[November 19, 2019] While watching the classic anti-war movie Paths of Glory (1957) this past Veterans Day got me to thinking about leaders who are in the trenches. I’m not thinking about those literally in the trenches of World War I, per se, but symbolically of leaders who do the day-to-day hard work with people at the level… Read More »
[November 18, 2019] The day I met Hal Moore was more thrilling than speaking with all the Hollywood stars in California. There sometimes comes a time in your life when you get to meet someone who is truly uncommon. Hal Moore, who distinguished himself at the Battle of Ia Drang Vietnam, was that person. “In the American Civil… Read More »
[November 15, 2019] Let’s be direct about this idea from the beginning. The phrase pursuit of happiness is probably the most widely known in the U.S. Constitution and a popular catchphrase with American citizens. But it is not what leaders do. Leaders don’t pursue happiness, and they don’t pursue it on behalf of others. The closest idea I… Read More »
[November 5, 2019] It is a military axiom as old as armies have been in existence that the best defense is an offense. The meaning should be clear; in military circles, the emphasis is always on how to gain the advantage, and that is accomplished by taking the fight to the enemy. Today, I’ll discuss the significance of… Read More »
[November 4, 2019] If there is one thing I learned as a leader, it was that it’s not about what I did that I regret, it’s what I didn’t do. During my travels and meeting folks all over the world, I had the opportunity to discuss what leaders like and dislike. Often the conversation turns to leader regrets.… Read More »
[November 3, 2019] British Prime Minister Winston Churchill once said that “History is written by the victors.” He was talking about how future generations would view World War II and the bloodbath that constituted its essential elements. Likewise, we rarely hear about the Polar Bear Expedition of Allied Forces that attacked Russia in the midst of their Revolution. … Read More »
[October 30, 2019] The idea that leaders are made and not born is one I’ve advanced in the pages of my leadership blog since its inception. It has been one of my core principles; based on overwhelming evidence across time and cultures. While new light emerges on the influence of our genetic makeup on leadership, nothing specific has… Read More »
[October 29, 2019] All humans need to search for the meaning of life. Like all others, leaders, too, need something to sustain them; to provide them with proper motivations and make them feel whole. And this sustaining meaning comes only from the adoption of responsibilities. I’ve discussed the importance of the search and acceptance of responsibilities several times… Read More »
[October 25, 2019] The ultimate test of a personal character is an individual who respects those who can be of no possible service to him. The specifics of how that is done are complex but the fundamental ideas of respect are found in good communications. “The enemies cannot destroy the king who has at his service the respect… Read More »
[October 21, 2019] A small group of young teenage boys sat on my living room floor to watch the movie Zulu (1964). We were good friends and all raised in small towns of rural Louisiana, but we were also insular in our understanding of the world. This movie provided us with a shocking glimpse into the real world. … Read More »