[November 16, 2018] A senior U.S. Navy admiral once told me that he wished for a penny for every time sailors told him that they were ‘just following orders.’ Usually, it was after some major blunder where things had gone terribly wrong and they were trying to make-up an excuse for their failure. I was just following orders… Read More »
[November 15, 2018] Much is to be learned from war whether we want to admit it or not. Now that we are at the 100th anniversary of the end of the “Great War,” most citizens remain reluctant to revisit the horror so that we may learn valuable lessons. One lesson is that great leaders do not lead from… Read More »
[November 10, 2018] Tomorrow is the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. Today that war continues to provide valuable lessons for those who believe leadership can make a difference. Lions led by donkeys is a popular phrase used to describe the British Infantry during the war. It is said that valiant British troops (the “lions”)… Read More »
[November 8, 2018] If you are one of the doubting-ninnies that thought the terror group ISIS was just another religious movement meant to bring a different brand of Islam to the Middle East, you were wrong. Now that ISIS has been pushed back and large swaths of Iraq territory retaken, the evil of their ideology is finally being… Read More »
[October 30, 2018] Divide and conquer is an old piece of military advice. If you want to win at war, be prepared to divide your enemy and attack them piecemeal in battle. That, however, does not work when leaders are divisive; which is what the tactic of divide and conquer is about. By being divisive, there may be… Read More »
[October 29, 2018] Sometimes you have a noteworthy idea, one that is difficult to put into words. I certainly do. In 1984, I had one of those aha-moments while watching television and saw a Gillette underarm-deodorant commercial. Never let them see you sweat was their tagline and is now a famous slogan. It put into words what I… Read More »
[October 27, 2018] One of my advantages that gained leadership fundamentals for me was to grow up in a small town in the southern states of the U.S. Everyone knew everyone. Also, everyone was not hesitant to tell you to get your act straight whenever they believed you needed their advice; which was always. I lost track of… Read More »
[October 25, 2018] More than 100 years ago “fake news” was so common – even in the most respected newspapers – that it is referred to as one of the greatest travesties ever in the history of journalism. Interestingly, it began with the Battle of the Yellow Kids in the 1890s and expanded to falsehoods that encompassed the… Read More »
[October 24, 2018] Today’s article is not about the reality show, Little People, Big World. While I’m a fan of the show and especially the star Matt Roloff , I am looking at ‘little people’ in a different way. Leaders often see people who are nowhere close to their power level as little people or perhaps a better… Read More »
[October 18, 2018] Check Your 6, also phrased as Watch Your Back, is an appropriate warning for those who live under the precepts of good leadership. As we know, what a leader says and does will be misinterpreted; either unintentionally or purposefully. That is why leaders must ensure that they are perpetually prepared to defend what they do.… Read More »