[December 10, 2021] Life is competition. Life is survival. But it is more! Life is about living morally, about playing the game and winning by the rules, knowing when to step up and be counted (often in the face of great danger). Life is tough, but it also brings great joy. Today, I will discuss a philosophy of… Read More »
[December 9, 2021] When things go wrong, terribly wrong, there is someone who steps up to slay the dragon. This is, of course, the classic hero. He is the knight that kills the dragon, rescues the maiden, and lives happily ever after. Well, that is how it goes in fairy tales. But this story is symbolic of human… Read More »
[December 8, 2021] Victory! Success! Mission accomplished! Surviving an emergency! All these have one thing in common. The common factor is not luck, who you know, or even how blessed you are. To be victorious, you must be ready. Nothing legitimately counters this fact. This article is part of a three-part series that lays out how to be… Read More »
[December 7, 2021] Eighty years ago, a surprise attack on the U.S. base at Pearl Harbor brought a neutral United States into World War II. Today, we read about the attack and see that America got caught wholly unprepared. Historian Roberta Wohlstetter tells us, in a thorough analysis of the surprise attack, that U.S. intelligence was, in fact,… Read More »
[December 6, 2021] A good friend of mine was an outstanding leader of Soldiers. He was a U.S. Army Infantry officer, and he was the type of person you wanted to be in charge of troops in time of war. Bill was aggressive, reliable, trustworthy, and could operate with little guidance or help. His weakness was that he… Read More »
[December 5, 2021] Leaders must be sufficiently competent in their professions to survive. High-quality leaders can perform the duties of their job with an acceptable level of quality – a combination of knowledge, judgment, and skills. Such professional competence does not come without sacrifice. Technical competence will not assure a leader’s success since other traits are a part… Read More »
[December 4, 2021] Back in October this year, there was a tragic shooting on the move set of Rust. Alec Baldwin was the producer and actor in this Western, set in 1880s Kansas town. Production was halted after Alec Baldwin accidentally shot and killed the cinematographer and wounded the director. There is an ongoing investigation that has yet… Read More »
[December 3, 2021] FUBAR? Can you learn anything from today’s military? As the American people rapidly lose confidence in our military, America’s senior-most Generals and Admirals are doubling down on policies that have nothing to do with warfighting. We Americans “see” what’s happening, and we don’t like it. Is it even worth it for young people to join… Read More »
[December 2, 2021] During the U.S. Civil War, the early years were not going well for the Union under President Abraham Lincoln. Yet, his undertaking was designed to preserve the Union, and he strove to persuade, influence, incentivize, and communicate hope and resolve. What strategic lesson learned can we get from Lincoln’s actions? While most of us with… Read More »
[December 1, 2021] By the end of 2006, I had spent more than a year and a half in Iraq working with their citizens. I thought I knew them but, like other Americans, I did not. Understanding other cultures takes time, patience, and a high degree of empathy, smarts, and devotion. By that time, I figured out we… Read More »