Perfect Is the Enemy of the Good: Why I’ll Take a B+ on Time Every Time
Perfect Is the Enemy of the Good: Why I’ll Take a B+ on Time Every Time
If I ask you to do something, I don’t want an A that shows up late. I want a B+ delivered on time.
The Thermostat Leader: Setting Culture in Complex Organizations
When I retired from the Air Force, I transitioned into leadership roles in higher education and non-profits—complex environments with competing interests. My focus had to shift from hierarchical operational command to leading collaborative cultures, which I found challenging.
The Fighter Pilot's Mindset: Training for the Hardest Decisions
I spent 20 years flying combat missions from Desert Storm to my final sorties over Afghanistan. The core challenge of high-stakes flying, as I saw it, was the necessary transition from hours of routine that surround moments of critical decisions and intense action. Success in that environment relies on a specific mindset. I am often asked what I relied on most in combat. Training. In combat, everything is changing moment by moment. It is training that enables you to make the best decisions you can when you need to make them, leading to overall success.
Honor and Accountability: On Drifting, Correction, and the Power of the Code
I've learned that leadership is an inside-out job, and the foundation of my leadership is honor and accountability. I was inspired by Colonel Lee Ellis's experience as a POW and the power of the Code of Conduct. I believe everyone needs an honor code to guide them every day.
Beyond Right and Wrong: How I Built an Integrated Life of Integrity
In my view, integrity is far more than just being truthful; it’s about wholeness. The word integrity comes from integer—a whole number. To live a life of true integrity, I realized I had to be whole. I strive to be fully integrated across four critical domains.
Flames and Coals: Leadership Lessons in Anger vs. Disappointment