Leadership is not about power. It’s not about control; it’s about helping people live according to the vision. | |
— Ken Blanchard & Phil Hodges | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | Are We Getting Close To Uncertainty? |
How It Could Be | |
2020 | Two Loves |
A Short Count | |
2019 | Don’t Forget: Fire Burns |
2018 | Especially In The Middle East |
2017 | A Good Local |
2016 | Life Unlimited |
2015 | Still Trying |
2014 | Destiny, n. |
2013 | No Apologies |
2012 | Utterly Convinced |
2011 | A Key To Effectiveness |
Archive for the ‘Leadership’ Category
My Conservative View
Posted in Leadership, Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Control, Helping, Ken Blanchard, Leadership, Phil Hodges, Philosophy, Power, Quotes, Vision on June 6, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Widening The Moat
Posted in Economics, Investing, Leadership, Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Benjamin Franklin, Business Advice, Business Leadership, Charlie Munger, Philosophy, Quotes, Warren Buffett on April 16, 2022| 2 Comments »
Every day, in countless ways, the competitive position of each of our businesses grows either weaker or stronger. If we are delighting customers, eliminating unnecessary costs and improving our products and services, we gain strength. But if we treat customers with indifference or tolerate bloat, our businesses will wither. On a daily basis, the effects of our actions are imperceptible; cumulatively, though, their consequences are enormous. | |
When our long-term competitive position improves as a result of these almost unnoticeable actions, we describe the phenomenon as “widening the moat.” And doing that is essential if we are to have the kind of business we want a decade or two from now. We always, of course, hope to earn more money in the short-term. But when short-term and long-term conflict, widening the moat must take precedence. If a management makes bad decisions in order to hit short-term earnings targets, and consequently gets behind the eight-ball in terms of costs, customer satisfaction or brand strength, no amount of subsequent brilliance will overcome the damage that has been inflicted. Take a look at the dilemmas of managers in the auto and airline industries today as they struggle with the huge problems handed them by their predecessors. Charlie [Munger] is fond of quoting Ben Franklin’s “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” But sometimes no amount of cure will overcome the mistakes of the past. | |
— Warren Buffett | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | Core Strength |
Thinking Of You | |
2020 | Rising Danger |
210 Day Health / Weight Update (Apr 2020) | |
2019 | Never Let ‘Em See You Sweat |
2018 | Just Two? |
2017 | Living Without Love |
Good News! | |
2016 | At This Moment |
2015 | Still Dreaming |
2014 | Good Wins |
2013 | Before |
2012 | Look To This Day |
2011 | One View Of Man |
Putin’s Objective In Ukraine?
Posted in Quotes, Philosophy, Leadership, tagged Philosophy, Quotes, Leadership, Vladimir Putin, Peter Drucker, Ukraine, Management By Objective on March 23, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Management by objective works – if you know the objectives. Ninety percent of the time you don’t. | |
— Peter Drucker | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | It’s 12 O’clock Somewhere |
The Way It Is | |
2020 | And #IncompetentDonald Weakens It |
2019 | Morning Mirror |
2018 | Wondering About #45 |
2017 | A Prayer For London |
2016 | Don’t Default |
2015 | Her Pilgrim Soul |
2014 | Three Observations |
2013 | Robbed Again |
2012 | Good Hearts |
2011 | Interesting Reading |
What Are You Lookin’ At? | |
Against Considerable Odds
Posted in History, Leadership, Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Afghanistan, Favorable Defense Ratio, General Sir John Hackett (Ret.), History, Military Conflict, Military Leadership, Philosophy, Quotes, Russia, The Third World War: A Future History, Ukraine on March 6, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Colonels and generals are expected to fight moving, active battles, always seeking an advantage from the use of terrain, surprise and mobility. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Generals are expected to concentrate defending forces in front of the main thrusts of the enemy so that the fighting troops do not have to meet a greater ratio of strength against them than three or four to one. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
… | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The captains and their troops have learned that modern weapons in the defense can and should inflict losses on an attacker, in comparison to their own, of well over three to one. They have learned, in short, that a successful defense against considerable odds is possible. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
— General Sir John Hackett (Ret.) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
