[February 20, 2018] U.S. President Harry S Truman had a sign on his desk that was there to show he personally accepted responsibility for the way the country was run. The sign read, “The buck stops here.” Good habits by leaders start at accepting responsibility for their actions and the best leaders do this daily. Leaders don’t try… Read More »
[February 19, 2018] Yesterday, I created a new Twitter account that is linked to this blog. See the Twitter icon (the first of four) in the upper right corner of this webpage. I want this account to tell the story about successful people and how they got there. Please “follow” me. Comments, especially feedback, are very welcome. [Don’t… Read More »
[February 17, 2018] While my leadership post today is not a movie review – a movie called The 15:17 to Paris just came out – it is about what leaders do and what they should do in extraordinary situations. If there is anything trained leaders are taught, it is that being passive and being hesitant to make a decision… Read More »
[February 14, 2018] Last week I was sitting in a Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) when I overheard several young men talking about their upcoming Basic Training course. One was saying that the Drill Sergeants will tell you to do the impossible and then yell at you when you fail. I laughed to myself because that happened to me… Read More »
[February 9, 2018] Leadership can be taught. That is the premise on which all leadership training is based and it is the reason so many folks have achieved great things in their lives. Today, I’m beginning a new series on leader training and today my focal point will be on the Sapper Leader Course conducted by the U.S. Army… Read More »
[February 7, 2018] I was a Private in the U.S. Army due for a promotion in rank. My Company Commander made the promotion into a special event that I never forgot and thereafter used his philosophy to reward achievements of my soldiers. Good leaders go the extra mile and celebrate the success of others. When leaders celebrate the success of others, it… Read More »
[February 3, 2018] That’s what I was told as my girlfriend pinned my Second Lieutenant bars on me at our commissioning ceremony. “Leaders! It’s not about you,” the commandant of the ROTC program spoke to the new military officers at Penn State University. Not about you? The message was unclear but later, after I had more experience, his… Read More »
[February 2, 2018] Good leaders have many friends. Great leaders have true friends. Some say that the best way to succeed in one’s profession is to have a wide network of folks who are helpful. Such a network can be tapped for information, advice, and encouragement. Yet, what the network can rarely provide, something only true friends can,… Read More »
[February 1, 2018] A few years ago as an Army Brigade Commander, I was called upon to investigate another senior officer who had purportedly stolen from a military warehouse. Despite my experience in this type of investigation, it lasted months longer than it should have because witnesses were placing their loyalty over morality. Doing this type of investigation… Read More »
[January 31, 2018] There are many advantages modern industrial societies provide; some of which have been outlined here in theLeaderMaker.com. There are also downsides. One downside for many of us is that we are very busy people. Leaders are especially busy at work and home and that can cause them to lose sight of the big picture. The… Read More »