[February 1, 2021] My Junior High School civics teacher had been some kind of counter-intelligence official during WW2. I remember nothing about him other than his wartime service and the time we studied propaganda. He told a bunch of wide-eyed kids that someday we would need what he was saying. He was right. Propaganda is a form of… Read More »
[January 31, 2021] The pandemic has catapulted leaders of all kinds into uncertainty; whether that be business leaders, academic leaders or political leaders. Their leadership skills were put to the test with big picture questions like “when will it be safe to work in-person?”, “what will the post-COVID world look like?” and “how can we better prepare for… Read More »
[January 30, 2021] The Great Raid (2005) is a war film about the Raid at Cabanatuan prisoner of war camp on the island of Luzon, Philippines, during WW2. I saw it again, for the fifth time, last night. The film tells us about “the most daring rescue mission of our time.” The rescue included American soldiers, Alamo Scouts,… Read More »
[January 29, 2021] We already know, as leaders, that delegating authority is difficult but necessary. Yesterday in Part 1 (link here), I gave an example from my time as an Infantry Company Commander. This is the kind of job that allows you to see your men face-to-face and get to know every one of them. Feedback on your… Read More »
[January 28, 2021] My first evaluation as an Infantry Company Commander said that I was ‘resistant to delegating authority.’ It was an insult, in my mind anyway, and an embarrassment as well. I knew that the art of leadership is not about ordering people around but finding the right people, delegating tasks to them, and giving them the… Read More »
[January 27, 2021] Long ago, as an Infantry Platoon Leader, I lead a convoy on a route that I did not explore in advance. My task was simple, “Take your platoon to the barracks on a pre-determined route.” I skipped the step, got my unit lost (temporarily), and was late arriving at my destination. I simply did not… Read More »
[January 26, 2021] I’m a positive kind of guy. I seem to always see the glass as half full rather than half empty. I take every person I meet with the attitude that they are good people who will not lie, cheat, or steal. I always look for the upside to every event and learn from even dire… Read More »
[January 25, 2021] The more I hear about domestic disturbances across America and see folks blaming it on fascism, the more interested I have become in understanding the fascist movement. On a recent recommendation from my wife, I watched a lecture by Dinesh D’Souza on the origins of Nazism in Europe. I was intrigued by his idea that… Read More »
[January 24, 2021] As a junior military officer, I put in some long hours getting my Soldiers ready for the day we would be called into combat. It was hard work. At least I thought it was hard work. Guess what? I did not know what it meant. We are told that “the early bird gets the worm,”… Read More »
[January 23, 2021] Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. As a child, my friend Wilson was always looking to earn a few quarters. Like me, he had an independent mind, a willingness to work, and a desire to be a good Christian. That’s why he took the job of pickle barrel cleaner. His… Read More »