[November 5, 2019] It is a military axiom as old as armies have been in existence that the best defense is an offense. The meaning should be clear; in military circles, the emphasis is always on how to gain the advantage, and that is accomplished by taking the fight to the enemy. Today, I’ll discuss the significance of… Read More »
[November 4, 2019] If there is one thing I learned as a leader, it was that it’s not about what I did that I regret, it’s what I didn’t do. During my travels and meeting folks all over the world, I had the opportunity to discuss what leaders like and dislike. Often the conversation turns to leader regrets.… Read More »
[November 3, 2019] British Prime Minister Winston Churchill once said that “History is written by the victors.” He was talking about how future generations would view World War II and the bloodbath that constituted its essential elements. Likewise, we rarely hear about the Polar Bear Expedition of Allied Forces that attacked Russia in the midst of their Revolution. … Read More »
[October 30, 2019] The idea that leaders are made and not born is one I’ve advanced in the pages of my leadership blog since its inception. It has been one of my core principles; based on overwhelming evidence across time and cultures. While new light emerges on the influence of our genetic makeup on leadership, nothing specific has… Read More »
[October 29, 2019] All humans need to search for the meaning of life. Like all others, leaders, too, need something to sustain them; to provide them with proper motivations and make them feel whole. And this sustaining meaning comes only from the adoption of responsibilities. I’ve discussed the importance of the search and acceptance of responsibilities several times… Read More »
[October 25, 2019] The ultimate test of a personal character is an individual who respects those who can be of no possible service to him. The specifics of how that is done are complex but the fundamental ideas of respect are found in good communications. “The enemies cannot destroy the king who has at his service the respect… Read More »
[October 21, 2019] A small group of young teenage boys sat on my living room floor to watch the movie Zulu (1964). We were good friends and all raised in small towns of rural Louisiana, but we were also insular in our understanding of the world. This movie provided us with a shocking glimpse into the real world. … Read More »
[October 19, 2019] It was a tough, brutally hot day back in August of 2006. I was to meet my new “counterpart” in the Iraqi Army. My task was to “Get to know him and see what his problems are.” What I didn’t expect was that one of the Iraqi Brigade engineers had been horribly disfigured by an… Read More »
[October 18, 2019] It’s not easy being in the military. You have competing priorities with complex assignments and demanding commanders. To be successful, you have to think hard about your mission and your teammates. In battle, you have to shoot, move, and communicate. “Think, think, think, that is what we are trying to install because your mind is… Read More »
[October 15, 2019] The average person thinks that when people make mistakes, they should be punished (e.g., fired from their job, go to prison). This, however, does not fit reality. From experience, leaders quickly learn to tolerate the mistakes of others. They have learned that making mistakes is a well-trodden path to success for us all. Immediate punishment… Read More »