[April 4, 2019] It was late summer 1983, and I’d been on a training exercise with the U.S. Army for nearly three weeks. The heat, humidity, bugs, and dirt had taken its toll on us (that was the idea). The Captain leading us told me to dig in a new foxhole near our unit’s flank. After getting it… Read More »
[April 3, 2019] I was listening to a podcast the other day with Professor Jordan Peterson of the University of Toronto. By his explanation, the talk was an exploration of the origins of religious thinking. Thinking is, of course, the one thing leaders must do and do better than others. He mentioned the story of St. George and… Read More »
[April 2, 2019] I was working out at the local gym when a new and very young trainer came up to me. She said to improve my physique and stamina, a harder workout was necessary. If you are around people trying to get and stay healthy, I’m sure you’ve heard her advice at some point; no pain, no… Read More »
[April 1, 2019] The path to success and the ability to get things done in any of life’s challenges are built around the proficiency of reading, writing, and speaking clearly. Formal education – the methodical teaching of these skills – is the necessary starting point but not the end to the development of us. “The fool spoke precisely… Read More »
[March 28, 2019] After my initial tour of duty overseas in West Germany, the first movie I saw upon my return was Rocky (1976). Starring Sylvester Stallone, this movie was a come-from-behind story about an uneducated, small-time boxer who wants to regain his self-respect by fighting the world heavy-weight champion. It’s about one man’s desire never to accept… Read More »
[March 26, 2019] What constitutes evil is not easily explained. It will always be the task of all moral leaders to identify, resist, and whenever possible destroy evil. For example, civilized nations came together during World War II to defeat the oppressive tyranny of the Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis. Evil can be defeated as we have seen in the history… Read More »
[March 23, 2019] In a speech after the brutal U.S. Civil War ended, Army General William Tecumseh Sherman said “I tell you, war is Hell.”1 He was a man who knew the viciousness of war and the terrible price people pay. But he was also adamant that when the going gets tough, character counts more than anything else.… Read More »
[March 22, 2019] Before I graduated from High School, I went to see the movie Patton (1970) with friends I would never see again. My takeaway from the movie was that the Germans were not that good and British General Bernard Montgomery was both egotistical and a highly overrated commander.1 American filmmakers routinely portray WWII as being won… Read More »
[March 21, 2019] I began this series on “good habits” several years ago out of a desire to give simple advice to up-and-coming leaders.1 Picking good daily habits for leaders is easy because there are many to choose from. Today, I’ll be focusing on the usefulness of beginning your day with a hardy greeting. “One of the most… Read More »
[March 20, 2019] Warfare is often referred to as “managed” chaos. Likewise, life is full of chaotic events that create challenges that must be overcome if we are to be fully human. Leaders, those of us who are on the cutting edge of societal development, are there to create order out of chaos. “The battlefield is a scene… Read More »