Where Have All the Geniuses Gone? 10 Keys to The Creative

By J. William DeMarco Our world is not black and white.  It’s a world filled with shades of gray, with uncertainties and dilemmas.  As leaders we need to embrace the gray and help others develop the creative wherewithal to understand and live in the grays--making tomorrow's leaders and the organization better.  If we are to …

China Grove: Is that even a real place or just a cool old song?

China Grove:  If you know the song...just the mention of it brings the distinctive guitar riff and power chords to mind "China Grove" is a song from The Doobie Brothers' 1973 album The Captain and Me. It was written by original lead singer Tom Johnston, before he fell ill in 1975 and was replaced by Michael McDonald. The song is based …

The Influencers

Influence may be the highest level of human skills.  -Author Unknown by J. William DeMarco Stepping into a job where you might feel overwhelmed by the shear number of people that you are responsible for? I can relate.  When I first stepped into my current position, I did not know anyone, I was new to …

FAIL!

by J. William DeMarco EPIC FAIL! Is that always a bad thing? Sitting here on my XX birthday… I ponder all the successes and the EPIC FAILs in life. Success does not mean avoiding failure… it is all what you do with the EPIC FAIL. Do you learn, do you get stronger? All of us …

The Exit Interview

by J. William DeMarco In the Military we have a rather unique "tradition" of the exit interview.  When a commander is about to leave, public affairs or in the case of the Bloody Hundredth, the Wing Historian will give a quick interview regarding accomplishments, plans and vision.  It seemed to last no more than five minutes …

Welcome to the Machine…or how will this affect our people?

by J. William DeMarco Shouldn't that be the first question we ponder as leaders? Seems like most people evaluate events or decisions based on how they will be affected personally. Leaders need to ask not only how will this impact our people but they also need to look at how decisions will impact those above and next …