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Friedrich Nietzsche warned us: “He who fights with monsters should be careful lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you.” It was a 19th-century philosophical warning about moral corruption and existential danger. Today, it reads like a headline. Nietzsche’s famous quote appears in …
"I am the Lizard King. I can do anything." — Jim Morrison Jim Morrison was not a conventional leader. He was a poet-shaman, a provocateur, and a performer who unraveled boundaries rather than enforcing them. But in an age defined by complexity, ambiguity, and accelerating change, Morrison’s self-styled persona—the Lizard King—offers more than artistic flair. …
| May the 4th Celebration, 2025 A Galaxy Far, Far Away—and Closer Than We Think Maybe I read too much into Star Wars--but every year on May the 4th, fans around the world come together to celebrate one of the most powerful myths of the modern era: Star Wars. It is more than just a film …
A New Wave Dystopia In the early 1980s, The Police crafted a sound that blended punk, reggae, and new wave into anthems that were more than just catchy melodies. Beneath the radio-friendly hits lay deeper, darker themes—alienation, war, political decay, and the struggle for meaning in an increasingly mechanized world. Three songs in particular—“Ωmegaman,” “Spirits …
The paradox is as old as artistry itself: groups that are forged in the fires of struggle often dissolve in the warmth of success. This truth spans domains—from military units to start-ups, from revolutionary movements to legendary rock bands. The tighter the early fight, the stronger the bond. But when the fight is over, cohesion …
Introduction I was reading a book the other day and the topic of proto-anarchy was mentioned. Of course, I was like—what? So I had to look it up—ponder what does this mean for leadership, innovation, and strategy. The concept of anarchy has long been associated with chaos and disorder, yet its philosophical roots suggest a …
When I first took the job standing a new leadership department at the Air Command and Staff College, I knew I wanted to do more than just structure a syllabus or write a set of learning objectives. I wanted to build something with soul. Something that would help mid-career officers not just check boxes on …
Introduction: The Evolution from Brawn to Brain in Warfare Throughout history, military success has hinged on the balance between sheer force (bie) and cunning strategy (métis). The ancient Greeks recognized this dichotomy, with bie representing brute strength and métis embodying wisdom and cunning. Similarly, Eastern philosophies such as Taoism discuss the interplay of yin (passive, …
Introduction: The Philosophical Depth of a Song The Grateful Dead’s Touch of Grey, beyond being a cultural touchstone and their only Top 10 hit, offers profound reflections on the human condition. With its famous refrain, "I will get by, I will survive," the song encapsulates a dual philosophical stance—combining the endurance of Stoicism with the …
Inspired by “Hello Hurricane” by Switchfoot and Informed by Chaos Theory Oh, I've been watching the skies They've been turning blood red Not a doubt in my mind anymore There's a storm up ahead Hello hurricane Chaos Feels Awful—Until It Doesn’t Chaos is uncomfortable. It’s disorienting. It can be terrifying. When life throws uncertainty our …
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