Saw the Stranglers in Cambridge summer 2011...and I've always loved the> song; No More Heroes... and I wonder, are we there? I ponder the hero ... Someone that triumphs over adversity and evil... I'm not so sure about the Stranglers' choice of heroes...Leon Trotsky, Lenny Bruce, Elmyr de Hory, but--Sancho Panza was a pretty cool …
The Leadership Power of the Seven “Cs”: DeMarco Banter
For some strange reason, the letter “C” offers the solution to so many problems. A good while ago, we wrote a piece on solving the issues of crisis, complexity, and confusion through communication, collaboration, and creative thinking. “C” also offers concepts in leadership as well. There is this unhealthy cycle that can develop in leaders …
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Jim Morrison and Undergraduate Pilot Training–Riders on the Storm or Ghost Riders
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 …
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Inventory, Vision, Leadership, and the 49ers: 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 …
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Be Different—What Are You Reading? 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 …
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Delegation…What is it good for? Absolutely everything: DeMarco Banter
Delegation (or passing down) is the partnership of authority and responsibility to another person (normally from a manager to a subordinate) to carry out specific activities. It is one of the core concepts of leadership. However the person who delegated the work remains accountable for the outcome of the delegated work. Delegation empowers a subordinate …
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Strategoi, Socrates, Xenophon, and the Shape of Strategic Leaders: DeMarco Banter
As usual... I have about 5 books open at any one time trying to merge data together into some sort of coherent theory--it is like painting a picture. One thought that struck me was- how would I explain to leaders how to transition from one position to another? Harkening back to an earlier post on …
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The Leadership Campus Interview with Bill DeMarco and Dr Mel Wildermuth
Very cool to work with Dr Wildermuth on this interview/podcast. We discuss some interesting leadership concepts, questions, personality and team dynamics. I do have to note--I had no idea the camera was on--apologies for the strange facial expressions--I guess some might call it "natural" Please visit Mel's blog and website at: Mel Wildermuth
Shine On You Crazy Diamond—How To Get a Diamond To Shine: DeMarco Banter
Come on you raver, you seer of visions, come on you painter, you piper, you prisoner, and shine! -Pink Floyd Most natural diamonds are formed at high temperature and pressure at depths of 87 to 118 miles in the Earth's mantle. Diamonds are made to shine using grit. All gems are cut and polished by progressive …
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America the Audacious, George Washington, and The Sunset Grill Syndrome: DeMarco Banter
Listening to some Don Henley this morning...Sunset Grill--a couple things jumped to mind. The song references Sunset Grill, a hamburger restaurant at 7439 Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, California But as much as there is nothing better than a good burger... this is about leadership... and the last stanza of the song struck me as …

