The best leaders in my life have always been those who are willing to fulfill whatever role is needed. When we let our positions, job titles, egos or pride drive what we are willing to do, we are putting ourselves before the mission. We need to look for the gaps or weak links and be…

I am not sure where I heard this, but we shouldn’t strive to be better than others. We will work ourselves into the ground and chase multiple targets as we see them excel in some new area. Instead, we should strive to be better than we were yesterday. Improve in one area of your life…

Feedback is the most important tool for growth. Without it, we just go through motions and only happen upon success through chance. Without quality feedback, we don’t know what we are doing well and where we are falling short. Feedback is vital if you want success for your team or yourself. Why then do we…

This is a much harder thing to put into action. We do not get to pick the jobs we do while in the military. I was placed onto a lot of crappy jobs while working as a Crew Chief on the flightline. However, those on the shift found ways to make the best of it.…

I can’t tell you how many jobs I approached with fear. “There is no way I can do that!” or “I will never be as good as <predecessor>.” Almost every time, I was able to do the task and sometimes as good as those who came before me. I learned there is an initial fear…

This quote was written on the white board across from my desk as a reminder to get up and insert myself into where the work was being completed. I saw what it looked like when leaders made decisions without exploring the 2nd and 3rd order effects and this was a deeply rooted fear. By seeing…

Be visible, be interested, and be involved is my formula for trust. We can never truly know what our team brings to the table until we go where they are and experience what they are doing. Even though I worked the flightline for years in all of the elements and under harsh conditions, I still…

Hard work does pay off; however, a lot of our hard work can be eliminated or reduced if we look to solve problems. When we take the time to solve a small problem in our area, it makes our lives better. I remember this cord that stretched to the desk many people used. If we…