By J. William DeMarco A day of leave with some time to ponder and banter: One of the biggest differences between a leader and a manager is vision. A leader casts the vision for the organization--where there is no vision...there is usually a manager at the helm. True leaders recognize a difference between leaders and …
Vision? We don’t need no stinkin’ vision…
“A leader's role is to raise people's aspirations for what they can become and to release their energies so they will try to get there.” — David Gergen Vision, Goals, Strategy are all things I am passionate about...pretty much a strategy "wonk." I am very aware there are leaders that find these things to be …
Continue reading "Vision? We don’t need no stinkin’ vision…"
What about Character? Ask Nietzsche…DeMarco Banter
A classmate of mine had this inscribed inside his Citadel Class Ring: That which does not kill us makes us stronger. Friedrich Nietzsche Of course that goes a long way towards what the average cadet goes through in four years at The Citadel... or any military academy, but perhaps the statement goes a lot more …
Continue reading "What about Character? Ask Nietzsche…DeMarco Banter"
Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes & Springtime in Charleston
I had never really heard much of Jimmy Buffett besides the obvious Margaritaville and Come Monday before arriving at The Citadel and Charleston SC, but it didn't take long for me to realize that Jimmy Buffett really is the musician that personifies Springtime in The Holy City. Heard "Changes" this morning and quickly found myself …
Continue reading "Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes & Springtime in Charleston"
But… What is Your Life’s Work? by J. William DeMarco
Sometime ago I posted a great podcast "No Exit Strategy From Your Life’s Work" with Evernote CEO Phil Libin...a great story, and now something I ponder almost everyday: What is my life's work? As we advance in age or…possibly face retirement from the USAF…albeit in a few years… the concept of "life's work" becomes all the more real and …
Continue reading "But… What is Your Life’s Work? by J. William DeMarco"
The Call…of a Leader…
Several months ago we posted 19 Bible Verses for Leaders/Commanders and a buddy of mine Matt Anderer mentioned an obvious verse that was omitted... Isaiah 6:8 and this AM's reading covered just that and got me to ponder something John Maxwell notes in The Maxwell Leadership Bible (a great gift received from one of the …
It’s SO not about YOU: Leave that comfort zone!
Great reading this AM... brought forth many thoughts...you know a factor in anyone's personal development comes in the area of relationships. One can tell a lot about which direction your life is heading by looking at the people whom you've chosen to spend time and share ideas with. Their values and priorities directly impact you.... …
Continue reading "It’s SO not about YOU: Leave that comfort zone!"
“…well…did you learn anything?”
A long, long time ago... there was an aircraft called the C-23A Sherpa... I was lucky enough to fly the USAF variant at Zweibruken AB Germany. We had a Director of Operations in the 10th MAS that would ALWAYS ask the question "...well...(strategic pause)....did you learn anything?" whenever somebody made a mistake... great question, but …
These were most useful in plotting a way forward as well as branding a leadership style... might not work for all, but you might think about developing your own list
Dogs: The Leadership Lessons of the Floyd: DeMarco Banter [sort of]
Reading the other night... Dogs by Pink Floyd come through the headphones and I was struck by the leadership lessons (albeit cynical) in the song. Had to share. The song was written in 1974 by David Gilmour with the title "You Gotta Be Crazy". Waters modified the lyrics in some parts and changed the title …
Continue reading "Dogs: The Leadership Lessons of the Floyd: DeMarco Banter [sort of]"
Mastermind Century Group 