Leaders Prepare for Unusual Circumstances

By | January 15, 2016

[January 15, 2016]  At the outbreak of World War II, most of the world’s major powers were not prepared in any way for the death and destruction that was to follow.  Today, we find that most senior leaders are well prepared and have learned from the failures of other leaders.  Good leaders prepare for extraordinary circumstances that could… Read More »

Impatience is a Leader’s Greatest Weakness

By | January 14, 2016

[December 14, 2016]  One of the greatest assets of a leader is the ability to make timely and expertly-executed decisions.  It follows that leaders are at their best when they are neither hasty nor act without thinking through the consequences of their actions and what they say.  Many leaders have failed simply because they lack the patience to… Read More »

Realizing Weaknesses in Others

By | January 13, 2016

[January 13, 2016]  Good leaders have a matchless ability to judge the character of others.  But it’s the realizing of weaknesses in others that’s so important for a leader.  I was fortunate as a junior officer that my commander saw my weaknesses that needed work and he was able to push and pull me in the right direction… Read More »

Alabama Football Team Wins Championship

By | January 12, 2016

[January 12, 2016]  There are those who have said that defense doesn’t win championships, special teams and big plays win championships.  Some truth here but it’s really great coaching, leadership, and quality training programs are the biggest factors.  Congratulations to the Alabama Crimson Tide football team, the coaches, and staffs for their win last night over the Clemson… Read More »

10 Things to Know Before Joining the Army

By | January 12, 2016

[January 12, 2016]  Anyone considering joining the Army and making a commitment for several years, has wished there were some things someone had explained about our service beforehand.  Teenagers straight out of high school are attracted by the glamour and potential excitement of service but are often disappointed.  What are ten things you should know before joining the… Read More »

Leaders Don’t Lose Their Cool

By | January 11, 2016

[January 11, 2016]  On television I was watching the Bengals versus the Steelers football game this past Saturday in one of the important wild-card playoffs.  The Cincinnati Bengals were expected to win over the Pittsburg Steelers but it didn’t turn out that way.  It happens more than on the rare occasion … whether in sports, the military, business,… Read More »

What Are Your Top Priorities?

By | January 10, 2016

[January 10, 2016]  My first day at the U.S. Army War College was a day of awakening for myself and many others.  We were told how lucky we were to have been accepted and the importance of academic integrity, but that the first thing we had to do was to identify our personal top priorities.  What?  Identify our priorities? … Read More »

Leadership in a Bubble

By | January 8, 2016

[January 8, 2016]  A few years ago I had the privilege to meet with U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta where we had an open-ended discussion about major events in the world.  In the opinion of many, Panetta was one of the great defense secretaries of our time and his opinions on leadership are grounded in authenticity.  While… Read More »