[August 9, 2020] A former Army Sgt Major sent this to me on Facebook and thought I would share it. All of it is true. Great leader advice! No. 1. Yelling doesn’t make you skinny. Daily Physical Training (PT) does. If you’re not out there saluting the flag every morning at 6:30, you can automatically assume your Soldiers… Read More »
[August 8, 2020] The ultimate goal of any leader is to lead people from Point A (a less desirable place) to Point B (a better place). The “how” is what leadership is all about. When there is a point in the future no sane person wants to get to, the best leaders develop a strategy, gathers resources, and… Read More »
[July 27, 2020] My indoctrination to the U.S. Army as a Second Lieutenant began when I reported to my first Battalion Commander, a tight-lipped large man. His stern expression gauged my military potential, and his scowl indicated an unfavorable prognosis. I was about to be introduced to leadership in the real world. Four of my classmates and I… Read More »
[July 26, 2020] Yesterday afternoon, after taking my wife around to three estate sales, my newest book order finally arrived. For days, I’d looked forward to reading it, and while I have yet to read it all, I wanted to get something out to my readers. The book is What Are Generals Made Of? (1987) First Edition by… Read More »
[July 25, 2020] This is a two-part mini-series about preparing strategic leaders. Yesterday, I noted that there are similarities among senior leaders that should be explored (see link here). This life-long exploration is something I’ve invested considered time and energy. This series is a summary of some of my observations and thoughts. As previously noted, the first pattern… Read More »
[July 24, 2020] As we look across the landscape of successful senior leaders, there are common threads that are worth investigating. Whether such leaders were developed long ago or today and regardless of where they originate, their journeys are not that different. This two-part mini-series explores those similarities of strategic leaders, how they think, and what they see.… Read More »
[July 23, 2020] During the American Civil War, casualties were extraordinarily high. More than any other war in which the United States participated, the proportion of those killed and wounded is the highest. There were many factors, but incompetence among senior Army officers was the most profound. Eventually, the military used merit for promotions. At the beginning of… Read More »
[July 3, 2020] Morgan Freedman is a famous American actor, producer, businessman, and activist. His success as an actor is renowned throughout the world. I like him because he has a view of the world that is similar to what I write about in this leadership blog. Morgan Freedman has something many in Hollywood do not have. He… Read More »
[June 4, 2020] Our time as leaders is limited. We only get to spend so much time in any given position, and we are restricted to how much time we have to accomplish a mission and care for others. This is why an old sergeant, Vietnam vet, and mentor, I knew advised me to use my time properly… Read More »
[May 29, 2020] If we look at professional literature on leadership, there is a solid consensus that two factors allow us to foretell leader success. Intelligence (as measured in IQ) and conscientiousness are hands down, the strongest predictors of success. These two also measure success in higher education, military careers, and mid-level managerial positions. Based on my observations,… Read More »