From his book: “The Third World War: A Future History“ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The book was “written” by General Hackett and “others” and purported to be a “future history” of a war between NATO and the Warsaw Pact. The “war” ends following a limited tactical nuclear exchange which leads to a revolution in Russia. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[With the delays in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, much has been said about the failure to overwhelm the militarily over-matched defenders. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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What isn’t clear to me is how many of Russia’s forces are actually “in theater” and committed to the invasion. The numbers I’ve seen indicate approximately “200,000” Russians were gathered for the invasion. This is (again approximately) 25% of Russia’s forces. If we assume a similar ratio across the board for other assets, the numbers are far less indicative of an assured success for the invasion. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In military theory, it is almost a given that the attacker needs a six-to-one superiority in order to have a reasonable “guarantee” of success against a prepared defense. (This is why you concentrate forces at breakout / breakthrough points.) Three-to-one superiority is considered the bare minimum to have a reasonable “expectation” of success. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Based on the above numbers, the “only” Russian advantage is in attack aircraft (29 vs 185). This is an even greater advantage than just the numbers indicate as attack aircraft serve as force multipliers for both your tanks and your ground forces. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
IMHO this invasion will succeed or fail based on three factors: logistics, will and geography. If the Russian forces can maintain their supply of fuel and ammunition, they will have the advantage in a war of attrition. If Ukraine can maintain their will to fight in the face of both heavy civilian losses and questionable munitions resupply from other countries, they will make the war / occupation unsustainable for Russia. Finally, we should recall Russia invaded and then dominated Afghanistan for almost twenty years before finally being driven out. Afghanistan is roughly the size of Texas. Texas is only about 10-15% larger than Ukraine. There is a vast amount of land to hide in and fight from IF you have the will to do so. So far, the Ukraine people have shown the will… | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Of course, all of this assumes Russia does not choose a tactical nuclear option… — KMAB] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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On This Day In: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | Only 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Just A Hopeless Case | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | What We Know About Ourselves | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | But It Feels Dirtier Lately | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2018 | I Remember Some More Than Others | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017 | Creating Reality | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | Come, Read To Me Some Poem | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | Exceeding Service | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | Still Learning | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hospitality | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | Execution Not Intensity | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2012 | Charles Carroll Of Carrollton (The Only Catholic Founder) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2011 | Life Works | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pay Like Hell | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Prosperity Finds Its Way Up | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Do People Know What You Stand For?
Posted in Leadership, Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Ethics, Leadership, Mary H. Waldrip, Philosophy, Quotes, Standing Up on February 5, 2022| Leave a Comment »
It’s important that people should know what you stand for. It’s equally important that they know what you won’t stand for. | |
— Mary H. Waldrip | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | The Republican Party Can Survive Trumpism (If It Wants To) |
Don’t You Ever Ask Them Why | |
2020 | Art Work |
One Person (Republican) Can Make A Majority | |
2019 | Hopefully, Closer To Noon |
Can You See The Bottom? | |
2018 | Stock Market Sets Another Record Under #DumbDonald |
#LyingDonald: About That Special Prosecutor Testimony | |
2017 | We Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet |
2016 | But You Have To Learn It Feels Good |
2015 | Never Stop |
2014 | Caution |
2013 | Treat Her Like A Lady |
2012 | Build New Worlds |
2011 | I Grok Elegance |
Standing Relish | |
Biden Starts His Second Year
Posted in Leadership, Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, tagged Aristotle, Leadership, On Doing What's Right, Philosophy, Politics, Popularity, President Joseph Biden, Quotes on January 20, 2022| 2 Comments »
The high-minded man must care more for what is right than for what people think. | |
— Aristotle | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | DIY: Outdoor Gym Modifications (2) |
