[February 27, 2019] A few years ago, I attended a dinner to honor a good friend of mine who had just retired as our city coroner. As I made my way inside the restaurant to speak with as many folks as possible, I stopped to chat with our State’s U.S. Senator. As one of several politicians there, I… Read More »
[February 19, 2019] Soon after the turn of the 20th Century, my paternal grandmother traveled across the U.S. riding in a covered wagon. As a kid, she told me stories that perked my interest in the Conestoga wagon and the hearty folks that used them to begin a new life out West. But it scared the wits out… Read More »
[February 18, 2019] It seemed like only a few years ago, but my first Platoon Sergeant gave me some good words of advice. He said it was important to take on small opportunities that would lead to big opportunities. At the time, I had no idea what he was talking about; it made no sense. When people can… Read More »
[February 17, 2019] As a leader, it is your job to motivate people and lead them towards success. Understanding what drives them exactly in the long-term and meeting those needs is the key to make all the parties involved happy and ensure a pleasant experience which will result in achieving any goal successfully. However, how to effectively motivate… Read More »
[February 8, 2019] Yesterday morning I was at my dentist’s office for a cleaning and checkup. The dental hygienist was talkative, of course, while my mouth is open and I couldn’t talk. But she said something that interested me. She said that I was one of few people who came in that actually knew how to do maintenance… Read More »
[February 4, 2019] The motto at the U.S. Army Infantry School is “Follow Me.” Implicit, but utterly clear is their message that a leader is always on point; out in front of others and making things happen properly. This is where we get the old saying that great leaders forever lead from the front. Real leaders never lead… Read More »
[February 3, 2019] Someone once said that the mythic journey of life is always about selflessness. And so, in today’s leadership blog, I recognize the sacrifice of four U.S. Army Chaplains. Their bravery and selflessness in the face of mortal danger show us the pinnacle of what it means to be a man of profound decency. On this… Read More »
[January 16, 2019] The silent movie A Dog’s Life (1918) starring Charlie Chaplin is a short 33-minute comedy about a tramp and his dog. Written, directed, and filmed during World War I, the need by the American public to witness a display of compassion was a necessary distraction from the horrors of the war. American forces under U.S.… Read More »
[January 14, 2019] About two decades ago, psychologists hit upon a discovery that stopped them in their tracks. They had proposed that the more responsibility people possess, the more stress they have and thus less satisfaction in their life. It turns out, counterintuitive to their way of thinking, that the tough job of shouldering responsibility is directly related… Read More »
[January 8, 2019] Why concern ourselves with real rules for leaders? First, these are not suggestions but are things that leaders must do to be successful. Certainly, you can be a leader and disobey any number of rules, but you cannot be effective in the long term if you do. Today, my goal is to provide some additional… Read More »