[January 10, 2021] Sociologists tell us that culture affects perception, and perceptions drive behavior. Some parts of our culture influence us in different ways, and some are more powerful than others. Growing up, like so many kids, I watched television and saw something exciting and educational. One show that I favored was The Rat Patrol (1966-1968). Starring Christopher… Read More »
[January 8, 2021] Of the many American battles to study, the Battle of New Orleans ranks right up there with the best. Lessons from the battle are many. The battle was one of the last and the most bloody of the War of 1812. This war was what many Americans saw as the “Second War of Independence.”1 By… Read More »
[January 6, 2021] Working with great leaders brings many advantages, not all of which are directly related to learning how to think and act appropriately. First, as an enlisted soldier and then as an officer, I was able to see leadership from two different perspectives. In my opinion, the U.S. military is the best place to observe and… Read More »
[January 5, 2021] I am fortunate to have worked with, as well as worked for, some of the worst officers that the U.S. Army ever produced. I’m happy for the opportunity because, as Army senior leaders often note, you can still learn much from a poor leader. Some of the worst leader traits I found in new U.S.… Read More »
[January 4, 2021] There is a wise saying that goes something like this, “Censorship reflects a lack of self-awareness in the agent.” Over the past several years, social media companies have been exercising censorship over speech with which they disagree. Those who censor the ideas of others are themselves practitioners of moral cowardice. “When you tear out a… Read More »
[January 1, 2021] Greetings! So began the letter’s salutation from the U.S. Government draft board. Still, in High School and 17 years old, the letter did not surprise me. However, it was to put me on a journey that ended many decades later. What I learned along the way was that trust is at the core of being… Read More »
[December 30, 2020] In late 1981, I received a call from a good friend, Stanley, who lives in Pennsylvania. He said, “You gotta watch this lady talking on the television.” Later, I discovered it was a Catholic nun that went by ‘Mother Angelica.’ She was tough. If you didn’t measure up, she would call you out quick. By… Read More »
[December 22, 2020] Like many who grow up regularly competing in sports, we often experience the thrill of victory and “the agony of defeat.” Competition in the world of sports habitually means competing with our fellow teammates, not just the other team. Fortunately, we quickly learn about sportsmanship and are rarely threatened by the success of others. But,… Read More »
[December 21, 2020] I never was a big fan of watching television or going to the movies. To me, it was a waste of time. However, readers of my leadership blog will note that I occasionally refer to films because of their value in understanding leadership. One such documentary, The Somme (2005), is one of them. Are movies… Read More »
[December 19, 2020] One of my early attempts at earning money also involved, unintentionally, filling the role of team leader. Two of my friends and I decided to “make some quarters” by raking up our neighbors’ leaves. I look back to that time, see my ignorance, and chuckle. But there were lessons to learn, and I did indeed… Read More »