Posts with the ‘Habits’ tag
“Why should I do that?” she asked. “It’s called leadership.” I said trying to reassure her. “It’s what leaders do.” Webster defines leadership. College textbooks define leadership. Leadership books define leadership. I even define leadership. (Leadership: Beyond the Dictionary Definition) Sometimes those definitions are adequate and sometimes they are not. Some are very academic, some […]
“Talent without discipline is like an octopus on roller skates. There is plenty of movement but you never know if it is going forward, backward or sideways.” -H. Jackson Brown Me: “Hey Laura. How are things going?” Laura: “It’s been a busy week Dave. I’ve been running non-stop since Monday.” I always want to surround […]
It had been almost five years since I had seen my West Point classmate. I always enjoyed seeing him. We have a common bond all academy graduates have. But, after our first hour together, he said something that rocked my world. “Dave, you haven’t changed a bit.” I smiled and secretly hoped he was talking […]
I’ve been meaning to write this blog for a while…. (See what I did there?) I am a world-class procrastinator. I have years of experience under my belt in putting off things I do not like doing. I have also spent a lot of time trying find ways to stop procrastinating. I have read books. […]
In May, I had the opportunity to speak to 600+ people at the Chick Fil A Leadercast that was simulcasted into our local venue. A big thrill was following John Maxwell. I also spoke right before Coach K! Here is the video of that presentation. The character tests cadets face at West Point builds leaders. That […]
He was more amped up then a Chihuahua after a can of Red Bull. Here was my peer yelling at me because some people were sitting in the wrong area of a conference room during a sales meeting. When I told him we could “make it work as is”, he said “Well I am glad […]
“No excuse, sir.” Of the four approved responses a West Point plebe may use, this one was hardest for me to say. But, everything we did at West Point had a purpose. The purpose of teaching 18 year olds not to make excuses actually fulfills West Point’s purpose: To provide our nation with leaders of […]
“I am the same person I was last year.” 15 years ago, I realized that statement was a dubious accomplishment. Twelve months had gone by, and I had little to show for it. I hadn’t moved forward. I was stagnant. Characteristics of a Stagnant Pond: It has nothing flowing in or out. It becomes overgrown […]
“Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at its testing point.” –C.S. Lewis Wow. Opening this post with this quote from C. S. Lewis just heightened my level of attention to a subject that has been watered down through over use and misunderstanding through the years. How do […]
Cowardice and courage are obvious before and during battle. In 1991, I witnessed another 1st Lieutenant back out of mission that I later volunteered for as a result of his cowardice. In another part of the battlefield, I had a friend dismount from his tank and walk his platoon through a minefield while under enemy […]
