Miyamoto Musashi, The Leader, The Innovator, The Strategist—DeMarco Banter  

I have always been captivated by the enigmatic figure of Miyamoto Musashi, a legend who looms large in the annals of history. His life, marked by the intriguing duality of being a ronin - a lone wanderer without a master - and yet achieving unparalleled success, has always resonated with me. The notion of Musashi, …

The Tao of Touchdowns: How Bruce Lee’s Wisdom Transformed Christian McCaffrey’s Game–DeMarco Banter

Christian McCaffrey, the dynamic running back for the San Francisco 49ers, isn't just a force to be reckoned with on the football field; he's also a testament to the transformative power of philosophy in sports. While many athletes rely solely on physical training and natural talent, McCaffrey takes his preparation a step further, integrating Bruce …

Philosophers Through Time: Visions of the Ideal Leader Across Millennia: DeMarco Banter

Came across an article by Bret McKay recently that delved into the intersection of philosophy and leadership across several philosophers. I've always enjoyed Bret's work, but this particular piece sparked some additional thoughts for me. Leadership has been a subject of fascination and study from ancient times to the modern era. Philosophers ranging from Confucius …

Boyd: The Mad Major, The Ghetto Colonel, The Innovator: DeMarco Banter or Who Do You Want to Be Today?

Who do you want to be today?Who do you want to be?Who do you want to be today?Do you want to be just like someone on TV? Oh, boredom is so terrible; it's like a dread diseaseNothing could be worseThan when there's nothing on TVI'd rather be a cowboy than to stare blank at the …

The Mandalorian, Jedi, and The Stoicism Of Star Wars

Mandolorian, Jedi and The Stoicism of Star Wars Unless you have been living under a rock—you probably know The Mandalorian.  If not—short history—he is a character in the Star Wars franchise, first introduced in the Disney+ streaming television series of the same name. The character is a bounty hunter who wears beskar armor and a …

Effective vs Good and The Contrarian Leader: DeMarco Banter

Many people confuse good leadership with effective leadership, but a contrarian leader knows there is a huge difference between the two. Hitler was an extraordinarily effective leader, but few would refer to him a good leader. I came across some interesting thoughts on good vs. effective leadership and moral codes as I read through The …

Leading, Mentoring, Coaching, Comets, and Gravity–It’s so not about you. Neo-DeMarcoian Thoughts

In all the classes we teach here at ACSC on leadership—mentoring is always a topic that comes up.  In the past decade or so—there has been increased talk of “coaching” vs mentoring and honestly, it is an interesting conversation. I worry at times we get stuck in the minutiae and forget the big picture—what are …