[May 22, 2026] Death is what makes things matter to us. Death makes things real, gives us focus, and supplies motivation because we can see our end is soon to be. It fosters morality by forcing us to confront the human need for social cooperation, reciprocity, and group survival. Death gives life urgency and meaning. Death is a… Read More »
[May 21, 2026] Undoubtedly, our military will study for years to come, the “war” on Iran. It will be seen as a case of overwhelming kinetic strength (U.S. forces) versus leadership willpower (Iran). More importantly, the war’s impact on America and its allies will reshape how world governments operate for decades to come. However, the short-term question is,… Read More »
[May 19, 2026] As a General Officer in the U.S. Army, I witnessed many self-inflicted mistakes made by fellow generals. This article is about those mistakes. Six years ago, I wrote a similar piece on the mistakes junior officers commonly make. There are some clear similarities. First, I want everyone to understand that my comments here combine personal… Read More »
[May 16, 2026] The military command ‘stand your ground’ has deep roots in U.S. Army history, dating back to the American Revolutionary War. On the night of April 19, 1775, Captain John Parker gave his now-famous order to his men. “Stand your ground… Don’t fire until fired upon. But if they want to have a war, let it… Read More »
[May 14, 2026] You’ve got to be tough as nails to be a good person because you have to stand your ground when you need to stand your ground. And, you have to be able to say no when it’s time to say no, and you have to mean it. Grow a spine! Develop your internal, physical strength,… Read More »
[May 13, 2026] Over several decades, I had the privilege of closely observing highly effective leaders across U.S. and foreign militaries. I studied what enabled them to accomplish demanding missions under pressure and deliberately worked to adopt their approaches. A clear pattern emerged. The following traits and behaviors consistently predicted superior military performance. Intelligence Higher intelligence, as measured… Read More »
[May 11, 2026] We are each morally and socially obligated to do remarkable things. This is because the world is a difficult place, and being part of it means we owe it to ourselves and to others to be fully engaged. Otherwise, we risk becoming embittered, depressed, and hateful. Yesterday, under Rule 63, I wrote that “life is… Read More »
[May 10, 2026] You have less time for the many things you want to do, much less time than you think. Be aware of that, and be grateful and awake. Maximize the time and minimize the wasteful, stupid, unnecessary behavior, because you do not know when your time is up or when those opportunities will vanish. Your time… Read More »
[May 8, 2026] Find something worthwhile and difficult to do in your life. Why? Humans are not made for comfort or for pleasure. If those sorts of things come along in your life, then be grateful and enjoy those short-term pleasures, then move on. Your life should not be aimed at comfort or pleasure; doing so is reprehensible,… Read More »
[May 5, 2026] Your enemies will tell you things about yourself that you do not know and that no one else will tell you. Of course, some of those things might not be true. But some of them will. And if your enemies tell you something terrible about yourself that’s true; they immediately become your harshest critics and… Read More »