The Fox and the Hedgehog Revisited: US Strategic Thinking: Examples of Single-mindedness and Adaptability: Neo-DeMarconian Thinking

"The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing." -Archilochus The dichotomy between hedgehogs and foxes, originally proposed by the ancient Greek poet Archilochus and popularized by the philosopher Isaiah Berlin, has been used to describe the contrasting styles of strategic thinking and decision-making. While hedgehogs tend to have a single, overarching …

Multi-Domain Warriors and Leaders:  Thinking Beyond Multi-Capable Airmen—DeMarco Banter

The term "multi-domain warrior" typically refers to a military concept in which members are trained and equipped to operate effectively across multiple domains of warfare, including land, air, sea, space, and cyberspace. A multi-domain warrior is therefore a highly trained and adaptable warrior who can operate in a range of environments and contexts, and who …

Strategic Agility for Uncertain Times: Leadership, Innovation, and Being Deliberate: DeMarco Banter

They sentenced me to 20 years of boredomFor trying to change the system from withinI'm coming now, I'm coming to reward themFirst we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin --Leonard Cohen Strategic agility is the ability of an organization to quickly and effectively adapt to changing circumstances, challenges, and opportunities in its external environment, while …

Decline of Empire and How Can The Jedi Return? DeMarco Banter

DECLINE OF EMPIRE The concept of empires and their rise and fall has been a personal topic of interest and a discussion among historians and scholars for centuries. Among the most influential works on this subject is the writing of British military historian Sir John Bagot Glubb (also known as Glubb Pasha), who proposed a …

David Byrne, The Talking Heads, Stop Making Sense, How Music Works in Leadership, Innovation, and Strategy: DeMarco Banter

I recently finished reading David Byrne’s 2019 book "How Music Works”. For those that don’t know David Byrne is a well-known musician, singer, and songwriter, best known as the lead singer and principal songwriter of the band Talking Heads.  In "How Music Works", Byrne shares his extensive knowledge and experience in the music industry and …

Grit in Leadership, Innovation, and Strategy: DeMarco Banter

Angela Duckworth introduced the concept of grit in her 2016 book "Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance". In the book, she describes grit as a combination of passion and perseverance, and argues that it is a critical factor in determining success in life and work. She provides research-based evidence to support her claims, and …

Existentialism Leadership, Innovation, and Strategy: Neo-DeMarcoian Banter

I’ve studied the Existentialists for years now and I continue pondering how to apply some of the lessons of these philosophers to today.  So much of what they studied, wrote, and believed are a bit shocking, but as leaders we need avoid the preverbal tossing the baby with the bathwater.  What can today’s leaders, innovators, …

AI, Punk Rock,  Innovation and the Military Culture

Punk rock emerged in the mid-1970s as a reaction to the overproduced, commercialized rock music of the time. It was characterized by a raw, stripped-down sound, DIY (do-it-yourself) ethic, and a rebellious attitude. The origins of punk rock can be traced back to the early 1970s, when bands such as the Stooges and the New …