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Thank You for Your Service — But Listen Closer

November 11. Eleven Eleven. For those of us reflecting today, it’s a special date — and maybe not what you think. 11 November is also National Heavy Metal Day, the day we celebrate the famous line from the 1984 movie Spinal Tap, when guitarist Nigel Tufnel proudly declares, “This one goes to 11”? How about World Origami Day, since 11/11 symbolizes the four equal sides of a square which is a fundamental shape in origami? I like that one. Or maybe my personal favorite, National Sundae Day. I can definitely get behind this one.

Flames and Coals: Leadership Lessons in Anger vs. Disappointment

The other day, I found myself in conflict with a company I’ve done business with for decades. Our dispute wasn’t monumental, but the company’s response was inflexible, bureaucratic, and dismissive of our long-standing relationship. When the conversation ended, I was angry and frustrated that years of loyalty seemed irrelevant to them.

What to Do at the Stoplight

What do you think is the number one question people ask me when it comes to homelessness? It isn’t whether someone is “really” homeless, nor is it about drugs or mental health. The question I get, above all others, is simple: “Hey Jack, when I pull up to the stoplight and someone has a sign… what do I do?”

From Crisis to Day-to-Day: Turning Emergencies into Manageable Problems

“Madam Chancellor, we have a crisis!”

Those words immediately trigger adrenaline, urgency, and sometimes panic. But here’s the truth: nobody actually solves a crisis. What we solve are problems.

Nothing is ever as good as you dream it, nor as bad as you imagine it.

I’m a major-league catastrophizer. Just ask my wife. My default is to run through the absolute worst-case scenario and consider all the ways a situation could go wrong. I tell myself it’s “just being prepared,” but honestly, it’s rarely helpful. The worst-case scenario I envision never actually happens, and meanwhile, I’ve stressed myself (and everyone around me) to exhaustion.

You might lean the other way as the optimist who envisions the perfect outcome. I do this too: picturing the ideal relationship, the flawless vacation, the dream job, or the ideal project. But in the real world, nothing is perfect. Chasing perfection wastes energy and drains resources, leaving you frustrated and your organization overextended.

A Fighter Pilot’s Guide to Staying Out of Trouble

I’m a fighter pilot. I don’t fly anymore, but once you’ve been a pilot, you never stop thinking like one. I used to launch 80,000 pounds of jet into the air in less than 6,000 feet of runway. With the afterburners lit, the ground shook, your ears hurt, and the jet guzzled fuel like there was no tomorrow.

It's Only 3 Feet.

What needs to be done about the growing homeless situation in America?