[March 23, 2019] In a speech after the brutal U.S. Civil War ended, Army General William Tecumseh Sherman said “I tell you, war is Hell.”1 He was a man who knew the viciousness of war and the terrible price people pay. But he was also adamant that when the going gets tough, character counts more than anything else.… Read More »
[March 22, 2019] Before I graduated from High School, I went to see the movie Patton (1970) with friends I would never see again. My takeaway from the movie was that the Germans were not that good and British General Bernard Montgomery was both egotistical and a highly overrated commander.1 American filmmakers routinely portray WWII as being won… Read More »
[March 21, 2019] I began this series on “good habits” several years ago out of a desire to give simple advice to up-and-coming leaders.1 Picking good daily habits for leaders is easy because there are many to choose from. Today, I’ll be focusing on the usefulness of beginning your day with a hardy greeting. “One of the most… Read More »
[March 20, 2019] Warfare is often referred to as “managed” chaos. Likewise, life is full of chaotic events that create challenges that must be overcome if we are to be fully human. Leaders, those of us who are on the cutting edge of societal development, are there to create order out of chaos. “The battlefield is a scene… Read More »
[March 19, 2019] Modern journalism is at a crossroads. Will those in the profession follow the difficult path that made them so essential to freedom or will they chose the easier path by surrendering to ideological or dogmatic by-products? Leadership in journalism is failing and the repercussions are far-reaching. “Fake news” is a derogatory term used to describe… Read More »
[March 18, 2019] A few days ago, I attended a presentation at a local Veterans get-together. An Army veteran gave a presentation on cemeteries in Europe and what they meant to him. I was surprised to hear that his father, killed during World War II, was buried in the Margraten Cemetery, Netherlands. The 8,301 American soldiers buried at… Read More »
[March 17, 2019] The recent terror attack that killed 49 at two New Zealand mosques has pushed Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan into the news again. Just as U.S. politician Rahm Emanuel said, “Never let a good crisis go to waste,” Erdoğan has again railed against the West for its on-going debauchery and its complacency in the discrimination… Read More »
[March 16, 2019] Movies can be really funny; especially those that play on old human weaknesses. The 1997 movie, Liar Liar, starring Jim Carrey, is a real treat; particularly, as Carrey is a lawyer who tells the truth for 24 hours straight. To be a good person and to be a true leader one should tell the truth… Read More »
[March 15, 2019] I’ve known Billy Ray for close to 30 years, and he has been a feature in one of the many rural towns where I lived. Billy Ray is not the smartest guy around, and neither is he rich or famous. But he leads a small group of amateur clowns that bring smiles to be needy… Read More »
[March 14, 2019] Yesterday, I spoke with several senior officials from a local college near my home. They wanted to understand how to attract more military veterans, and a discussion ensued about what it meant to succeed at college. Then I spoke about how important it was in defining failure to the veteran; specifically, its ramifications when hidden… Read More »