I have heard it said before that there are two kinds of people in this world…Those who believe there are two kinds of people in this world and those who are smart enough to know better. I fall into the camp that knows better. Personally, I believe there are three […]
Category: Inspiration
Pirates, Passion, Professionals (Guest Post)
Mario Vulcano is a retired Chief Warrant Officer after 23 years and is currently serving as Course Manager and instructor for the Information Warfare Basic Course (IWBC) at Corry Station in Pensacola Florida. He has served a total of 10 years as an instructor while on active duty and as […]
“TED-like” Talk
It was late December of 2012 and I had just finished my list of goals for 2013, or so I thought. The week prior to finalizing my list, a mentor had lent me the book How to Deliver A TED Talk. He had known how much I enjoy watching TED Talks […]
Engage. Connect. Grow.
A recent status update on my LinkedIn account resulted in a nice conversation with a Department of Defense (DoD) civilian on the topic of mentoring, networking, and actively engaging with others. He made mention that in his 20+ years working with military personnel, he had not mentored a single one. […]
Opportunities To Fail
It might sound odd, but I will go ahead and admit that I sometimes enjoy watching others struggle, and the highest highs I continue to enjoy in life are experienced on the back end of a personal struggle. I will also admit that as much as I don’t believe in […]
Public Accountability
Have you ever thought about doing something and then never got close to actually doing it? Have you ever written something down as a goal or task and then not seen it through? I know I am among the many who can freely admit “Yes” to both of those questions. […]
Culture Clash (Guest Post)
Ensign Lukas Dwelly was commissioned as an Intelligence Officer last fall through the Navy Reserve Direct Commissioning Program. Enlisting in the Marines in 1995, he obtained the rank of Sergeant and deployed as an infantry squad leader aboard the USS GUAM with the 24th MEU (BLT 3/6) in support of […]
Gratitude Ceremonies
Spring has sprung and summer is near. The change in weather signals many things to many people and I am finding that with each year that passes this is the season of retirement ceremonies. Last Friday, two of my valued Shipmates retired from the world’s greatest Navy, one in Pensacola […]
Competence…Confidence…Authority
I continue to notice that most public sector organizations, as well as many of the people working within them, are especially mindful of the authorities that they may not enjoy. They hold themselves back from doing some of the things that no one else is doing but need to be […]
Flattening your Tree of Monkeys – Observations on Leadership (Guest Post)
CTR2 Willoughby is a 23-year-old first-term Sailor with a driving passion for learning and understanding; a rational, positive outlook on life; a distaste for the superflous; and, if not uncensored, a tongue which expresses his distaste. Since enlisting in 2009 he has been the honor graduate of CTR “A” School, […]
Cover Bands
“Cover bands don’t change the world.” That is a call to action from Todd Henry, author of The Accidental Creative and PODcast by the same name. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and subscribe to both his blog and PODcast. In fact, my favorite workouts are the ones I spend with […]
Operate Forward (Guest Post)
LTJG Jason Pawlak is an Information Warfare Officer originally from Mason, Ohio. After graduating from the University of Cincinnati with a degree in Computer Science, he commissioned through Officer Candidate School in October of 2010. Jason took orders to NIOC Texas where he works in Computer Network Operations. Outside of […]
Confidence and Clarity
With the move to Maryland and joining a new team, I have made it a point of late to reach out to some of the proteges with whom I now share geography. I have also incorporated guest posts on my blog from the same audience. In conversations with some of […]
Family, Intersections, and Legacy
Simultaneously starting a new job and planning for a new year is proving to be rather fortuitous. Like many people, before I settle into a new job I arrive with a list of goals (short and long term) that I plan to help the team accomplish over the course of […]
Thanksgiving, Giving Thanks, and Just Plain Giving
Over the last week while I was experiencing yet another wonderful Thanksgiving with family, like so many others, I spent a good portion of time reflecting on the many things for which I am thankful in my life. As my list continued to grow, I got stuck thinking about the […]
Rolling With The Wind
Sometimes it’s just obvious that certain people come into our lives for a specific reason. Nine weeks ago, the class I am currently attending started and as customary with any first day of school, we did the standard around the room introductions. It did not take long for any of […]
Intoxication is Contagious
Last week I received a note from a junior officer asking me to explain the significance of the piece of art included on my business card. To me, art is just about anything that changes our emotion. This particular piece of art arrived at my home unannounced from a mentor […]
Try, and Mean It!
I have had the pleasure of spending lots of time with my wife and son during this transition period. We’ve played, we’ve worked, we’ve explored, we’ve traveled, we’ve tried new things, and yes we’ve made mistakes. I don’t know that my son has had more reason than normal to use […]
Settlers and Shapers
As we spend our days carving out a living, most of us do so by switching between chasing our pension and pursuing our passion. I don’t know that I have been “chasing” either over the last few years, but I do know that I have been fortunate enough to simultaneously […]
Change of Command Remarks
It may not have come out exactly as written, but here were my remarks for OUR Change of Command Ceremony conducted at the National Naval Aviation Museum. On 16 August 2012, Commander Pat Count became the 11th Commanding Officer of the team that is currently known as Navy Information Operations Command […]