Thanks for joining me! “Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter.” — Izaak Walton
Santa Was Born in 1863… Really!
Did you know that our image of Santa Claus was created during the Civil War? By Christmas 1862, many of the Union’s soldiers had been away from home for over 18 months – months that had brought few victories to their cause – and the nation was growing discontent. Just two weeks earlier, the Battle… Read More
Communication Tips from Lincoln
On the 155th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address, it is worth pausing for a moment to consider Lincoln’s message on that November day. Arguably the greatest speech in world history, there is much we can learn from those 272 words about inspiring a shared vision, creating a culture of change, and tapping into universal values…. Read More
Courage… from the Civil War to John McCain
“Courage is not the absence of fear, but the capacity to act despite our fears.” – John McCain Senator John McCain was buried in the U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery on September 2, 2018. McCain, a six-term senator from Arizona and 2008 Republican presidential nominee, died of brain cancer at the age of 81. Flying from… Read More
Stirling Moss and the 1955 Mille Miglia: Lessons in Communication
In 1955, British racecar driver Stirling Moss took on his biggest challenge to date: the Mille Miglia. A 1,000-mile open road race across Italy, the race heavily favored the Italian drivers who had more knowledge of the course than an outsider could hope to possess. Moss had just signed on for Mercedes racing that season… Read More
Pickett’s Charge: A Broken Negotiation
On this anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, we are posting a piece from A Transformational Journey from Gettysburg, Steve Wiley’s book on leadership interspersed with history tie-ins from Jared Peatman. One hundred and fifty-five years ago today, the Battle of Gettysburg turned from a potential Confederate victory to stunning defeat due to General James… Read More
Leadership Insights from The Rifle Musket (Really!)
I am in the midst of working on a new book about Joshua Chamberlain, the 20th Maine, and the Battle of Gettysburg. As part of my background reading, I am trying to become more knowledgeable about the weapons the men carried and the battlefield tactics they used. The current master on that subject is Earl… Read More
Was “Grit” the Key to Abraham Lincoln’s Success?
Every few years a new leadership or performance theory emerges that gets everyone talking. Angela Duckworth’s work on “grit” is just such a theory. Duckworth boils her theory down into one very simple statement: “When you consider individuals in identical circumstances, what each achieves depends on just two things, talent and effort” (42). She continues,… Read More
Of Owls and Men
In The Way of the Owl, martial arts expert and naturalist Frank Rivers uses the owl as a model for effective conflict management. The book is full of useful advice, such as: 1. A sharp blade is both safer and more effective than a dull one (6). 2. Security lies in knowledge, benevolence in training… Read More
Robert E. Lee’s Leadership Lessons
Today marks the 153rd anniversary of the surrender of Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Court House, effectively beginning the end of the Civil War. It’s a good day to think about leadership lessons from Lee, and a good day to read about the general. Elizabeth Brown Pryor’s Reading the Man is… Read More
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