The Gift of a Transformative Culture

It truly feels like yesterday. I remember the heat and the humidity. I can still hear the crack of rifles and the uniform stomp of boots as our company crossed the parade ground, drilling on display for friends and families. Within the Marine Corps, there’s a common cadence for public events – a predictable runContinue reading “The Gift of a Transformative Culture”

Climate Policy and American Exceptionalism: ‘Lead by Example’ is the Wrong Argument

Americans are competitors. It’s in our national DNA. That’s why I’m convinced President Biden’s administration is faltering when they argue ‘leading by example’ in the discussion of climate solutions. For better or worse, our national conscience is often driven by a finite, winner-take-all mindset driven by the way we talk about the issues and challengesContinue reading “Climate Policy and American Exceptionalism: ‘Lead by Example’ is the Wrong Argument”

No Need for 10,000 Hours

Your participation in advocacy is valuable precisely because you are an expert at something else.

There’s Room for Everyone to Succeed

The surest way to achieve your own goals is to help others achieve theirs. When we think of serving each other in this way, we acknowledge an abundance in the world around us – and that there’s more than enough for all of us to find success. I was reminded of this truism while paintingContinue reading “There’s Room for Everyone to Succeed”

Military Efficiency on Display

In the past week, the American Legion took one on the nose – and then punched right back. During a recent Memorial Day observance, a local post in Hudson, OH stumbled. The post had invited a retired Army Officer, and local resident, to serve in the keynote slot for the program. When Lieutenant Colonel KemterContinue reading “Military Efficiency on Display”

Jumpstart Your Advocates’ Infinite Mindsets

The Infinite Game. That’s a pretty heady title, right? Building on his success with Leaders Eat Last and Start With Why, Simon Sinek did not disappoint with the work he released in 2019. The Infinite Game was such a compelling piece that, in large measure, it served as the catalyst toward the eventual launch ofContinue reading “Jumpstart Your Advocates’ Infinite Mindsets”

The Weight of Our Words

Words have meaning. That’s a pretty simple statement, right? Obviously words have meaning, or else we wouldn’t use them. But sit with the phrase a little longer, and you may just stumble on to why this statement is drilled into the minds of leaders at every level of our military. As a Marine officer, youContinue reading “The Weight of Our Words”

Quit Apologizing for Living

I know the Thursday posts on this blog are typically devoted to advocacy. But I was caught in my tracks yesterday by a conversation with my spouse, and frankly it’s stuck in my craw. So this is a bit of a rant. In short, we were chatting about the challenges that working parents face withContinue reading “Quit Apologizing for Living”

Speaking of social media…

In the year and a half since I left a staff position in the electoral politics realm to lobby for an association, I’ve experienced an immense paradigm shift with regards to social media. I think it’s especially fitting to share this personal shift with you all as we’re in the middle of a series onContinue reading “Speaking of social media…”