[December 7, 2018] There will be times when even the most successful will suffer from significant setbacks but only from those harsh lessons can great success truly emerge. And so it was on this date, December 7, 1941, that the United States suffered greatly from the destructive attack on its naval base at Pearl Harbor.1 “It’s fine to… Read More »
[December 4, 2018] The U.S. Civil War was the product of a divided nation resulting from an attempt by southern states to break from the union. Weighing their personal beliefs, citizens had to choose which side they threw their support to; the Union or the Confederacy. John C. Breckinridge was one of these men who would come away… Read More »
[November 30, 2018] Hi readers! This weekend, I have a special treat. Readers of my leadership website know that I regularly accept guest blogging. I do this to add a little flair and change the scenery. We’ve read some really good ones; some better than what you typically find out on the Web. Please take time to read… Read More »
[November 29, 2018] Like many of my generation, I grew up hearing the phrase, ‘You’re a better man than I am, Gunga Din!’ It comes from the 1890 poem by Rudyard Kipling; written from the point of view of an English soldier in India. Understanding the poem means the reader has learned that the character of a person… Read More »
[November 27, 2018] I hate hats.1 I hate wearing them, keeping them looking good, and I hate the way they fit on my head. If it’s raining, I use an umbrella or hood on my coat to keep the rain off my head. But, over time I’ve come to realize that hats also define my leadership. By that… Read More »
[November 21, 2018] There are a lot of things leaders do to make themselves approachable.1 They do this for many reasons; all of which have to do with acting as a catalyst to get the mission accomplished and taking care of people. One thing all good leaders do is laugh at other people’s jokes. Of course, this idea… Read More »
[November 18, 2018] There are many photographs from World War II that tell a story if you look at them and understand a little about the war. Below is one of my favorites. It shows British soldier Horace Greasley looking through a barbed-wire defense at Nazi Heinrich Himmler1 (wearing spectacles). Horace Greasley was a Prisoner of War in… Read More »
[November 14, 2018] The comradeship of soldiers on the battlefield is well known. Like the Band of Brothers of World War II fame, made famous by the book and movie, men in war band together for friendship, protection, security, and faith. Likewise, the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan brought people together from across the world and thrust… Read More »
[November 11, 2018] Today is the anniversary of the end of the Great War at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month – 100 years ago. Nearly 20 million people died by that time and the horror would only be relived two decades later when mistakes were made that helped precipitate World War II… Read More »
[October 31, 2018] Occasionally we are the lucky ones who have someone in our family that keeps us on the straight path to being a good person and who does so by dispensing practical guidance. My maternal grandmother, we called her bigmama, was a no-nonsense lady with the utmost integrity, moral strength, and compassion. “Don’t allow your fears… Read More »