[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 »
[January 14, 2019] About two decades ago, psychologists hit upon a discovery that stopped them in their tracks. They had proposed that the more responsibility people possess, the more stress they have and thus less satisfaction in their life. It turns out, counterintuitive to their way of thinking, that the tough job of shouldering responsibility is directly related… Read More »
[December 29, 2018] The Boy Scout Law has 12 values that each scout swears to each day. The 5th one is courteous. Since the beginnings of humankind began, it has been a basic understanding that to get along with others, earn their respect, and be free of mind; then one must be courteous to all. “The true greatness… Read More »
[July 17, 2018] As I write this from Boy Scout campsite Yawgoog, our boys are getting ready to trek to dinner and show their scout spirit. This is the end of day 2 at Boy Scout summer camp in rural southern New Jersey. So far, we’ve re-learned a few leader lessons worth sharing. The Boy Scout Motto is… Read More »
[April 19, 2018] Last week, a Boy Scout in the Troop in which I volunteer, asked me how he could get younger scouts to attend more meetings. After discussing the issue with him for a few minutes, I brought up the subject of what military leaders do and don’t do to motivate soldiers. “Dream more than others think… Read More »
[January 15, 2018] Yesterday evening at our local Boy Scout meeting, I was asked by the newly elected Senior Patrol Leader a question that I’ve been asked hundreds of times while serving in the U.S. Army. This 15 year old asked me what is good leadership. He wanted to know because he knew it was the core of… Read More »
[November 3, 2017] At theLeaderMaker.com I have a short series that identifies “tools” – usually established by other leaders – that help real leaders be better at what they do and work more efficiently and effectively (see a few list in the notes section). Leaders carry various items in their toolbox that are designed with care and tested… Read More »
[August 9, 2017] A good friend of mine (I’ll call her Jane) lied about her minor criminal background on her application to be a U.S. Army officer; this happened many decades ago. Jane was commissioned a lieutenant, received a secret clearance, performed well, and years later was considered for the rank of Brigadier General. When leaders lie bad… Read More »
[August 2, 2017] I’ve written before, here in theLeaderMaker.com that the most important leadership characteristic is “caring” about others (see link here). While I believe that is true, there are many who make the argument that the most important leader trait is having a good moral foundation. Without a moral foundation, the argument states, there is no other… Read More »
[June 28, 2017] I was fortunate to attend one of the U.S. military’s General Officer courses a number of years ago and to develop a number of friendships that endure to this day. Called CAPSTONE, the four week course covers a number of major issues affecting national security.1 One lesson the course repeatedly reinforced was that leadership means… Read More »