[December 15, 2021] August 1974 was hot and humid in the Deep South. I know because I was in U.S. Army Basic Training at Fort Polk, LA. The state of Louisiana is known for its heat, humidity, dangerous snakes, pine trees, cotton, and great country folks. I learned a lot, much about myself and the Army. There were… Read More »
[December 14, 2021] Since the beginning of humankind, we have painted on cave walls, carved pictures in wood, ivory, and bone, sang songs, danced, and told stories. The best stories were passed down from generation to generation. A teller of a good story puts you in the center of human existence. We are drawn to those who can… Read More »
[December 13, 2021] A measure of a good leader is not their popularity or their intelligence, but their ability to convince others to achieve important goals and to get things accomplished (get ‘er done). Over the past year, there has been a growing consensus that Vice President Kamala Harris has failed to live up to the hype about… Read More »
[December 10, 2021] Life is competition. Life is survival. But it is more! Life is about living morally, about playing the game and winning by the rules, knowing when to step up and be counted (often in the face of great danger). Life is tough, but it also brings great joy. Today, I will discuss a philosophy of… Read More »
[December 9, 2021] When things go wrong, terribly wrong, there is someone who steps up to slay the dragon. This is, of course, the classic hero. He is the knight that kills the dragon, rescues the maiden, and lives happily ever after. Well, that is how it goes in fairy tales. But this story is symbolic of human… Read More »
[December 8, 2021] Victory! Success! Mission accomplished! Surviving an emergency! All these have one thing in common. The common factor is not luck, who you know, or even how blessed you are. To be victorious, you must be ready. Nothing legitimately counters this fact. This article is part of a three-part series that lays out how to be… Read More »
[December 6, 2021] A good friend of mine was an outstanding leader of Soldiers. He was a U.S. Army Infantry officer, and he was the type of person you wanted to be in charge of troops in time of war. Bill was aggressive, reliable, trustworthy, and could operate with little guidance or help. His weakness was that he… Read More »
[December 5, 2021] Leaders must be sufficiently competent in their professions to survive. High-quality leaders can perform the duties of their job with an acceptable level of quality – a combination of knowledge, judgment, and skills. Such professional competence does not come without sacrifice. Technical competence will not assure a leader’s success since other traits are a part… Read More »
[December 3, 2021] FUBAR? Can you learn anything from today’s military? As the American people rapidly lose confidence in our military, America’s senior-most Generals and Admirals are doubling down on policies that have nothing to do with warfighting. We Americans “see” what’s happening, and we don’t like it. Is it even worth it for young people to join… Read More »
[December 2, 2021] During the U.S. Civil War, the early years were not going well for the Union under President Abraham Lincoln. Yet, his undertaking was designed to preserve the Union, and he strove to persuade, influence, incentivize, and communicate hope and resolve. What strategic lesson learned can we get from Lincoln’s actions? While most of us with… Read More »