“With the theory of happiness, of well-being, as the primary aim of existence we shall only form egoistic men, worshippers of the material, who will cary the old passions into the new order of things and corrupt it in a few months. We have therefore to find a principle of education superior to any such … Continue reading Theory of Happiness
Ulysses Grant reflecting on the Civil War
“I would not have the anniversaries of our victories celebrated, nor those of our defeats made fast days and spent in humiliation and prayer; but I would like to see truthful history written. Such history will do full credit to the courage, endurance, and soldierly ability of the American citizen, no matter what section of … Continue reading Ulysses Grant reflecting on the Civil War
Future Soldiers
I'm currently reading The Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant (The complete annotated edition), and one statement caught my attention so far. During the Mexican War, 1846-1848, the then Lieutenant Grant mentioned that during the Army Occupation at Corpus Christi, "the rank and file were composed of men who had enlisted in a time of … Continue reading Future Soldiers
Resiliency
"Resilience is commonly thought of as 'bouncing back,' like a spring, to our pre-crisis shape or norm. A more apt metaphor for resilience might be 'bouncing forward,' rebounding and reorganizing adaptively to fit new challenges or changed conditions. For instance, with a major loss - a job, a home, or a life partner - we … Continue reading Resiliency
Funding the government
Well, it's that time of the year again and the words "government shutdown" are all over the news. Congress is unable to agree on funding the U.S. government as we approach the September 30th deadline. The Legislative Branch has a big leadership problem, and they are not leading with purpose. Bill George said that, "Purpose … Continue reading Funding the government
The Leader’s Bookshelf
I’m a strong believer in lifelong learning and that you need to master your profession, especially if you are a leader. I know that some people are natural leaders, but leadership can be taught, and professional reading is essential if you want to be an effective leader. General George Patton, for example, spent many hours … Continue reading The Leader’s Bookshelf
Book Review: How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading
This book, written by Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doren, is definitely a classic. However, it may not be for everyone. You must love reading, not just for entertainment, but for gaining knowledge in order to truly appreciate the work that these two authors have put together. I started reading this book in 2009 … Continue reading Book Review: How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading
Stepping Up
"To every man there comes in his lifetime that special moment when he is figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered a chance to do a very special thing, unique to him and fitted to his talents. What a tragedy if that moment finds him unprepared or unqualified for that which would be his finest … Continue reading Stepping Up
Book Review: The Power of Habit
The Power of Habit - Why we do what we do in life and business by Charles Duhigg I saw this book and I was intrigued by the title, so I decided to purchase it. A couple of people commented on how good the book was while I was waiting at the cash register, and … Continue reading Book Review: The Power of Habit
Digital Invasion
I’m currently reading the book Battlegrounds by H.R. McMaster. The book provides a good overview of U.S. relationships with Russia, China, South Asia, the Middle East, Iran, and North Korea. It also has a chapter called "Entering the Arena" in which the author discusses technology such as the internet and the use of social media. … Continue reading Digital Invasion
Thoughts about leadership, history, and more 