[November 13, 2021] Holding onto flawed ideas is not a way to achieve success in our lives. Yet, we continue to hold onto them, however ill-founded they are, stubbornly, painstakingly, and with great emotional attachment. We are comfortable doing so, yet intellectually we understand the disadvantages of what we do. This problem is why good leadership means committing… Read More »
[November 12, 2021] No, we are not brave! This admission may come as a shock to many, but nearly every person I’ve ever met, whether in the military or civilian life, are cowards, and so am I. We put up a good front, of course, and we do this by talking big, owning cool stuff, and belonging to… Read More »
[November 8, 2021] I have a general rule that I don’t argue with close-minded people. Good counsel says, “Never wrestle with a pig, you both get dirty, and the pig likes it.” And for that reason, I also rarely offer advice. In today’s article, I will tackle the problem of arguing with or giving advice to “woke” teenagers.… Read More »
[November 5, 2021] America’s senior Generals and Admirals (both active and retired) have failed the United States. This can be witnessed in their dysfunctional and dangerous behavior. We can see it in their rapid drift away from their sworn duty to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. America’s military has one mission; to protect the… Read More »
[November 1, 2021] The title of today’s leadership article, “Let’s Go Bingo,” requires explanation. You’re right in assuming that “Bingo” fills the same place as “Brandon” in the more familiar slogan of today. Bingo is a child’s song; however, in this case, it’s also the nickname of one bad dude, known as “Bingo the Thief.” Long before I’d… Read More »
[October 29, 2021] General George S. Patton was one of America’s greatest generals. 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 people in operational warfare and allowed them to do their… Read More »
[October 28, 2021] A well-known characteristic of great leaders is a thick-skinned personality. This is only possible when the leader is one that possesses extensive, broadly-based, and relevant experiences. Yet, this does not necessarily mean the leader is arrogant or uncaring. In the best of leaders, being thick-skinned means also being humble and optimistic. Being thick skinned means… Read More »
[October 26, 2021] One of the many surprises that I encountered as a military flag officer was the number of uneducated civilians working in their chosen field. By uneducated, I don’t mean they lacked a formal college degree, but they had stopped their education in any meaningful way. They must have figured that all they needed was to… Read More »
[October 25, 2021] Several months ago (yes, I’m late coming to this topic), the U.S. Army and Russia came out each with radically different military recruiting ads. The contrast is telling. In the new U.S. army ad, begins with “… a little girl raised by two moms,” the narrator says, “Although I had a fairly typical childhood, took… Read More »
[October 24, 2021] For the past several weeks, I’ve put extra emphasis on the importance of character in leadership. Today’s article is no exception. But I would like to take a different twist and discuss how crucial self-awareness is for personal growth and success with others. Leadership today involves navigating some of the most difficult situations without any… Read More »