I have long pondered the importance of slowing down, of pausing long enough to reflect on what a particular situation or circumstance could teach me. The problem is, I have not been very successful in actually doing something to periodically interrupt the ever-present pull to hurry along, to get busy pursuing the next thing on my ‘to-do’ list…. Read More»
There are various events that occur in our lives that significantly shape the way we make sense of the world around us. For example, marriage, birth of a child, loss of a loved one, a significant illness, or the achievement of some extraordinary dream or objective. Each of these moments forever influence our thoughts, decisions and actions. In other words, they transform us from who we were before the event to who we are today…. Read More»
It has been called the greatest photograph of all time. It may well be the most widely reproduced, even winning the Pulitzer Prize for photography. Snapped on February 23, 1945 as our nation was fighting its way across the Pacific as part of the World War II island hopping campaign , it served as the symbol for the Seventh War Loan Drive, adorned a postage stamp, and appeared on the cover of countless magazines and newspapers across the globe. The photo even served as the model for the Marine Corps War Memorial that today stands in Arlington, Virginia–a timeless symbol of the cost our military members are willing to bear in defending the values, ideas, and principles this great nation was originally founded upon…. Read More»
The great philosopher Aristotle once said, “You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor.” But courage is something more than a quality of the mind. It is, as I learned from my wife, primarily a condition of the heart…. Read More»
From our earliest memories it seems countless people in our lives are keen to convince us leading is reserved for a special few. It’s something someone else does until we ourselves earn the appropriate promotion, attain a particular position, or win the next election. So what’s the effect of our adopting such a limited perspective? … Read More»
The only way you can ever expect to be more and do more with your life is to understand that sometimes, you have to be willing to go above and beyond what others are doing around you. Taking the path of least resistance or settling for “good enough” just because that’s what everyone else is doing just won’t bring home the bananas…. Read More»
Sadly, I think all of us have encountered people along the way whose fears and insecurities kept them from being the leaders they were capable of becoming—leaders who lack the courage to match their proverbial “talk” to the reality of their “walk.” Men and women who, like the mouse in our story, are content with coming up with countless excuses not to act when doing so is unsettling, uncomfortable, or just plain risky…. Read More»
Far, far away, say half a world away, there was a small, brick school. Atop the school was a bell, which rang promptly at eight o’clock every morning to call the children to class. The boys and girls arrived reluctantly and precisely on the hour. Never a minute early, occasionally a little late. The bell would ring again at precisely three o’clock every afternoon, liberating the children to go play. At the first sound of the bell, the children would bolt out the door of the school. Never lingering a moment longer.
Except for one…. Read More»
In December 2006, Marine Colonel (now Major General), Juan Ayala was serving as the senior advisor to the 1st Iraqi Army Division headquartered in Habbaniyah, Iraq. In this key role, General Ayala advised, trained, and mentored the Iraqi Army in order to prepare them for the eventual task of securing and defending their own country from […] Read more… Read More»
Growing up, one of my favorite television series was Mission: Impossible. The immensely popular program chronicles the adventures of the Impossible Missions Force (IMF), a team of government spies and specialists who are regularly offered “impossible missions” (should they decide to accept them). Outside of the cool gadgets and spectacular stunts, what I most enjoyed […] Read more… Read More»
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