Recently, I had the privilege of listening to Admiral Philip Davidson, the 25th Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, speak about the importance of strategic alliances and defensive capabilities. 🎖️ Leadership on a Global Scale Imagine managing a team spread out over half the Earth! That's what Admiral Davidson did, leading 380,000 of our armed forces across the Indo-Pacific. This region, which spans everything from fish markets in South Korea to tech hubs in India, was his chessboard. 🌏 Why Should You Care? As tensions simmer in regions like Taiwan, the Korean Peninsula, and the South China Sea, the leadership and strategic vision of figures like Admiral Davidson become crucial. His emphasis on deepening existing military alliances and strengthening partnerships with key countries like Japan, South Korea, Australia, and India underscored the importance of collaboration in maintaining regional stability and security. 🌏 Why This Matters for Investors and Business Owners Understanding global military dynamics is crucial, not just for policymakers but for us in the business and investment world. Stability in key regions can mean prosperity at home, affecting markets, supply chains, and investment climates. As a Marine Corps veteran, I've learned that a strong defense is key to success. That's why I'm passionate about helping business owners and individuals protect their financial future. Thank you WAC-Houston for hosting a thoughtful event. What do you think the future holds in the Indo-Pacific? Comment below.

The U.S. military faces a paradox: while the evolving security landscape demands rapid innovation, its promotion system rewards conformity and sidelines the mavericks who challenge the status quo. Mavericks like Billy Mitchell and Jimmy Doolittle were initially marginalized, yet their divergent thinking proved crucial in times of change. Today, rigid budgeting and resourcing processes further inhibit the flexibility needed for creative progress, putting the U.S. military at risk of falling behind more adaptable adversaries. To maintain a strategic edge, we must cultivate a culture that embraces creativity, rewards risk-taking, and supports those willing to think differently. Read the full article here: https://wix.to/NHzYRss #StratBotAI #Innovation #Leadership #Military #Strategy #ChangeManagement #DivergentThinking #Mavericks #DefenseInnovation #MilitaryCulture

Not two obvious business leadership books but very relevant to the themes and principles of veteran transition and important exploration of critical societal and human values. They are two of my very favourite books and highly recommended. I was pleased to share the books (TRIBE and FREEDOM by Sebastian Junger) with a great group of Canadian business leaders and special forces veterans following our completion of Stage I of the True Patriot Love Foundation expedition in support of veteran wellness and in tribute to the World War II combined Canadain and US First Special Service Force, more commonly known as the Devil’s Brigade. Next week we regroup to undertake Stage II of the expedition in the footsteps of the great achievements of the Devil’s Brigade in Italy during WWII. Throughout history, humans have been driven by the quest for two ideals: community and freedom. The two don’t coexist easily: we value individuality and self-reliance, yet are utterly dependent on community for our most basic needs. FREEDOM examines this tension that lies at the heart of what it means to be human. We have a strong instinct to belong to small groups defined by clear purpose and understanding--"tribes." This connection has been largely lost in modern society and regaining it may be the key to our psychological survival. Tribes have exerted an almost gravitational pull on Western societies for hundreds of years. A relevant example of this pull is combat veterans who come home to find themselves missing the incredibly intimate bonds of a unit or platoon. The loss of closeness that comes at the end of deployment or service may explain the high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder or mental health challenges suffered by military veterans today. TRIBE explores what we can learn from tribal societies about loyalty, belonging, and the eternal human quest for meaning.

⚔️ Veteran Skills vs. Civilian Skills: Who Comes Out on Top? 🎯 Leadership: -> Veterans: Proven experience leading teams in high-pressure environments. -> Civilians: Experience managing corporate teams but often lack crisis leadership. 🎯 Problem-Solving: ->Veterans: Adaptable problem-solvers who thrive on quick decision-making. ->Civilians: Excellent at structured problem-solving but may struggle with ambiguity. 🎯 Work Ethic: -> Veterans: Known for their discipline, loyalty, and resilience. -> Civilians: Strong work ethic, but often without the same level of intensity. Veterans bring an X-factor that most civilian candidates simply can’t match. Don’t overlook this talent.

We fight for peace. Last week I was participating in a Basic Infantry Course of the Estonian Defence Forces (As a civilian and startup founder) My main goal was to learn - first hand - how to operate effectively within a team in combat. We were instructed by former Special Forces Operator, US Army Ranger School Graduate and Combat Ready instructor Renee Aluste . I think it was really special for everyone to have a "german guest" to train together with them. Why should he train with Estonians? And not join the german army? Well simply put: This is where the european border is. It's not in Germany. It's in the Baltics, in Finland, in Ukraine... So what should I defend in Germany? I'm a European. When do we finally start to think like that? Not giving up our national heritage, but finally identifying ourselves as Europeans? And work together accordingly? Learn from eachother. Train with eachother. On every level. And not let bureaucracy and false nationalism cripple ourselves and weaken us? I say: Let's get stronger together. Let's train, let's work, let's laugh and let's prepare to fight together. And our biggest enemy these days is that one: Stress and Fear. Stress is the biggest killer and the pandemic of our century, according to WHO. All major diseases are stress related, prove me wrong. Millions of people burning out, addicted to alcohol, tobacco, drugs, being alone and depressed, suffering and dying. And all of this without an enemy from outside. We are doing this to ourselves. So all leaders, founders, entrepreneurs and employees: Finally understand that: STRESS IS THE ENEMY. And finally take ACTION! Ask yourself: WHAT are YOU doing ACTIVELY, to prevent your team and yourself from burning out? If you find yourself struggling to answer, this is what we can offer: Mental Fitness and Resilience Training for Teams and Companies with urbntiger.com. URBNTIGER Leadership and Team Building Training with Combat Ready │ Leadership Consulting and Services Comment with ✊🏼 and add the values, that you need in your team or company : #Leadership #Teambuilding. #Resilience Stop the enemy. Let's get stronger. Together. Kaitseministeerium / Ministry of Defence of Estonia Estonian Defence Forces Markus Christensen Janice Chan Sergey Ryabenko Ryan Wire Aleksandr Afanasjev Priit Lilleväli Remo Ojaste Sille Martma Echelon Front Kaja Kallas Kristel Kriisa Alistair Starling Mats Kuuskemaa e-Residency Liina Vahtras Liina Suvi Ristoja Meliisa Palipea

