[December 07, 2103] The attack on was a surprise military strike on the U.S. Naval base, Hawaii that began at 7:48 am, a clear Sunday morning 72 years ago today. The intent of the attack was to prevent the U.S. Pacific fleet from interfering with the Empire of Japan in the Pacific Ocean. The attack came as a… Read More »
[December 06, 2013] It is long understood that much can be learned about an organization by the people who are hired. Simply put, hiring (and retaining) the best employees make for a better organization. The finest employees do not fear others who are the best and often enjoy the professional competition and camaraderie of others like them. Any… Read More »
[December 05, 2013] Another organization that has been historically successful and displays its core values prominently, is the financial services company USAA (United Services Automobile Association). In 1922, a group of U.S. Army officers decided to self-insure when they were unable to get auto insurance because they were considered high risk. USAA’s stated core values are: Service Loyalty… Read More »
[December 04, 2013] If there is but one characteristic of senior executive leaders that stands above all others, it is the possession of unquestionable integrity. Without it, all the other key leader traits will amount to nothing at all. “The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it… Read More »
[December 03, 2013] Senior executive leaders, by the nature of their position, must possess a grounded, pragmatic, and experienced understanding of human psychology. By that, I don’t mean they have academic training in psychological theories or a college degree in psychology or sociology. The most successful senior leader knows people; what makes them “tick.” Being a leader at… Read More »
[December 02, 2013] Lately, I’ve been struggling to get my usual reading done. The book The Generals was long and I wanted to take my time to ensure I had a good understanding of the history and reasons for failures and successes in generalship. So, I’ve been slow to jump to reading other books. Today, more books that… Read More »
[December 01, 2013] One of the many interesting phenomenon of studying senior leadership is that while we see patterns of greatness, we also see unique individual and cultural differences in those leaders. Over the past week, there has been news coming out of North Korea that they have arrested a retired U.S. citizen and Korea War veteran who… Read More »
[November 30, 2013] One would logically expect that in a nation that values and rewards achievement, that any bias regarding success would be in favor of the characteristic. In reality there exists, in many cultures, a bias against achievement. Senior leaders should make themselves aware of this peculiar social phenomenon. Everyone has experienced the classroom show-off, whose interaction… Read More »
[November 29, 2013] Reverend William “Billy” Graham, Jr. is a Southern Baptist minister, who rose to celebrity status in 1949 reaching a large constituency across the U.S. and the Christian world. He held large indoor and outdoor rallies; sermons were broadcast on radio and television, some still being re-broadcast today. He is a great communicator with a consistent… Read More »
[November 28, 2013] Best wishes to all on this special occasion; Thanksgiving Day. One of my favorite times of year is Thanksgiving. What a great tradition – where we gather together to recount the Lord’s blessings. A special note: In the middle of the U.S. Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day, to be celebrated… Read More »