Author Archives: Douglas R. Satterfield
[March 18, 2019] A few days ago, I attended a presentation at a local Veterans get-together. An Army veteran gave a presentation on cemeteries in Europe and what they meant to him. I was surprised to hear that his father, killed during World War II, was buried in the Margraten Cemetery, Netherlands. The 8,301 American soldiers buried at… Read More »
[March 17, 2019] The recent terror attack that killed 49 at two New Zealand mosques has pushed Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan into the news again. Just as U.S. politician Rahm Emanuel said, “Never let a good crisis go to waste,” Erdoğan has again railed against the West for its on-going debauchery and its complacency in the discrimination… Read More »
[March 16, 2019] Movies can be really funny; especially those that play on old human weaknesses. The 1997 movie, Liar Liar, starring Jim Carrey, is a real treat; particularly, as Carrey is a lawyer who tells the truth for 24 hours straight. To be a good person and to be a true leader one should tell the truth… Read More »
[March 15, 2019] I’ve known Billy Ray for close to 30 years, and he has been a feature in one of the many rural towns where I lived. Billy Ray is not the smartest guy around, and neither is he rich or famous. But he leads a small group of amateur clowns that bring smiles to be needy… Read More »
[March 14, 2019] Yesterday, I spoke with several senior officials from a local college near my home. They wanted to understand how to attract more military veterans, and a discussion ensued about what it meant to succeed at college. Then I spoke about how important it was in defining failure to the veteran; specifically, its ramifications when hidden… Read More »
[March 13, 2018] Showing moral courage in the face of great adversity is a much more difficult act than showing physical courage in combat. Many combat leaders are known for their bravery in the face of a deadly enemy but wilt when their nerves fail under the spotlight that threatens what they believe. Today, I’m highlighting Nick Sandmann… Read More »
[March 12, 2019] I love dogs. Most folks do, and that explains why people in the United States spend more on dog care than their government spends on poverty programs.1 The phrase, pick of the litter is an idiom meaning to pick the best from a group. Usually referring to a dog litter, its meaning can apply to… Read More »
[March 11, 2018] Leadership is about solving problems. A common reason for leadership failure to solve problems can be traced back to unprepared leaders who are either too overconfident or they don’t care. Hal Moore addressed this in his latest book, Winning When Outgunned and Outmanned. He called it his Rule of Doubt. “The troops can smell BS… Read More »
[March 10, 2019] As my driver and I approached the main gate of an Iraqi combat base, something didn’t seem quite right. Our vehicle was fully armored, but that can’t protect you that against 30 armed soldiers (or were they, insurgents?). Luckily, we were able to turn around and beat a hasty retreat. Later we found out that… Read More »
[March 9, 2019] All great leaders in human history have lived by a set of principles that focused their efforts and pushed them beyond what any normal person would go. Their principles will use different words but what they mean is the same thing; leadership in action. It should then come as no surprise that the famous U.S.… Read More »