[January 5, 2020] Ever wonder why the first thing winners of an Academy Award do is thank others? There isn’t much time (45 seconds) to say what you have to speak at the red-carpeted Oscars. They are quick to thank those who helped make them a winner because actors and actresses want those same people to help them… Read More »
[January 4, 2020] Iranian General Qassem Soleimani has been killed in a targeted strike by the U.S. military. Good riddance! No matter who you are in the world, it cannot be denied that this man was evil and deserved to die. For those who are wishy-washy about the proactive U.S. attack, it would be best to study this… Read More »
[January 2, 2020] “It’s more than checking the box.” And so it began, my cohort of new general officers was beginning their journey of senior leadership with a fundamental truth. Only by learning to be courageous can we truly be genuine leaders of those on the battlefield. It is, therefore, our sacred duty to be involved in the… Read More »
[December 26, 2019] We all heard lately about the charges against U.S. President Donald Trump that he abused his power as the nation’s most senior leader. Less discussed, but what is seen as a growing concern is the abuse of power by senior military leaders. Having been a senior leader and been witness to many charges, investigations, and… Read More »
[December 24, 2019] The day before Christmas 1864, on this date, Union General William T. Sherman presented the city of Savannah, Georgia, to U.S. President Abraham Lincoln. Sherman captured the city after his famous March to the Sea from Atlanta. Savannah was the last major seaport that remained open to the Confederates.1 Intellectually, General Sherman was not just… Read More »
[December 21, 2019] There is always a price to pay for the dark-side of success. Those costs can have deteriorating and corrupting effects on one’s family and self, loss of privacy, and social isolation. Avoiding the downside to success takes on a life of its own after one reaches a point that one’s leadership reaches large numbers of… Read More »
[December 20, 2019] An old, tough U.S. Marine sergeant once told me that the only reason he was alive today was that the [U.S. Marine] Corps had transformed him from a weakling teenage boy into a “lean, mean fighting machine.” It was the hardest thing he had ever done, and this Marine knew what he was saying. The… Read More »
[December 19, 2019] Fairy tales from ancient times often depict dragons as purveyors of violence and evil. These dragons are metaphors about our lives where people struggle for their existence and the hardships they endure. In these stories, an influential leader (often a King, prince, or knight) will slay the dragon; else great destruction will descend upon the… Read More »
[December 16, 2019] There’s an old saying in the military that logistics is the ball and chain of armored warfare. We’ve all been there. Regardless of who we are, what responsibilities we bear, what we desire and need, there never seems to be enough “stuff” to do our jobs. Every other month, I look forward to receiving my… Read More »
[December 15, 2019] An old Vietnam War veteran was one of my mentors when I was an Infantry Company Commander. He was also a great coach. His favorite topic was teaching his officers how leaders listen. I was fortunate to have him as a member of my unit. “Listen to many, speak to a few.” – William Shakespeare,… Read More »