[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 »
[October 22, 2018] Occasionally, I run across a story that impresses me; not because it’s about someone overcoming adversity (which is newsworthy) but because important lessons are learned from it. David Goggins is a retired Navy SEAL and shares a story of his difficult journey and in doing so gives us a number of valuable life and leadership… Read More »
[October 20, 2018] Technology continues to progress in all areas of life but one that I will highlight today is in the video industry. Peter Jackson, from “Lord of the Rings” fame, has applied his talents to bring to life old, silent film footage of World War I. Recently released, he put his genius to use in an… Read More »
[October 16, 2018] In 2017, thirty years after the making of one of my favorite movies Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), I had the privilege to speak with its star, Robin Williams. He was on a USO goodwill tour overseas and that’s how we met. The first thing I asked was about this movie. I never really knew the… Read More »
[September 17, 2018] I’ve been asked on several occasions to re-publish a few of my older articles on the U.S. military as a way to reintroduce the concept of “effectiveness in teams.” Today I’ve done that with an article on battle-hardened troops. Enjoy! [Originally published September 2, 2014] There are few things more confusing in military debate circles… Read More »