Happy Birthday President Washington: DeMarco Banter

TODAY:  Let us not forget...We celebrate Presidents Day:  or Washington's Birthday, a federal holiday honoring George Washington which was originally implemented by an Act of Congress in 1879 for government offices in the District of Columbia and expanded in 1885 to include all federal offices. As the first federal holiday to honor an American citizen, the holiday was celebrated on Washington's actual birthday, …

Sound & Vision

"I will sit right down, waiting for the gift of sound and vision And I will sing, waiting for the gift of sound and vision Drifting into my solitude, over my head" "Don't you wonder sometimes 'bout sound and vision" - David Bowie Listening to Dave... Dave Bowie this AM, I could not help just …

4 Harbingers of BAD Strategy organized by J. William DeMarco (sort of…)

Bad strategy is more than just the absence of good strategy. All too often, bad strategy consists of nothing more than platitudes, unrealistic goals and warm-and-fuzzy sounding slogans. Good strategy, by contrast, specifies how an organization will focus its resources to respond to challenges and move forward toward greatness. After reading Does U.S. Need Grand …

The Mastermind Century Group Principles of Command

The Principles below are more borrowed... or perhaps collected over the years--but they have served very well through a myriad of commandand staff tours.  Of course to even imply that this Airman has all of these down would be a gross overstatement and assumption. But, keeping these principles near and reviewing them often does help to …

ARCHIVE: Lost Childhood: Fear or Promise or…. on being Holden Caulfield

ARCHIVE: Lost Childhood: Fear or Promise or.... on being Holden Caulfield.  Now… I find myself the father of a teenager…   I am forced to confront my own childhood… have I  really lost it (my childhood, not my sanity)?  I know many that would say… Bill?  No way he is still a kid… some might …

Bob Dylan The Times They Are A-Changin’

Songs that cause me to think...deep...Come gather 'roundpeopleWherever you roamAnd admit that the watersAround you have grownAnd accept it that soonYou'll be drenched to the boneIf your time to youIs worth savin'Then you better start swimmin'Or you'll sink like a stoneFor the times they are a-changin'.Come writers and criticsWho prophesize with your penAnd keep your …