Author Archives: Douglas R. Satterfield
[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 22, 2020] Experienced leaders understand that not everything they do is intuitive or makes complete sense on the surface of it. When it comes to carrying out one’s duties, success is often hard-won, complex and ambiguous, and requires good judgment. That is why the concept – if you want peace, prepare for war – is both controversial… Read More »
[July 21, 2020] For the past few months, I’ve been looking on eBay to find some old World War II posters for my office. I ran across one with the words “Follow Me!” emblazoned across the top. It turns out that Follow Me is a famous leader command and is the motto of the U.S. Infantry.1 When asked… Read More »
[July 20, 2020] Nearly every article I write in my leadership blog, I used the word “success.” Yet, I never define it, nor do I spend any effort to explain what I mean. If you are like me, we assume the other person implicitly understands and agrees with our criteria for success. Most of us, those who live… Read More »
[July 19, 2020] Sixteen years ago, I made the biggest moral compromise of my life. I always thought my character was solid, but on this date, during wartime, I began to think otherwise. It’s easy to make the right decisions when choices are black and white, where there is no complexity, and no one’s life is in danger. … Read More »
[July 18, 2020] Among the opening scenes in the movie Gladiator (2000), Roman general Maximus is readying his cavalry to charge into the rear of a large barbarian army. To motivate his men, he encourages them to show strength and honor in the face of the enemy. Maximus, played by Russell Crowe, tells his cavalrymen in their attack… Read More »
[July 16, 2020] It isn’t easy to run a business. To do it successfully during poor economic times is even more problematic. A few days ago, the recently-hired New York Times opinion editor, published a scathing resignation letter about the “toxic and destructive” culture of the old Gray Lady. Bari Weiss posted her letter in a classic example… Read More »
[July 15, 2020] Good news; junior leaders are given a high quality, respectable identity, and significant freedom provided by society. There will be no other time in the life for such a leader to have this much opportunity. Today, we all have full access to the most celebrated thinkers civilization has ever assembled, perhaps even beyond human comprehension.… Read More »
[July 14, 2020] The best thing that ever happened during my military training was to experience immediate feedback on whatever I did. At the beginning of my career, I was first insulted, then shocked, and then mad that someone would tell me how wrong I was. Later, I changed. I came to welcome the clarity of instant feedback,… Read More »
[July 13, 2020] One thing that sets the best leaders apart from others is that they read, study, and discuss ideas. Long ago, when I was a staff officer as a U.S. Army Infantry Captain, a small group of junior officers was joking one day about the 1991 Disney movie Beauty and the Beast. Why did it pique… Read More »