[August 7, 2020] Theodore Roosevelt became the youngest President in the Nation’s history when he assumed those responsibilities upon the death of William McKinley. Roosevelt took the view that the Presidency was the “steward of the people.” And, we can find a similar leadership philosophy in the company called Trader Joe’s. “It is only through labor and painful… Read More »
[July 20, 2020] Nearly every article I write in my leadership blog, I used the word “success.” Yet, I never define it, nor do I spend any effort to explain what I mean. If you are like me, we assume the other person implicitly understands and agrees with our criteria for success. Most of us, those who live… Read More »
[July 16, 2020] It isn’t easy to run a business. To do it successfully during poor economic times is even more problematic. A few days ago, the recently-hired New York Times opinion editor, published a scathing resignation letter about the “toxic and destructive” culture of the old Gray Lady. Bari Weiss posted her letter in a classic example… Read More »
[June 28, 2020] I’ve been to the U.S. Army Fort Benning, Georgia, many times, receiving training, giving lectures and speeches, and attending a variety of schools. Like many Infantry officers before me, I gave no thought to who the fort was named after or why. But who was Henry Benning?1 Henry Benning, the fort’s namesake, was a Brigadier… Read More »
[June 2, 2020] After a peaceful day of protests in Atlantic City, New Jersey, mostly black rioters, started destroying storefronts throughout the city. Atlantic City is small compared to Minneapolis, New York City, or Seattle. But it’s mayor, Marty Small, Sr., is a big man, a man with ideas on how to make the lives of his citizens… Read More »
[May 20, 2020] It is impossible to forget the day NASA’s Apollo 11 mission launch occurred. The day at Kennedy Space Center, Merritt Island, Florida, was bright and sunny on July 16, 1970, and much was riding on the success of the mission. The man who was key to the success of that launch was George Low, NASA… Read More »
[May 15, 2020] The first time I heard of Jersey Mike’s sub shop was while attending a New York Yankee’s baseball game in their stadium in the Bronx. What I didn’t know was that their subs are enormously popular in New Jersey and New York. Since their founding in 1956, the owner has expanded his sub-franchise into a… Read More »
[April 30, 2020] “Boogie down” and “10-4, good buddy” are slang from the 70s and 80s. It sure is hard to forget them. There were four classic Vietnam War noir films from that era that also helped shape our culture, understanding of the war, and the American way of life. Drenched with atmosphere, suspense, and horror, these four… Read More »
[April 19, 2020] Today, I would like to take a moment to discuss the novel, The Red Badge of Courage (1895)1 and link ideas in this fictional account of war to modern thinking on soldiering. As a young teenager, I discovered an old paperback copy stuffed in the back of my grandfather’s tool shed. My grandfather was born… Read More »
[April 12, 2020] Three boys; all friends and inseparable. I thought I might present a short tale about these boys, one that became known as the story of the unknown boxes. At eleven years old, Randy, Wilson, and me (Doug) became eligible to join the Boy Scouts. What a great year it would be for us three as… Read More »