Discipline and Trust: a Common Thread

By | June 18, 2019

[June 18, 2019] It seems like yesterday that I joined the U.S. Army. That was 45 years ago, and my thinking hasn’t changed much since then. My values remain largely unchanged, and my commitment remains rock-solid. What has changed, however, was my devotion to the discipline necessary to succeed and my understanding that only through discipline can we… Read More »

The Buddy System

By | June 17, 2019

[June 17, 2019] “Find a buddy. You’ve got 10 seconds,” the Drill Sergeant screamed at us as we arrived at Fort Polk, Louisiana for boot camp. Private Thibaut Lemieux, a Cajun from southern Louisiana, stood next to me and we instantly became part of the Army’s mandated buddy system. Thibaut (pronounced t-bow) and I were inseparable throughout the… Read More »

The Moro Rebellion: 1899 – 1913

By | June 16, 2019

[June 16, 2019] If you’re Pilipino, you probably know about the Battle of Bud Bagsak (part of the Moro Rebellion, June 1913). Almost no one else has heard of the battle; certainly not in U.S. military circles. This final battle was the end of the resistance in the Philippine-American War (1899-1902).   It was weird that I had not… Read More »

5 Secret Tips Every Entrepreneur Must Know

By | June 15, 2019

[June 15, 2019] Running your own business means that you always need to wear different hats. At the same time, you are a CEO, HR, finance director, and more. Even if you have people who are responsible for these duties, still you need to oversee everything. There is no secret formula for how to become a successful entrepreneur,… Read More »

Flag Day in the U.S.

By | June 14, 2019

[June 14, 2019] Today is Flag Day in the United States. As a military veteran, the date is important to me because it symbolizes what is good about our country, our history, and its free people. That may seem like an old-fashioned sentiment but it is exactly what it takes to maintain support for a strong military and… Read More »

The Long Pole in the Tent

By | June 12, 2019

[June 12, 2019] As a Buck Sergeant in the U.S. Army, I heard many military idioms and often wondered if military officers existed just to confuse sergeants. Since retiring from the army, referring to something like the long pole in the tent has become one of my favorite expressions. The problem is that it has more than one… Read More »

Take a Knee

By | June 10, 2019

[June 10, 2019] Last year while visiting Arlington National Cemetery, I came upon a group of U.S. Marines who had taken a knee next to the grave of their Company Commander who had been killed in battle. They were showing their respect for the man who had saved them in 2004 at the Second Battle of Fallujah. To… Read More »