Inauguration Day 2021 | |
(Hopefully) Good-Bye To The Trump Dark Ages | |
2020 | Posting As A Continual Exercise |
2019 | Border Security – Yes, Border Wall – No |
2018 | Supporting Survival Values |
2017 | Inauguration Day 2017 [Sometimes, I hate it when I’m right! — KMAB] |
2016 | Or A Pot Of Gold After The Storm |
2015 | One, Two, Three… |
2014 | Lend Your Hand |
2013 | Amnesty, n. |
2012 | Best Resolv’d |
The Clock Is Running | |
2011 | Magic |
Yo-yo Management
Posted in Leadership, Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Business Leadership, Business Management, Philosophy, Quotes, Warren Buffett, Yo-yo Management on January 17, 2022| Leave a Comment »
We neither understand the adding of unneeded people or activities because profits are booming, nor the cutting of essential people or activities because profitability is shrinking. That kind of yo-yo approach is neither business-like nor humane. | |
— Warren Buffett | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | DIY: Outdoor Gym Modifications |
First Hammock Hang Of 2021 | |
Slow Moving Trains And Squirrels | |
Just Chillin’… Why? | |
2020 | Still Crazy After All These Years… |
2019 | 20 / 20 Foresight |
He Knew Damned Well… | |
2018 | Be Someone’s Kindling |
2017 | When The Moment Comes |
2016 | Changed Clothes Lately? |
2015 | Like Stone |
2014 | Resistance Is Futile |
2013 | Subtle Humor |
To Look Behind Green Eyes | |
2012 | The Path Is Endless |
2011 | Happy MLK, Jr Day!!! |
A Factor Of Ten | |
Better Late Than Never? | |
Whoops! | |
Acceptable Beginnings | |
Slow Progress | |
Useful Confrontation | |
When Phenomena Are Different | |
Creative Avoidance | |
Thinking | |
Fast And Flexible | |
Surrender Certainty | |
Techniques | |
Vive La Difference | |
Destiny | |
Completeness | |
Art | |
Follow Up
Posted in Quotes, Philosophy, Leadership, tagged Philosophy, Quotes, Leadership, Peter Drucker on December 9, 2021| Leave a Comment »
Follow effective action with quiet reflection. From the quiet reflection will come even more effective action. | |
— Peter Drucker | |
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On This Day In: | |
2020 | Boxing: Precision Target |
A Funny Red Sheet | |
Why #45 Is So Pitiably Small | |
2019 | Yet We Should Keep Trying |
2018 | Let Us Dare |
2017 | Two Good To Be Real |
Secrets | |
2016 | Learning Subtle Differences |
2015 | Dog Eat Dog World? |
2014 | And Sometimes Blogs About It |
2013 | Outside-In |
2012 | They Are All Perfect |
2011 | Delegation – The “How-To’s” |
2009 | Diet Update and Other Bits & Bobs… |
The Question Is Courage
Posted in Economics, Leadership, Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, tagged Business Leadership, Communications Decency Act, Congress, Democracy, Facebook, Facebook Will Not Fix Itself, FDA, Food and Drug Administration, Instagram, Internet Platforms, Mark Zuckerberg, Monopolies, Philosophy, Quotes, Roger McNamee, Self-Determination, Surveillance Sapitalism, Time Magazine, WhatsApp on November 16, 2021| Leave a Comment »
Personal autonomy and democracy are under assault from surveillance capitalism. And yet today’s tech industry is largely unregulated, having emerged in the midst of an era of deregulation and defunding of enforcement agencies. This has allowed tech giants to behave as unelected governments. Their communications systems have become central to our way of life, as the impact of this week’s Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp outage underscores, but they have their thumb on the scale, amplifying content that triggers fear and outrage because doing so maximizes profits. | |
… | |
The sad truth is that the unregulated tech industry produces products that are unsafe. Congress has faced the challenge of dangerous products in the past. When the food and medicine industries were unsafe, Congress created the Food and Drug Administration. When petrochemical companies dumped toxic waste indiscriminately, Congress approved a series of environmental laws. Just like tech companies today, the affected industries claimed they would not be able to operate with regulation, but that turned out to be wrong. Now we need something like an FDA for technology products, designed to prevent harmful technologies from coming to market. For qualifying products, it would set safety standards, require annual safety audits and certification as a condition for every product, and impose huge financial penalties for any harms that result. There should also be amendments to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act to create better incentives for Internet platforms. | |
Congress also needs to protect people’s privacy from relentless surveillance. My preference would be for Congress to ban surveillance capitalism just as it banned child labor in 1938. (The many industries that employed child labor complained then that they could not survive without it.) At a minimum, Congress must ban third-party use of sensitive data, such as that related to health, location, financial transactions, web browsing and app data. | |
The third area for legislation is competition, where Congress needs to update antitrust laws for the 21st century. The six-hour outage of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp illustrated for many one downside of monopoly: absolute dependence on a service. | |
