For nearly twenty years I’ve worked with people in an entrepreneurial setting, encouraging and coaching them to fulfill their dreams and goals. I’ve seen people come and I’ve seen people go, and through it all there emerges a pattern of behavior. I’ve often been asked, “What’s the difference between those who ‘make it’ and those who … [Read more...]
The Corruption of the Word “Hero”
March 22, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Words tend to change over time. These changes mean that once-clear definitions are at risk of gradually becoming corrupted. Though our language is always in a mild state of flux, it appears that the word “hero” is now numbered among those terms most rapidly losing their true meaning. It used to be that a hero was a celebrated figure who … [Read more...]
Raising a “Natural Nobility”
March 20, 2013 by 3 Comments
In the early 18th Century, three young colonial Americans resolved to build lives of virtue through the study and application of daily resolutions. George Washington, through tireless sacrificial leadership and against indescribable odds, defeated the mighty British Empire with his ragtag group of colonial volunteers. Benjamin Franklin, … [Read more...]
How the Next Two Weeks Determine the Future of Freedom
March 19, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Two weeks from now we’ll know. Once and for all, we’ll see where the nation is headed for the next four years. It may seem like a little thing, but it isn’t. If Congress caves in to the White House in the next two weeks, or to its perception of what the voters really want, we’re in for a marathon of decline. If not, if Congress shuts down … [Read more...]
Is China Really a Threat?
March 18, 2013 by Leave a Comment
I try to read most new books on China, because I think the growth of China on the world stage will continue for some time and eventually conflict with America’s interests. Whether the conflict turns to cooperation or serious difficulty remains to be seen, but keeping abreast of what is happening in China is essential for today’s leaders. A new … [Read more...]
Success is Hard, But Worth It
March 15, 2013 by Leave a Comment
In anything worthwhile, success is hard. Let's consider business in general and the costs to even get started. According to buildyourfirm.com, the average startup cost for an accounting office is $50,000 for a book of $150k of business. According to fastfood.com, to start an Arby's franchise requires a $37,500 initial fee, a liquid capital … [Read more...]
Rand Paul’s Filibuster: A Giant Step for Mankind
March 11, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Okay, the subtitle of this article is a little overblown, but I heard something I found just plain fascinating the other day. In fact, it is something I haven’t heard for a long time. I was researching in a university library, sitting at a table looking for data in a stack of scholarly journals, when I heard the most unlikely thing in such a … [Read more...]
The Art of Tact
March 8, 2013 by 1 Comment
The Center for Creative Leadership lists "political savvy" -- the ability to influence people to obtain goals -- as a vital soft-skill of leadership. The heart of being politically savvy, according to CCL, is networking, reading situations, and thinking before speaking. Political savviness is the tact to say the truth that needs to be said, … [Read more...]
The 2014 Campaign Has Begun
March 6, 2013 by 3 Comments
The Obama Administration was frustrated by the sequester because it reduced planned government spending. But the real concern was that the President finally lost something to House Republicans. Up to this point, the Administration had used fiscal crisis to win every major battle in the last four years. Now, in the aftermath of losing something, … [Read more...]
A Sixth Branch of Government
March 4, 2013 by 2 Comments
Many Americans now feel that Washington is broken, that there is some unidentified, underlying problem with our nation that can't be fixed by elections. Voters put Democrats in power, then Republicans, but still the problems grow and Washington becomes more and more dysfunctional. We know something is wrong, but we aren't sure what to … [Read more...]
