Citizen Writers Fighting Censorship by Helping Americans Understand Issues Affecting the Republic.
I’ve spent much of my adult life in leadership positions, first in the Army, then in corporate America, and eventually as a small business owner. Along the way, I’ve encountered leaders who inspired tremendous loyalty from the people around them. Then…there were the others.
You know the type. Every decision requires approval. Every assignment comes with detailed instructions. Every minor problem becomes an opportunity for the boss to demonstrate how things should be done.
The smartest leader in the room isn’t necessarily the one with the most answers. Sometimes it’s the one who knows which questions to ask.
It’s easy for a leader to demand results, establish standards, and point out where others have fallen short. It’s considerably harder to look in the mirror when something goes wrong and ask a much more uncomfortable question:
What part of this belongs to me?
That’s where leadership begins.
Natural leadership, real Alpha Males, and the sources of toxic leadership. There is great misunderstanding in the tactical world about the concept of an Alpha Male, as it occurs in nature, and being a leader and the relationship between the two.
“Generals don’t run the Army anymore. The lawyers and comptrollers do.” ~Army 3-star General; summer 2013
Some weekends are about closing deals. Some are about sinking putts. And then there are weekends where the fairways meet the front lines reminding us that real leadership doesn’t pause for a mulligan, even when the world’s on fire.
Some weekends feel bigger than sports. Some feel bigger than policy. And then there are weekends like this one where leadership, competition, conviction, and country all collide. I was working on this piece with a Deployment Freedom Cigar lit, paired with a very special small-batch pour of MB Roland Dark Fired Kentucky bourbon. Smoke steady. …
COL David Hackworth was possibly the most gifted warfighter in Vietnam and one of the most, if not THE most, decorated Army officer in that war. However, like some other combat leaders in history, had difficulty keeping quiet when he needed to.
Dedicated to Americans who understand that real leadership doesn’t panic in a storm, doesn’t outsource conviction, doesn’t flinch when the numbers are ugly, and never forgets that families, not frameworks, are the foundation of everything worth protecting.
While most people think leadership means podiums, applause lines, and professionally distressed jeans, the real work happens quietly—between meetings, between tee boxes, and sometimes between flights where the Wi-Fi barely works but decisions still do.
Reagan, Obama and Trump all faced crisis. Leadership is the difference.
This column is dedicated to Americans who understand that real leadership doesn’t punch a clock, borders aren’t suggestions, families aren’t optional, and strength isn’t negotiable—even when the calendar flips to a new year and half the country is still recovering from New Year’s resolutions they broke before the ball hit the ground.
Chuck Cordak “Life’s too short for weak pours, weak swings, or leaders who confuse comfort with competence.” (Add weak coffee to that list—and FAFO to the list of things you don’t test.)
This column is dedicated to Americans who believe peace is preserved by strength, borders matter, and leadership doesn’t take holidays — even when the calendar says it should.
If leadership were a golf swing, this weekend proved President Trump doesn’t slice under pressure — he stripes it straight, even when the wind is howling out of Syria, the media gallery is chirping from the rough, and half the country is still arguing about who stole whose head cover.
Until institutions decide to reward courage instead of punishing imperfection, we’ll keep getting leaders who need 27 meetings to schedule a meeting.
If you ever needed proof that America still produces grit, greatness, and golf shots so pure they might make Arnold Palmer high-five THE Ohio State great Jack Nicklaus from heaven — this Thanksgiving weekend delivered.
Remember when leaders actually led? When decisions were made by people with chests instead of committees with spreadsheets?
I was a believer. Somewhere between “Make America Great Again” and the media losing their minds every 15 minutes, I crossed a line. I started defending him like he was beyond fault — like somehow, one man could carry the soul of an entire nation. That’s where it gets dangerous.