[February 9, 2020] One of the desirable attributes I find among combat veterans is they are skillful at judging what is essential, in contrast to those things in life that don’t matter. Perhaps the reason is they have seen truly horrific destruction and death and can understand that there are small things in life that are mere distractions… Read More »
[February 7, 2020] The official political relationship between the American Colonies and the British Government in the mid-1700s was not always “gentlemanly,” but it was a time that the expression of sentiments was open and honest. I find that reading the letters and publications can give us an education in wittiness, clarity, and honesty. Benjamin Franklin’s life and… Read More »
[February 5, 2020] The best leaders are those that don’t necessarily do great things but are those who get other people to do great things. There is no argument that U.S. President Donald Trump has made great strides on improving the U.S. economy, strengthening the military, and improving race relations. These are accomplishments no one could predict four… Read More »
[February 2, 2020] To recognize one’s weaknesses, mistakes made, blunders and miscalculations are a necessary step on the path to good leadership. We all make mistakes, and there is not a leader who hasn’t made some real doozies in their lives. With the proper attitude, these can be some of the best learning experiences. Self-deprecating humor goes a… Read More »
[February 1, 2020] U.S. Air Force Lieutenant J.J. Johnson is a smart, insightful officer with an English college degree from Princeton University. I was headed to another meeting with senior officers when I passed his unassuming cubicle, where he sits for work as a Civil Engineer. Hanging on a string was a pad of paper with a pen… Read More »
[January 12, 2020] Over the past few decades, we’ve seen a continuous rise in the percentage of women holding leadership roles. The numbers aren’t equivalent to the number of men in leadership positions, but I believe that we will get there in the near future. So for all the fabulous women out there that are thinking about taking… Read More »
[January 4, 2020] Iranian General Qassem Soleimani has been killed in a targeted strike by the U.S. military. Good riddance! No matter who you are in the world, it cannot be denied that this man was evil and deserved to die. For those who are wishy-washy about the proactive U.S. attack, it would be best to study this… Read More »
[January 2, 2020] “It’s more than checking the box.” And so it began, my cohort of new general officers was beginning their journey of senior leadership with a fundamental truth. Only by learning to be courageous can we truly be genuine leaders of those on the battlefield. It is, therefore, our sacred duty to be involved in the… Read More »
Below are a composition of the Guest Bloggers that have contributed to www.theleadermaker.com. Please visit them and wish them well. Sadako Red Disclaimer: I chose the pen name Sadako Red in order to remove any notoriety reflecting on my other real job as a very senior executive in the Department of Defense. My opinion is my opinion only… Read More »
[December 28, 2019] For those new to my leadership blog, this ‘clearing the spindle’ on-going series is about ideas that I haven’t developed into articles. I wanted to provide a little bit of feedback to my readers on things that senior leaders are talking about – often among themselves – and highlight a few that seem to get… Read More »