Reading List (Update): The Confederates

By | September 18, 2017

[September 18, 2017] Warning for those with a fragile mind, hypersensitivity to reading things about events during the U.S. Civil War, or are a college “snowflake” … this book review may cause you to require mental counseling. I’m just kidding of course; as I don’t expect readers of this leadership blog to be such a person. Today’s review… Read More »

The Battle of Antietam

By | September 17, 2017

[September 17, 2017]  This date in history is well-known in the annals of humankind for September 17th produced a number of life-changing events for Americans and most Western nations.  For example, this was the date in 1787 that the U.S. Constitution was signed, in 1939 the Soviet Union invaded Poland as part of that war’s beginning, and in… Read More »

The Iraqi Osirak Nuclear Research Facility

By | September 16, 2017

[September 16, 2017]  In early 2007 the Iraq War between a “coalition of the willing” and Iraqi insurgents was not going as planned for the U.S. and its allies.  U.S. President Bush announced a “surge” of troops to compensate for too little forces operating there.  To expand coalition operational area, the Osirak nuclear research facility was one of… Read More »

How to Write Fabulous Speeches in 20 Minutes

By | September 15, 2017

By guest blogger Justin Osborne [see Biography] [September 15, 2017]  Crafting a fabulous speech requires dedication, practice and of course, several tricks to create the best formula. If you want to lead the audience through your words, meeting the deadline is not your only priority. A goal of every good speaker is to make speeches great and spontaneous,… Read More »

Leaders Playing it Safe

By | September 14, 2017

[September 14, 2017]  My young son loved watching early morning television and his favorite show was Barney & Friends (see official site link here).  In addition, he had a Barney stuffed animal which he slept with until he was about 8 years old.  The character Barney, like some leaders today, spends his time playing it safe.  For a… Read More »

The Halls of Montezuma

By | September 13, 2017

[September 13, 2017]  Several years ago, a small group of us “grunt” Infantrymen were invited to attend a formal U.S. Marine Corps’ Mess Night with the 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines (Infantry).  We had much in common as our primary job in defending the nation has always been to “close with and destroy the enemy.”  That night U.S. Army… Read More »

Remembering the 9/11 Islamic Attacks on America

By | September 11, 2017

[September 11, 2017]  When we speak of past events it should be noted that people remember things differently and attach many levels of meaning and emotion to them.  Like most of us in the United States, things changed for my military peers after the Islamic attacks on September 11, 2001 (aka 9/11). For senior leaders 9/11 meant seeing… Read More »

Red Lines and Leadership

By | September 10, 2017

[September 10, 2017]  On August 20, 2012, U.S. President Barack Obama used the phrase “red line” in the context of warning Syrian President Assad that the use of chemical weapons was a point at which the United States would take firm action against that country.  A relatively new term –but old concept –the idea of red lines means… Read More »

It’s the Big One!  … Leadership in Action

By | September 9, 2017

[September 9, 2017]  They say that senior leadership is all about big issues and that is true in its most literal sense when it comes to major hurricane preparation and recovery.  Anybody can make easy decisions.  Anybody can travel down a path traveled before by others.  But being a great leader can mean making difficult decisions where lives… Read More »