These are notes/quotes in my notebook on which I will ACT (Act on, Contemplate, Teach). These notes come from conversations with other people and murmurs within my head throughout the day. Jocko Willink's "Laws of Combat": 1) Cover and move, 2) Keep it simple, 3) Prioritize and execute, … Continue reading From My Notebook (17 February – 20 March 2020)
leadership
POWER POINTS: “Black Hearts – One Platoon’s Descent Into Madness in Iraq’s Triangle of Death” by Jim Frederick
This book is gutwrenching. The effects of disengaged and arguably toxic, self-absorbed leadership are on full display here. This book is particularly meaningful to me since I too am a "Black Heart" serving in the "Strike Brigade" (2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division). Frederick does a tremendous job of setting the context for one of the … Continue reading POWER POINTS: “Black Hearts – One Platoon’s Descent Into Madness in Iraq’s Triangle of Death” by Jim Frederick
POWER POINTS: The Mission, The Men, and Me by Peter Blaber
My battalion commander has referenced this book in leadership conversations enough that I stopped by the library... picked it up... read it in a week... and was not disappointed! Right now I am experimenting with Michael Hyatt's "book net out" method. He calls it "Net Out". I call it "Power Points". Using his template, here are … Continue reading POWER POINTS: The Mission, The Men, and Me by Peter Blaber
POWER POINTS: Killing the Rising Sun: How America Vanquished World War II Japan by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard
This is the second book that I have read in the "killing series" by Bill O'Reilly. Considering my recent career change, this one had a new interest and greater significance. POWER POINTS from this book included: The breathtaking number of deaths in combat. The "total U.S. military deaths in battle and from other causes were … Continue reading POWER POINTS: Killing the Rising Sun: How America Vanquished World War II Japan by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard
POWER POINTS: Leading at the Edge : Leadership Lessons from the Extraordinary Saga of Shackleton’s Antarctic Expedition by Dennis T. Perkins
Ernest Shackleton's adventure is one of the most noteworthy adventures of all time. This story of boldness, imagination, and rugged determination is PACKED TO THE BRIM with leadership lessons! Dennis Perkins does a fine job of distilling the best lessons from this extraordinary story! ***Disclaimer: Part Two of this book is "Case Studies". I did … Continue reading POWER POINTS: Leading at the Edge : Leadership Lessons from the Extraordinary Saga of Shackleton’s Antarctic Expedition by Dennis T. Perkins
Eating Frogs and Turds
This morning I walked with a couple of my girls (we were too tired to run). While we were walking we had a great conversation about doing difficult things. I was able to string together some great, and funny, pieces of advice I've heard from others. It went like this... If you eat a frog, … Continue reading Eating Frogs and Turds
Hug the Struggle
Ben Horowitz wrote a New York Times bestseller called, "The Hard Thing About Hard Things." In this book, he discusses the underbelly of leadership; the hard and unglamorous stuff that few talk about or consider. He tells and dissects leadership experiences... the hard ones... the REAL hard ones! I actually picked this book up when I … Continue reading Hug the Struggle
Thinking about “Urgency”
I've been thinking a lot about urgency lately. Here are a few unedited and non-finalized thoughts about this subject: When I am urgent about something I am laser-focused on it. It is almost impossible to be urgent about multiple things simultaneously. Urgency in one area generally means neglect of other areas. How do I live … Continue reading Thinking about “Urgency”
Making space in a packed life
"When good things begin to happen, other good things begin to fall through the cracks." That is exactly what happened to the leaders of the church when it was in its early days. It's something that happens to leaders today too. Things start going well, and then things start falling apart, and it's often the … Continue reading Making space in a packed life
When you’re the best man in the room… go to another room.
This morning I had a conversation with someone about the value of setting goals. This person is trying to figure out what goals to set. For all intents and purposes this person is doing well: physically attractive, financially set, intellectually sharp, relationally fulfilled. What else could someone want? Right? We talked for a while and … Continue reading When you’re the best man in the room… go to another room.
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