For two dreadfully long weeks, Americans have wrestled with the events unfolding in Afghanistan – punctuated by the tragic loss of service members at the Kabul airport. But with the final American planes taking to the skies, many of us are left wondering: what’s next? There’s still a great deal of story left to beContinue reading “So, What’s Next?”
Tag Archives: Leadership
If Not Us, Who?
I know I tend to take a more positive tone in most of my posts, but we are now two weeks into the devastating failure of the Afghanistan evacuation and I’m struggling to find the light. Despite the administration’s efforts to reassure the international community by way of the tens of thousands evacuated so far,Continue reading “If Not Us, Who?”
A Worthy Read for the Moment
A fair amount of time has passed since I added a new recommendation to the Bookshelf. Today, I right that wrong. I was first introduced to the writing style of Thomas E. Ricks in his study of US Military leadership titled The Generals. Less a history and more of an organizational biography, The Generals tracksContinue reading “A Worthy Read for the Moment”
Choose Principles Over Polls
You can neither build back better, nor make America great again by refusing the role of leadership in the free world.
At a loss…
Let me start by acknowledging that my time in uniform never took me to Afghanistan. It simply wasn’t where the Marine Corps sent me. Nevertheless, I lost a few friends to that far away land. I’m writing tonight after a stunning few days when the world witnessed the implosion of twenty years worth of nationalContinue reading “At a loss…”
The Non-Profit Barriers to Advocacy
Non-profits have a corner on the passion market, but often miss their opportunities to harness those passions. Let’s start by acknowledging the simple fact that non-profits have it tough. Constantly scrapping, chasing grant dollars and donors to just scrape by. Despite the overwhelming generosity available in the world, there’s never enough to go around forContinue reading “The Non-Profit Barriers to Advocacy”
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”
The Pesky Problems of a Crisis Mindset
“If everything is a priority, then nothing is a priority.” Some Marine Officer, sometime I honestly can’t remember just when I heard this USMC truism, but it’s one of those that I encountered repeatedly in uniform. It may not be fully fair, but I’m going to accredit this one to my former Commanding Officer. ForContinue reading “The Pesky Problems of a Crisis Mindset”
The Indispensable Senator from Ohio
The seeds of history making statesmanship are planted in late January. At least that’s my latest theory. On January 25th, 2021 US Senator Rob Portman announced he would retire at the end of his current term. While the political class jumped straight to discussions of potential successors, they missed Portman’s transition from Senator to Statesman.Continue reading “The Indispensable Senator from Ohio”
“I Want You to be Wildly Successful”
Has anyone ever told you that? That statement has been running through my mind the last few days. I heard those words from an organizational leader once as I was entering a new role. Predictably that well chosen phrase fortified me. How freeing to be told, from the opening bell, to pursue change, growth andContinue reading ““I Want You to be Wildly Successful””
Part of the Possible 