Author Archives: Douglas R. Satterfield
[September 12, 2019] The fastest and most effective way to progress as a leader is to be in a crucible under fire and have your performance critiqued. Those who lead men and women in our military regularly review their team’s ability to accomplish a mission. During a review, the leader will receive feedback in its brutally honest form… Read More »
[September 11, 2019] Slowly but steadily, there has been a movement in the United States that is turning the anniversary of deadly terror attacks on September 11, 2001, into a day of volunteering and doing good deeds. It’s a way to pay tribute to those who died that day and to those who rushed to help … by… Read More »
[September 10, 2019] Karl Marx knew what he was talking about when he said, “There is a specter haunting Europe, the specter of Communism.” Fortunately for European leaders, they discovered the Ukrainian Holodomor. During the 1932-33 Holodomor, 7-10 million Ukrainians died of starvation in a catastrophe nearly unprecedented in the history of humankind. Surpassed only by the Great… Read More »
[September 9, 2019] We were in the back of a U.S. Air Force C-130 transport plane, flying between Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait and Baghdad International Airport, Iraq. Passengers were a mix of civilians and various branches of the U.S. military. It was the first time I ever heard the phrase, Admiral of the Narrow Seas. In… Read More »
[September 6, 2019] “United we stand, divided we fall” is a common phrase meaning without each other we are condemned to fail. The consequence of the idea is strong; going back to before recorded human history and used in some form across all cultures and across all time. Based on this idea, formal relationships are created during peacetime… Read More »
[September 5, 2019] For those following the U.S. presidential campaigning, you probably overlooked some of those doing poorly in popularity polls. I’m looking at them because they tell us something of value. What they are doing says what NOT to do as a leader. Take, for example, New York City mayor Bill de Blasio. I’ll be using his… Read More »
[September 4, 2019] Leadership is not easy; it means taking on complex, ambiguous, and difficult problems. These are closely tied to our deepest values and we are limited by cultural mores and social responsibilities. Solutions can be slow and are often fraught with unintended consequences. When the government gets involved, it can bring enormous resources to bear; a… Read More »
[September 3, 2019] Yesterday, I wrote that the U.S. military’s organization is superior to most civilian companies (see link here). What makes it different? I’ve come up with 13 ways that show why the military is better. Today, I’ll list the final eight methods.2 This article is based, in part, on work done by Christopher Littlestone, who is… Read More »
[September 2, 2019] The U.S. military is far better organized than most civilian companies. You will find more structure, honesty, and focus in any military unit compared to their civilian counterparts. This is the reason that today, I’m providing 13 methods the military organization is better than civilian businesses. Yesterday, I was speaking with my neighbor whose son… Read More »
[September 1, 2019] “Does not respond well to authority.” This was written in my friend Wilson’ first Officer Evaluation Report after one-year on the job as an Army Second Lieutenant. He was mad as hell about the comment but knew, deep down in his psyche, that it was true. His mom and dad would agree. He always had… Read More »