… | |
All of this may be true in Mark Zuckerberg’s mind, but the design of Facebook’s business model suggests that growth and profits are the only factors driving “the company we know.” | |
Based on the evidence of the past five years, one might say that Internet platforms have launched an attack against democracy and self-determination. It is a battle they will win unless voters and policymakers join forces to reassert their power. We have been losing the battle since 2016, but I would like to believe that this week was a turning point. | |
We have the power. The question is whether we have the courage to use it. | |
— Roger McNamee | |
From the article: “Facebook Will Not Fix Itself“ | |
Appearing in: Time Magazine; dtd: 25 Oct / 1 Nov 2021 | |
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On This Day In: | |
2020 | Two Quotes Which Remind Me Of Our Lame Duck President |
Still Running | |
2019 | I’m Up For Trying |
60 Day Health / Weight Update (Nov 2019) | |
2018 | #PresidentBoneSpur |
2017 | My Staggering Confusion |
Zapped!!! | |
2016 | And Bloggers? |
2015 | Ethical Energy |
2014 | Are You Likely To Defend It? |
2013 | Might As Well |
2012 | The Long And Short Of It |
2011 | Bravery |
I Think They Mean It
Posted in Leadership, Politics, Quotes, tagged Imbeciles, Leadership, Mark Twain, Politics, Quotes, Smart People on September 6, 2021| Leave a Comment »
Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it. | |
— Mark Twain | |
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On This Day In: | |
2020 | ITF (365) – Update |
Word Up! | |
My Fear: A Second More Tyrannous Term | |
2019 | Reality And Imperfection |
Day 8: One Stone | |
2018 | Pity The Nation (Part 1) |
Day 41: Hiccup Or End Of Days? | |
2017 | Sharp-Edged Beauty |
2016 | Start, Keep, Finish |
2015 | Lifetime Friends |
2014 | Acknowledgement |
2013 | Longevity, Tenacity and Diversity |
2012 | What Reagan Really Cared About |
2011 | Seeming Sane (Or Not) |
The Same Goes For Countries And Elected Leaders
Posted in Leadership, Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, tagged Business Leadership, David Ogilvy, Ogilvy & Mather, Philosophy, Politics, Quotes on September 2, 2021| 1 Comment »
If each of us hires people who are smaller than we are, we shall become a company of dwarfs. But, if each of us hires people who are bigger than we are, we shall become a company of giants. | |
— David Ogilvy | |
Founder of Ogilvy & Mather’s | |
(a famous marketing company) | |
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On This Day In: | |
2020 | Your True Standard |
But When The Smoke Had Cleared Away… | |
2019 | Ooh, Shiny |
Day 4: Surprised | |
2018 | We Are Approaching Default |
Running On History | |
Day 37: Blended Not Juiced | |
2017 | Today Is Not Lost |
Day 8 | |
2016 | Paying Attention |
2015 | An Awful Ordeal |
2014 | What Are You Doing? |
2013 | Lives > 1 |
2012 | Strange To All The World |
2011 | Unnecessary Stagefright |
And Initiative Gets You Started
Posted in Leadership, Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Energy, Enthusiasm, Henry S. Haskins, Initiative, Leadership, Opportunity, Philosophy, Quotes on May 4, 2021| Leave a Comment »
Enthusiasm finds the opportunities, and energy makes the most of them. | |
— Henry S. Haskins | |
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On This Day In: | |
2020 | #IncometentDonald Says The Economy Will Rebound Quickly |
A Family Horror Story | |
2019 | A State With No Business |
2018 | Reflections |
2017 | Opposites Attract |
2016 | Completely Unreasonable |
Starting To Be A Reacher | |
2015 | Avengers Assemble II |
But If I Had To Perish Twice… | |
2014 | Turning Pages |
2013 | We Are All Accountable |
2012 | American Sign Language |
2011 | Happy Disproof |
2010 | Book Review – Managing Your Government Career |
The Imposition Of Position
Posted in Leadership, Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Business Leadership, Peter Drucker, Philosophy, Position, Power, Quotes, Rank, Responsibility on April 13, 2021| Leave a Comment »
Rank does not confer privilege or give power. It imposes responsibility. | |
— Peter Drucker | |
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On This Day In: | |
2020 | Stand Up! |
Crowd Sourced Scouting Report | |
2019 | Only One Direction |
2018 | Respect Is Long Gone |
2017 | Dream Of Dreamers |
2016 | Dear Automakers |
2015 | And Some Not So Brave Too |
2014 | In My Lifetime… |
2013 | Democracy |
2012 | Borrowed Expectations |
2011 | Not Necessarily True |
Memorial Day 2022
Posted in General Comments, History, Leadership, Pictures, tagged Arlington National Cemetery, General Comments, History, Leadership, Memorial Day -- 2022, National Holidays, Pictures, Sacrifice, The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Thoughts And Prayers on May 30, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Arlington National Cemetery
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
enjoying the freedom you sacrificed your lives to provide for us,
a grateful nation
remembers
and prays for you and your families…
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