[July 19, 2020] Sixteen years ago, I made the biggest moral compromise of my life. I always thought my character was solid, but on this date, during wartime, I began to think otherwise. It’s easy to make the right decisions when choices are black and white, where there is no complexity, and no one’s life is in danger. … Read More »
[July 18, 2020] Among the opening scenes in the movie Gladiator (2000), Roman general Maximus is readying his cavalry to charge into the rear of a large barbarian army. To motivate his men, he encourages them to show strength and honor in the face of the enemy. Maximus, played by Russell Crowe, tells his cavalrymen in their attack… Read More »
[July 16, 2020] It isn’t easy to run a business. To do it successfully during poor economic times is even more problematic. A few days ago, the recently-hired New York Times opinion editor, published a scathing resignation letter about the “toxic and destructive” culture of the old Gray Lady. Bari Weiss posted her letter in a classic example… Read More »
[July 15, 2020] Good news; junior leaders are given a high quality, respectable identity, and significant freedom provided by society. There will be no other time in the life for such a leader to have this much opportunity. Today, we all have full access to the most celebrated thinkers civilization has ever assembled, perhaps even beyond human comprehension.… Read More »
[July 14, 2020] The best thing that ever happened during my military training was to experience immediate feedback on whatever I did. At the beginning of my career, I was first insulted, then shocked, and then mad that someone would tell me how wrong I was. Later, I changed. I came to welcome the clarity of instant feedback,… Read More »
[July 13, 2020] One thing that sets the best leaders apart from others is that they read, study, and discuss ideas. Long ago, when I was a staff officer as a U.S. Army Infantry Captain, a small group of junior officers was joking one day about the 1991 Disney movie Beauty and the Beast. Why did it pique… Read More »
[July 12, 2020] Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States, has some sage advice for young people. Today, I’m introducing his 10 rules for success. Evan Carmichael compiled these from a series of speech’s Obama has given over the past few years.1 Readers of this leadership blog will see the commonality of these rules with my regular… Read More »
[July 11, 2020] The Prime Minister of Italy once said that “The truth is that men are tired of liberty.” That PM was Benito Mussolini before he declared himself dictator for life in 1925. Today’s profile is of a man who led his country from prosperity of the 1930s to its near destruction in the early 1940s. It… Read More »
[July 10, 2020] In the summer of 1940, Parisians were awakened to the sound of a German-accented voice announcing an 8 p.m. curfew as German troops entered Paris, France.1 Nevertheless, the invasion of the European mainland did not begin until three years later. On this date, July 10, 1943, the invasion of Europe started. It was long overdue.2… Read More »
[July 9, 2020] Amazingly, several idioms from World War II are still with us 75 years after the end of that great conflict.1 If you’re taking flak, you’re over the target is an old, WWII Army Air Force phrase. It means to take criticism (flak) from a position on a controversial topic (the target). Leaders are first to… Read More »