[March 29, 2018] Riding my horse in the backcountry of West Virginia, one day I ran upon a man living alone in a shack by himself. I stopped to water my horse and speak with the man who looked to be one of the toughest men on the face of the Earth. From him, I learned more about… Read More »
[March 24, 2018] Just this past week the personal assistant to the President of the United States, John McEntee, was unceremoniously walked out of the White House and fired from his job.1 The reason given was that his security clearance could not be approved. Also, White House advisor Jared Kushner’s clearance was downgraded.2 The processes for obtaining and… Read More »
[March 19, 2018] It’s been said that American culture encourages us to be so self-centered that just about anything we do for ourselves is acceptable – overindulge no problem; disrespect others, they deserved it; don’t finish school, okay. One thing we do know about American society is that three-quarters of us are also unfit to join the military.1,2… Read More »
[March 12, 2018] We’re all guilty of failing to show respect to our subordinates at one time or another. Whether unknowingly or worse, purposefully, we have not shown the respect due others; that which is required of us as leaders. Yet whether a subordinate deserves respect is irrelevant; showing it at all times is an unwritten requirement of… Read More »
[March 7, 2018] If you listen to renowned Canadian psychologist Jordan Peterson, he will tell you that to make life meaningful, one must take on demanding responsibilities. Any good leader could tell you the same thing. While everyone has certain societal rights they also have responsibilities and that what makes the world a decent place to work, worship,… Read More »
By guest blogger Sadako Red [see disclaimer] [January 24, 2018] Alas, the City of Baltimore (my beloved town where I was born, raised, & still have family) is on a cultural slide toward failure of a magnitude not seen since towns ceased to exist in the Great Depression. Robberies, murder, rape, and a slew of crimes are on… Read More »
[February 22, 2018] The idea that leaders are where the action is has a long history both glorious and practical. Ride to the sounds of the guns is an old catchphrase of militaries around the world.1 It is an appeal to aggressive action at the point of battle and is a central idea in great leadership. The best… Read More »
[February 18, 2018] Clint Eastwood once said that “The guys who won World War II and that whole generation have disappeared, and now we have a bunch of teenage twits.” As documented in James Bradley’s popular Flags of Our Fathers (2000), Eastwood’s reference to the greatest generation was as much out of respect for their great accomplishments as it was… Read More »
[February 17, 2018] While my leadership post today is not a movie review – a movie called The 15:17 to Paris just came out – it is about what leaders do and what they should do in extraordinary situations. If there is anything trained leaders are taught, it is that being passive and being hesitant to make a decision… Read More »
[February 2, 2018] Good leaders have many friends. Great leaders have true friends. Some say that the best way to succeed in one’s profession is to have a wide network of folks who are helpful. Such a network can be tapped for information, advice, and encouragement. Yet, what the network can rarely provide, something only true friends can,… Read More »