[February 3, 2019] Someone once said that the mythic journey of life is always about selflessness. And so, in today’s leadership blog, I recognize the sacrifice of four U.S. Army Chaplains. Their bravery and selflessness in the face of mortal danger show us the pinnacle of what it means to be a man of profound decency. On this… Read More »
[January 30, 2019] A few years ago I found my very first Platoon Leader on a military website. He had pinned mosquito wings (Private E-2) onto my collar while stationed in Siegelsbach, West Germany and given me some much-needed assistance and advice. I was able to show gratitude and appreciation for his help by thanking him. “Gratitude is… Read More »
[January 29, 2019] In 1965, Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke before a large crowd in Selma, Alabama where he said: “no lie can live forever.”1 The speech marked a turning point in the Civil Rights Movement that was to force American politicians to accept that all citizens had the right to vote finally. At the heart of MLK’s… Read More »
[January 28, 2019] It was a great personal shock to me when my family moved from a small, sleepy Louisiana town to a large, vibrant Texas city. It was in that first year of High School that I first came across students and teachers who were likable (but not popular) and those who were popular (but not very… Read More »
[January 25, 2019] Leadership comes in many forms. Yet, of the more undervalued leaders, those who provide moral and intellectual arguments for or against a particular idea hold a special role. Their advocacy can be compelling as it was for Professor Wilhelm Röpke (sometimes spelled Roepke). Wilhelm Röpke (1899 – 1966) devoted his life to combating collectivism in… Read More »
[January 11, 2019] You don’t need a chest full of medals, possess a fabulous resume, or have a handsome face to have it. Command presence is a leader’s projection to everyone present of an advanced form of authority, trust, and respect. Often described as an allusive quality, command presence is plainly noticeable when you observe someone firmly in… Read More »
[November 9, 2018] The only limit to your impact on any undertaking is your commitment to the dream. Success in life runs along a meandering, twisted path that eludes most people. Only those who have commitment to walking on that path are those who will achieve want they dream. “Unless commitment is made, there are only promises and… Read More »
[February 27, 2018] On a muddy flat of palm trees, sand, and grass, U.S. General Peter W. Chiarelli, Commander 1st Calvary Division, was asked by an Infantry Squad Leader what he thought was the best thing he could do for the unit. This sergeant and his teammates had been under sustained enemy contact during the early part of… Read More »
[February 25, 2018] Today’s blog post will stray a little but is still about leadership and those things that make for great leaders. For those who are unaware of the man Richard Marcinko, he is the founder of the U.S. Navy SEAL Team 6 and Red Cell. Often known by the name, Rogue Warrior,1 some ask the basic… Read More »
[February 8, 2018] Leadership today involves navigating some of the most difficult situations without any signpost markers along the way telling us which way is best. That means a leader must be, by definition, resilient, tough-minded, and inner directed But more than anything else, a leader must have the self-awareness to “see” solutions to the obstacles of life.… Read More »