[October 12, 2016] A number of years ago I had the opportunity to meet with and attend a talk by General Norman Schwarzkopf; the topic was on his philosophy of leadership. What I didn’t know at the time was that, like any good leader, he had no set definition of leadership. What he does make very clear is… Read More »
[October 9, 2016] Personal study and reflection is a crucial part of the growth of a professional. Each one of us work through our days with busy schedules but finding time to read and think is an ongoing challenge. In the military we are taught that to train our bodies, but like our bodies we must also train… Read More »
[September 30, 2016] One of the greatest military strategists and philosophers on war, Sun Tzu, wrote that “The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.” 1 As a strategist he recognized that by positioning military forces in such a way that the enemy knew that defeat was certain, he would surrender. One of the… Read More »
[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 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 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 »