[March 3, 2019] The 3 Cs of danger for leaders are conformism, corruption, and coercion. I first learned about these from Sergeant Darryl Johnson, Vietnam Vet, and my first team leader. When we met, it was just after 2 am on a cold December morning in West Germany; arriving at his barracks after riding in the back of… Read More »
[February 15, 2019] I’m no historian, and the subject of history was one I hated in school. Only later in life did I realize that the proper study of our history can teach valuable lessons long after an event occurred. Two years ago I moved to Southern New Jersey. Driving around the rural part of the state, only… Read More »
[January 18, 2019] With the 100 anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I, there has been a renewed focus on the mistakes that started the war. That is a noble and worthwhile cause. On the other hand, today is the anniversary of the beginning of the WWI peace talks; January 18, 1919. I will address some… Read More »
[January 13, 2019] The famous leadership expert, John C. Maxwell, once said that “You are the only person who can label what you do a failure. Failure is subjective.” I’m sure that if Mr. Maxwell had been a part of British General W.G.K. Elphinstone’s army in retreat and its subsequent massacre in the narrow Khyber Pass, Afghanistan, Mr.… Read More »
[November 20, 2018] I was laughing, the kind of laugh we rarely have, while my good friend Frank was telling me about the people where he worked. You see, Frank is a “character” himself and to hear his stories about acquaintances at work was really entertaining. You see, Frank calls those who he works with, “slackers, cowards, and… Read More »
[October 27, 2018] One of my advantages that gained leadership fundamentals for me was to grow up in a small town in the southern states of the U.S. Everyone knew everyone. Also, everyone was not hesitant to tell you to get your act straight whenever they believed you needed their advice; which was always. I lost track of… Read More »
[October 4, 2018] As leaders we often discuss the importance of bringing new people into our organization and helping them adopt the institution’s culture. Leadership means many things but to accept someone is a part of taking care of them. The U.S. Army has a patch ceremony that begins this process as a formal recognition that new members… Read More »
[September 15, 2018] A few long-time readers will recognize this title from a similar article from early last year (see link). In it I wrote that great leaders understanding people are at the central theme of leadership. But there is more. Leadership is also influenced heavily by one’s culture. Culture is an accumulation of behavioral practices that both… Read More »
[May 4, 2018] I saved this column for Friday to give my readers a little levity to charge into the weekend with something less serious. I’ve spent a lot of time in the U.S. military and during that time, living in many foreign nations, I saw some of the smartest, most interesting, and richest people on the planet. … Read More »
[April 21, 2017] Growing up in the Deep South of the United States never stunted my intellectual growth because I was surrounded by military veterans who told of their experiences. Once such story was relayed to me by my father, who spoke with retired U.S. Army General “Black Jack” Pershing. Pershing told my father of the story of… Read More »