[July 6, 2019] In military terminology, the last line of defense is that position where the mission is to hold enemy forces and not allow them to pass. If an enemy breakthrough occurred, the entire organization would risk being destroyed. Leadership is often the last line of defense; there is no one or nothing else that is available… Read More »
[July 4, 2019] I like cake. I like it so much that my wife decided to get me a special 4th of July cake decorated to look like a U.S. flag. This is just one of those eternal symbols of my life here on Earth. Another is I’m a patriot. Like so many hundreds of men and women… Read More »
[July 1, 2019] Yesterday, I was watching the movie, To Hell and Back (1955) when I remembered that I’d not written a “Hero” blog post in a long time. The movie, starring Audie Murphy (playing himself) has been one of my favorites since I can remember.1 “I’ll tell you what bravery really is. Bravery is just determination to… Read More »
[June 30, 2019] A seasoned Vietnam Veteran sergeant advised me long ago to be wary of people who tell you this; That’s on my plate to do. It is just another way to put off work to another time. Sergeant First Class Jack McKinsey took no gruff of anyone. That’s why I liked him and heeded his advice.… Read More »
[June 29, 2019] If you’ve never had to deal with a toxic leader, you are one lucky person. Whether it is in a job, an organization composed of volunteers, or at home, toxic leaders make our lives miserable and actively inhibit our sense of wellbeing and ability to get things done. U.S. Army Lieutenant General Hal Moore and… Read More »
[June 28, 2019] Growing up, I always knew my uncle was in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Named after my granddaddy Smith (married to Bigmama), “Junior” was a man of serious integrity, family-focused, and a person you could trust to help no matter what. Yesterday, I received his 1944 Bluejacket’s Manual; something I will forever keep… Read More »
[June 27, 2019] Regular readers of my blog know that my first Company Commander in the U.S. Army was not a strong leader. Among other things, he gave me his command priorities but rarely judged my performance by them. I came to the realization that it’s not just your boss’s stated priorities but also those that go unstated.… Read More »
[June 26, 2019] I was traveling out in the Western U.S. this past week. In one of the many legs of my trip, I sat beside a Texas High School principal on an American Airlines flight. We talked about college and the challenges of teaching and eventually, I asked her what message she would share with us. She… Read More »
[June 25, 2019] In 2007, I had the pleasure to meet comedian Robin Williams in Al Faw Palace, Baghdad, Iraq. He and I had a warm, captivating conversation. We talked about our families, where we came from, and the interesting people we’ve met. He told me that his life’s mission was to spend more time with people and… Read More »
[June 24, 2019] Leaders make mistakes; it goes with the leadership territory. This means an apology should be forthcoming to show you recognize the error, learned from it, and are moving on. There are also times when not to apologize. Apologizing when you’re wrong shows humility and that you have the ability to learn and change for the… Read More »