[June 2, 2022] During the last U.S. Presidential election campaign, I compiled a list of leadership qualities that define senior leadership. I’m opening them up again because it’s time to re-think what I wrote at the time. I developed these ideas over a long period of my military career. This “list” can compare and contrast politicians and others. … Read More »
[June 1, 2022] Don’t make excuses. No excuses. If you have an obligation, have given your word, or there is an expectation you are to do something, there is no excuse for failing at the goal. Those that make excuses have failed twice, first not getting done what they were supposed to get done, and second, they are… Read More »
[May 29, 2022] The days before Memorial Day are full of getting the BBQ grills ready, buying hotdogs and hamburger meat, finding where we put the potato chips, and scurrying about to invite neighbors to a fun day out. We probably considered attending a local Memorial Day parade or ceremony. Many folks traditionally do that, and I’m happy… Read More »
[May 27, 2022] My brother and I stood there, looking at the casket of our great-grandfather. This was the first funeral we ever attended. Neither of us wanted to be there. My father made it clear, “You’re going to the funeral, do it for the family.” I couldn’t talk, my brother cried, we were both in shock from… Read More »
[May 25, 2022] On one very hot, very sunny, very dangerous morning one day in the Iraq desert, my Soldiers came upon an unusual geological formation near a small village. We were searching for dirt fill to build walls to protect a new combat outpost. My Soldiers were about to discover something that our ancestors knew – that… Read More »
[May 24, 2022] Never underestimate your enemy. The ‘enemy’ symbolically refers to people opposed to you, those with competitive opposing ideas, desires, and missions. They could be an opposing army, a terrorist group, a strongman dictator, a megalomaniac who wants to destroy the world, or the metaphysical Devil. The enemy can be as tiny as a drunk friend… Read More »
[May 18, 2022] Faith in God is mocked as primitive and superstitious; at its best, faith is, we are told, for the uneducated and gullible. No one who has seen the great scientific advancements in medicine, engineering, agriculture, and such, can believe in an unseen higher being. Despite all this, remember your faith We can observe that we… Read More »
[May 17, 2022] Obey the rules. Be the best at following them. Break the rules when doing so supports the central purpose of those rules. There is an old principle in life that we should obey the rules of the game; moral rules, community morés, family customs, and laws and regulations of a judicial system. Rules are most… Read More »
[May 15, 2022] In my experience, happiness1 is not one of the goals we should pursue. When happiness hits us, yes!, that is something to appreciate. But the notion that happiness is a proper measure by which to judge a successful life2, is the weakest of beliefs. The rule of life is to go after the noble goal… Read More »
[May 14, 2022] One of the certainties in life is that you don’t get something if you don’t aim at it, like the Olympic archer who hits the bulls-eye only when aiming correctly. Find your mission in life. Surprisingly, many folks are reluctant to make their goals clear; they do not have to talk about failure by doing… Read More »