Author Archives: Douglas R. Satterfield
[July 3, 2019] Tomorrow is the 4th of July and a special time for all Americans. As a tribute to the many that fought for our freedoms, from the U.S. Revolutionary War to present, I’m providing a short story about WWII veteran Staff Sergeant Bernard Friedenberg. I’m fortunate to live in a part of the country that acknowledges… Read More »
[July 1, 2019] Yesterday, I was watching the movie, To Hell and Back (1955) when I remembered that I’d not written a “Hero” blog post in a long time. The movie, starring Audie Murphy (playing himself) has been one of my favorites since I can remember.1 “I’ll tell you what bravery really is. Bravery is just determination to… Read More »
[June 30, 2019] A seasoned Vietnam Veteran sergeant advised me long ago to be wary of people who tell you this; That’s on my plate to do. It is just another way to put off work to another time. Sergeant First Class Jack McKinsey took no gruff of anyone. That’s why I liked him and heeded his advice.… Read More »
[June 29, 2019] If you’ve never had to deal with a toxic leader, you are one lucky person. Whether it is in a job, an organization composed of volunteers, or at home, toxic leaders make our lives miserable and actively inhibit our sense of wellbeing and ability to get things done. U.S. Army Lieutenant General Hal Moore and… Read More »
[June 28, 2019] Growing up, I always knew my uncle was in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Named after my granddaddy Smith (married to Bigmama), “Junior” was a man of serious integrity, family-focused, and a person you could trust to help no matter what. Yesterday, I received his 1944 Bluejacket’s Manual; something I will forever keep… Read More »
[June 27, 2019] Regular readers of my blog know that my first Company Commander in the U.S. Army was not a strong leader. Among other things, he gave me his command priorities but rarely judged my performance by them. I came to the realization that it’s not just your boss’s stated priorities but also those that go unstated.… Read More »
[June 26, 2019] I was traveling out in the Western U.S. this past week. In one of the many legs of my trip, I sat beside a Texas High School principal on an American Airlines flight. We talked about college and the challenges of teaching and eventually, I asked her what message she would share with us. She… Read More »
[June 25, 2019] In 2007, I had the pleasure to meet comedian Robin Williams in Al Faw Palace, Baghdad, Iraq. He and I had a warm, captivating conversation. We talked about our families, where we came from, and the interesting people we’ve met. He told me that his life’s mission was to spend more time with people and… Read More »
[June 24, 2019] Leaders make mistakes; it goes with the leadership territory. This means an apology should be forthcoming to show you recognize the error, learned from it, and are moving on. There are also times when not to apologize. Apologizing when you’re wrong shows humility and that you have the ability to learn and change for the… Read More »
[June 23, 2019] Respect is a sticky concept; being something we all desperately want but also difficult to put our finger on. Like many who read this leadership blog, we know that humans seek specific things from our relationships. Respect is one of those intertwined with our likability, self-discipline, ability to compromise, and our concept of right and… Read More »