Focus and Direction

Focus and Direction

There is a rule of thumb known as the 1 in 60 rule in aviation. It states that for every 1 degree a plane veers off its intended course, it will miss its target destination by one mile for every sixty miles flown.

The Delegation Dilemma

The Delegation Dilemma

What is the Delegation Dilemma? Simply put, you might wonder, should I delegate this task to a subordinate or do it myself? Many executives as well as people placed in leadership roles for the first time have difficulty relinquishing control and delegating tasks.

Managing Transitions; Private Sector Considerations from a Military Mindset

Managing Transitions; Private Sector Considerations from a Military Mindset

Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity. These words seem to define business and the non-profit operating environment. Changing politics, the COVID-19 pandemic, supply challenges, and changing labor attitudes represent only a few of the many topics that leaders must address. However…

PICKING YOUR TEAM: Building a high-performing culture

PICKING YOUR TEAM: Building a high-performing culture

The sounds of simulated gunfire and explosions reverberated thru the compound. Instructors barked orders at our class thru megaphones, hosed us with water, made us crawl thru the mud. For one entire week my class went thru…

Bad Leaders Part One – Serving & Learning

Bad Leaders Part One – Serving & Learning

As a Fighter Wing Commander, one of my favorite recurring events was engaging with our Airmen who were about to graduate Airmen Leadership School (ALS) along with my Command Chief. ALS is the first tier of professional military education for our enlisted force. Airmen must attend this course before taking their first level supervisory position as a non-commissioned officer (NCO). Up until this point in their careers, they have

The Art of Recognition

The Art of Recognition

Remember the last time you received a real authentic compliment and how you felt? Hopefully it hasn’t been so long that you’ve forgotten! And by this, I mean receiving real praise – thoughtful and heartfelt, delivered in a…

What lessons can we learn from the Super Bowl matchup between San Francisco and Kansas City?

What lessons can we learn from the Super Bowl matchup between San Francisco and Kansas City?

Hint – they are using the Good to Great playbook, First Who……. Then What principle of Level 5 Leadership. For those who have not read the book Good to Great by Jim Collins, the first principle or character trait of a Level 5 Leader is this “First get the right people on the bus (and the wrong people off the bus) before you figure out where to drive it…

What I learn from working with Navy SEALs everyday...Part 2

What I learn from working with Navy SEALs everyday...Part 2

I decided to write this knowing that most have never met, worked with or know a Navy SEAL and as a result, do not know all the character traits and mindset they all have.

70% Comfortable, 100% Committed.

70% Comfortable, 100% Committed.

In our daily lives, both professionally and personally, how many times do we hear the phrase “I’m all in”?  The inference here is that one is fully committed, in total agreement, has unwavering support.  It that what we really see as a result?

Be a Utility Player

Be a Utility Player

When I started my college baseball career, my primary position was as a catcher. However, I quickly learned that I did not have the skill set required to be an everyday catcher in college. To find more playing time, I took advantage of every opportunity to learn and play new positions. My senior year…

Focus On The Process

Focus On The Process

Most sports teams at the beginning of their season have lofty goals such as winning a national championship.  Winning a national championship can be a daunting goal, and the path to reach that goal is long and arduous.  To achieve such a lofty goal, you must break the journey down into smaller and more manageable steps.  When my college baseball team won a conference title, we did so by focusing…

The (3) C’s To Finding Great People in all areas of your life.

The (3) C’s To Finding Great People in all areas of your life.

Character, Commitment and Competence – just words or a very quick and accurate way to decide who you surround yourself with. Do you have a method or due diligence process of determining who you will let into your life, cross paths with, partner with, take on as clients, etc.?

In what I do for a living, it is critical that I developed such a system that is…