[September 25, 2016] A few months ago at the Pentagon in Washington D.C., there was a discussion at the most senior levels of the U.S. military on emerging leaders. About a dozen new General/Flag officers were being advised on what would be expected of them in their roles. Much is to be expected of a senior leader but… Read More »
[September 24, 2016] Driving through New York City yesterday I saw numerous warnings about driving into Manhattan because of traffic congestion created by the United Nations General Assembly meetings; another typical day for a New Yorker. Yet, with the heightened visibility of those meetings we get another flurry of those who predict the end of the UN’s usefulness… Read More »
[September 23, 2016] I was an enlisted man for 7 years in the U.S. Army before receiving my officer commission. One of my proudest moments was when I was promoted to the rank of Sergeant (E-5 pay grade). More commonly known as Buck Sergeant, I was fortunate to have plenty of mentors who gave me the basics on… Read More »
[September 22, 2016] Growing up in the Deep South of the United States several decades ago, grade school was where you learned the basics; reading, writing, and arithmetic. You also learned “civics” and gained knowledge about how American government functions. One lesson from my fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Louise McDermott was the importance of U.S. President Lincoln’s issuing… Read More »
[September 21, 2016] Senior leadership is distinguishable from leadership at lower levels in a number of fundamental ways. As “Captain of the Ship” a senior leader is morally bound to steer in seas of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity. Much space here at theLeaderMaker.com has been given for characteristics that make up that senior leader. I’ve said many… Read More »
[September 20, 2016] Socialism is a system of government and economics that has historically been associated with totalitarianism and with the deaths of tens of millions of people. Logic and historical fact however is not how those enthralled with the theoretical foundation of socialism argue for its benefits. David Horowitz is opposed to it because those adhering to… Read More »
[September 19, 2016] In my entire lifetime there are two books I’ve read more than any other, read more intensively, valued more, and beholden to the wisdom from them. They are the Holy Bible and Sun Tzu’s The Art of War. To some these two books would seem to be a contradiction; one of peace, one of war. … Read More »
[September 18, 2016] I remember as a little boy my grandmother recounting stories of her parents and their memories of the “yellow journalism” of days long ago. Her oft repeated lesson to me – taught to her by her parents – was to never believe anything you read in the newspaper or hear on the radio (later TV). … Read More »
[September 17, 2016] If there is one subject senior leaders lose sleep over, it’s the establishment and clarification of their authority to carry out their organization’s mission. General George Washington struggled with the federal Congress over this very issue and it haunted him during the entire Revolutionary War. It wasn’t until the U.S. Constitution was signed on this… Read More »
[September 16, 2016] It was ten years ago, almost to the day, that was one of the most difficult days I had during combat in Iraq but was also the day of a memorial service for a National Guard Engineer soldier from Iowa killed in action. We held no funeral there; all were in the U.S. hometown of… Read More »