I have been thinking about the various opportunities this year presents to fulfill our organization’s mission. The phrase I keep going back to is “mission first, people always” – a commonly used motto in the Army, Air Force, and other military branches. This phrase serves as a reminder that our ultimate goal must be to fulfill our mission in a manner that prioritizes the needs and well-being of our community – our Fire Hero families, our staff and consultants, and our partners across the fire service and beyond. As I tried to track down the origin of that motto (which is claimed by multiple military services), I found this excellent article with an overview of the “mission first, people always” motto: https://lnkd.in/eCFknE5i. The article also links to a terrific piece from the Harvard Business Review that discusses how the best leaders balance their focus between results AND people. President Truman said, “Progress occurs when courageous, skillful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for the better.” That is what I aim to do this year – change things for the better while always keeping our mission in mind and prioritizing the members of our community. I wish you a happy year ahead and look forward to staying connected.

"𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐬" The word strategy comes from the Greek strategos, which refers to a military general and combines stratos (the army) and ago (to lead). The history of strategic planning began in the military. A key aim of both business and military strategy is “to gain competitive advantage.” In ancient times, military leaders used strategy to plan and execute campaigns, ensuring they could outmaneuver and defeat their enemies. The primary goal was to gain a competitive advantage on the battlefield. Over time, the principles of military strategy were adapted to the business world. Companies began to use strategic planning to navigate competitive markets, optimize resources, and achieve long-term goals. Strategy is a comprehensive plan or method designed to achieve a specific goal or set of goals. It involves setting objectives, determining actions to achieve those objectives, and mobilizing resources to execute the actions. The concept of strategy is applicable in various fields, including business, military, and personal development. Therefore, Strategy is crucial for the success and sustainability of any business. It provides a clear roadmap for achieving long-term goals and helps navigate the complexities of the market. #Strategy #MilitaryOrigins #BusinessAdaptation

Dwight D. Eisenhower, the 34th President of the United States and military leader who served as Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Forces, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, and Supreme Commander of NATO forces, once said "In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable." In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable." I really think this is what business planning is all about, too. So I try to work with them through the planning process, rather than just handing them a finished plan and saying, "Here you go.Rather, I try to verbalize what the person wants to do, and then work together with him or her to develop a roadmap to realize it.I know from experience that a project that does not involve the person himself/herself in the planning process will never succeed. At the same time, we know from experience that Eisenhower was right: a well-developed plan itself is of little use.However, neglecting the planning process because it is useless will also lead to failure. Knowing that the final plan itself is useless, I think the "minimum requirement" for a successful business is to seriously work on the plan even though it is useless. Not only business plans, but also whether one can put all one's effort into something that at first glance seems useless, and whether one can distinguish between what is truly useless and what is actually meaningful.

A good book, providing a history of Russia’s war against Germany during World War II. The author, noted military historian Richard Overy, wrote this book in the late 1990s, using access to Soviet records and interviews with Eastern Front veterans. The book offers an open and holistic narrative of the Russian war effort, with honest assessments of the larger-than-life Soviet leadership. Overy explains how the roots of the Soviet performance in World War II stemmed from the Red Army’s birth and development in the violent two decades prior to the German invasion. One interesting assessment, Overy claims that the purges of the late 1930s ultimately helped the Soviets by removing a number of senior leaders who were not adaptable to the new mechanized way of war. In keeping with his human centered philosophy of warfare, Overy emphasizes the fighting spirit and determination of people rather than mere material determination. Even his narratives of industrial performance have the workers’ emotions and hardships as the centerpiece. I especially appreciated his argument on the Soviet replacement of personnel with firepower as a measure of battlefield mass. A great book for understanding the Russian way of war. Highly recommended for anyone interested in the dynamics of the Eastern Front.

Here's a business scale-up strategy every entrepreneur can learn from the British military. The British military are brilliant at scaling up teams. A 2-people scout team. A 4-person fire team An 8-person core team called a section A 30-person platoon for taking over a territory. Translated for your business, that's: A 2-person scout to find opportunities A 4-person team to create a campaign. An 8-person team to do 1 million in revenue. A 30-person team to make 1 million in profit. That's your scale-up strategy. #businessgrowth #businessstrategy #businesscoaching