Sometimes don’t think. — Leadership is an alchemic elixer of attitudes of ownership and perseverance, thoughts of caring and creativity, and actions reflecting competence and courage. There are many articles on what you can do to be a better leader, but not many on how you can think to be one. I’ve studied and…

Actions flourish on marble pillars. — The vision struck me like a thunderbolt from Zeus. I imagined a great white marble pillar in ancient Greece upon which a green vine climbed and wrapped around with wild abandon. Those same vines on a dead tree or a pillar without vines wouldn’t hold half the beauty alone as…

#4. They at most, like — at least, love. — I sat on the toilet, emotionally drained, in an old military barracks one day. I glanced at the wall on my right at the scribbled instructions for whoever sat where I was sitting: “Flush twice, it’s a long way to the chow hall” I chuckled as I felt a little…

Motivating with more than just money — I remember once in the Marines I was speaking to a man named Joe Dowdy, a “full-bird” Colonel, who was about to lead over 7,000 men and women into battle. …

No matter how dark things become, light remains. — This is a different kind of war story. It’s not about politics or death or pain or even right and wrong. It’s not about oil or conspiracy or revenge. It’s not about the mental toll war takes on those who live through it. It’s not about the ugliness of humanity. …

3. “I disagree with you.” — “I told you!” I had just been wrong on something and my old boss had been right. Instead of just letting me learn and move on while gnawing some humble pie, my boss saw it as a time to make hay. “I’ll teach you guys not to question me!” …

Move your grocery cart, Cathy! — (Smack, smack, smack, smack.) “How does that pulled pork taste?” I sneered in disgust. “Mmmmmm good (smack, smack, smack)” he responded cluelessly. “Come on, man, don’t eat while in the freaking buffet line! Your spitty fingers touching the utensils and your slurping mouth don’t need to be polluting everything!” This…

A leader is a gardener of potential. — The dimly lit ballroom seemed to brighten when the well-loved employee who’d given 45 years to the company walked to the podium to give his retirement speech. He was a loved leader. …

Because we all need to laugh at ourselves sometimes. — Y’all need to lighten up sometimes. All these world-changing heavy-hitting pieces on Medium are making my head hurt. I mean, I know we need that good and serious stuff, but everyone knows a good laugh at ourselves is the mark of a down-to-earth human. …