January 18, 1919. I will address some… Read More »
[January 15, 2019] For everything we do in life rules govern how we behave, talk, think and accomplish our missions. Anytime we fail to do so or go off in an unauthorized direction; there are unpredictable but usually negative consequences. Going off the reservation is how this is often described. In early 2007 while in combat north of… Read More »
[January 1, 2019] Each year I take a little time to gaze into the murky crystal ball of the future and attempt to predict what hot leadership topics will be available for us to discuss. Why should I do this prediction thing, even when those prognostications turn out to be wrong? Well, I get to put my thinking… Read More »
[December 31, 2018] As we end the year 2018, many of us will be looking back at those things we’ve gained intellectually and perhaps also at our lost opportunities. While lost opportunities are often a subject with family and friends, what is often missing from the conversation are the poor attitudes that drive them. I use the term… Read More »
[December 28, 2018] No one wants to get into ugly controversies. I know of no one who does. But leadership means being at the tip of the spear and consciously deciding to make difficult choices; even when the popular mood advises against it. “We take and must continue to take morally hazardous actions to preserve our civilization.” –… Read More »
[December 27, 2018] Being a leader means remembering that you are there for a reason and the reason is not about having everything your way. A number of my readers asked that I compile a list of fake traits that leaders hold. Below is a list of 22 of these fake traits; each being commonly encountered in poor… Read More »
[December 26, 2018] Like me, many of my close friends over the recent past moved out of New York City. The exodus of middle-class citizens was once taken as a myth perpetrated by those who were viewed as the “less sophisticated and the dull” that couldn’t or wouldn’t appreciate what the city was all about. With a city… Read More »
[December 20, 2018] A recurring theme in successful military strategies has always been that war should be in that nation’s interests, quick and decisive, and justified on moral grounds. Now in the history books that the U.S. invades Panama in 1989, it should have been a predictable result of U.S. President Jimmy Carter’s strategically poor decision to hand… Read More »
[December 18, 2018] Have you ever met a person who did something for you but insisted you return an item or service of at least equal value to them? I would venture to say that most people expect to be compensated in some way. With good leaders, however, it’s not about quid pro quo1 but about accomplishing a… Read More »