A Curator of Strategy, Leadership, Spirituality, and Rock and Roll…. "Changing the world…one "contact" at a time…."
January 1989 I arrived at Reese AFB in Lubbock, TX to report for Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT). Traditions run deep in pilot training, and one is the designing of the class patch. I have always enjoyed doodling so I volunteered to draft the patch—another tradition or superstition is the officer that designs the patch usually …
Continue reading "Jim Morrison and Undergraduate Pilot Training–Riders on the Storm or Ghost Riders"
As a Squadron Commander I began collecting Bible verses to help in both enlightening and challenging times and I continue to turn to these often. No matter the season of life--reviewing these versus creates a sense of peace, understanding, and presence from the Lord. Just thought I'd share... please let me know of others... (Matt …
Continue reading "19 Short Bible Verses for the Commander/Leader"
Like many classic folk ballads, the authorship of "The House of the Rising Sun" is uncertain. Musicologists say that it is based on the tradition of broadside ballads such as the Unfortunate Rake of the 18th century and that English emigrants took the song to America where it was adapted to its later New Orleans …
Continue reading "“The House of the Rising Sun” recorded in 1934….really?"
Life is a dance— you know the song: “Life's a dance you learn as you go... Sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow Don't worry about what you don't know Life's a dance you learn as you go… That’s cute. Do you believe it? I know dancing is a popular metaphor for life, and I am …
Continue reading "Life’s A Dance…until you get punched in the face: DeMarco Banter"
-J. William DeMarco “In a time of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” —George Orwell How many of us use the term 3rd rail or 5th column with no concept of the definition or history? I did, but after some research it appears to be a truly impactful leader, we need to attack …
Continue reading "Third Rail and Fifth Column Leadership: A Contrarian’s Thought"
Reading a few weeks ago in the Daily Stoic, I came across the thought: “An iron law of history is that greatness and goodness are rarely appreciated in their own time.” Winston Churchill was more or less tossed out of office twice— in 1945 and again in 1955. Amelia Earhart had to get a job …
Continue reading "Who Appreciates You? Self-Esteem and Leadership–DeMarco Banter"
Those of you who know me know I tend to obsess about vision--perhaps too much? As we change jobs and move positions--I don't know about you, but I tend to look back and take stock in what went right and what could have gone better. I definitely do an internal inventory, but I also look …
Continue reading "Inventory, Vision, Leadership, and the 49ers: DeMarco Banter"
“Live as if you’ll die tomorrow, Learn as if you’ll live forever.” -Mahatma Gandhi Well, that seems like a good rule of thumb. According to the Pew Research Institute, half of adults read fewer than five books per year. And men read thirteen percent fewer books than women. I don’t know if you’re above average …
Continue reading "Be Different—What Are You Reading? DeMarco Banter"
Empire, leadership development, innovation, creativity, and warfare. Maybe I worry about it too much, but when we look at the history of the world it seems the decline of empire is usually due to a decline in leadership and leadership development. Perhaps a decline in the strong advocacy of stellar leadership and bold ideas and …
“For I believe a good king is from the outset and by necessity a philosopher, and the philosopher is from the outset a kingly person.” —MUSONIUS RUFUS, LECTURES, 8.33.32–34 Should a leader be a philosopher? According to Plato, a philosopher king is a leader who possesses both a love of knowledge, as well as intelligence, reliability, and a …
Continue reading "Leadership and the Philosopher: A neo-DeMarconian Thought"
