[October 6, 2018] Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn once wrote that anyone who uses violence as a method to suppress people must then “inexorably choose lying as his principle.” After many years in Soviet-communist labor camps and prisons, he knows of what he speaks. He would tell us that leaders lying to you is not okay. The idea that lies from… Read More »
[October 5, 2018] Two years ago I wrote about my 1983 The Army Officer’s Guide and how it propelled me toward success in my many decades of service. I’m fond of it and keep it on my desk. Today, when I pulled it out to flip through its covers, I fondly remembered reading about Army Traditions. At first,… Read More »
[October 4, 2018] As leaders we often discuss the importance of bringing new people into our organization and helping them adopt the institution’s culture. Leadership means many things but to accept someone is a part of taking care of them. The U.S. Army has a patch ceremony that begins this process as a formal recognition that new members… Read More »
[October 3, 2018] Good habits are developed through a conscious and meticulous mental process. They are not accidental. However, the issue on our plate today is about competitive habits for leaders. It has been my personal experience that leaders who allow themselves to possess any behavior that is not overtly good, will struggle. My blog post today is… Read More »
[October 2, 2018] In most armies worldwide there’s a classic story of a Second Lieutenant who was not trusted by his platoon because he was so “green” (inexperienced and untested). Just like this lieutenant, until you earn your spurs in any vocation you will find the road to leadership challenging and frustrating. Earn your spurs is, of course,… Read More »
[October 1, 2018] There is a saying in the military that in war the victorious seek battle only after the victory has been won. Those that understand this also know that the study of great failures in leadership can teach us something victory cannot. A wise military historian once told me that I could learn more about military… Read More »
[September 30, 2018] Army Vet gets mixed up in politics today as he calls out the character of Democratic U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut for being a fake Vietnam Veteran and a coward. A politician is to lying what Wisconsin is to cheese? Some people lie more than others but there is nothing more gut-wrenching and disgusting… Read More »
[September 29, 2018] A lot has been written (and will be written) about America’s youngest adult generation. Subjects on Millennials are far racing but something is going unnoticed. What we are beginning to notice is that they are rejecting mentorship from leaders.1 Mentorship is, of course, the most effective and efficient way to improve upon leadership skills and… Read More »
[September 28, 2018] Karl von Clausewitz, a military theorist, once wrote that “courage, above all things, is the first quality of a warrior.” When I was a young teenager, I had no concept of the idea of courage but one thing I did know was that I liked racing my Yamaha 250cc dirt bike. I also liked my… Read More »
[September 27, 2018] The day before yesterday, my wife watched The Hanoi Hilton (1987) starring Michael Moriarty. She asked me to watch it with her and I initially refused by saying I couldn’t see how a Hollywood movie director could treat a sensitive subject with respect and dignity. I watched it more out of curiosity than anything else. … Read More »