Black Market Leadership

Who says you must only read leadership books for professional development?! In the spirit of Halloween, Kevin and Michael Lang, US Army combat veteran and author, analyze Stephen King's groundbreaking book, Salem's Lot, the story how the forces of good combat a town under siege by forces of darkness. They break down the plot of the story, examine key characters, analyze events, and discuss the different methods of writing and storytelling.

In this second episode, Kevin and Mike dive deep into five central characters and key scenes:

• Father Callahan, the disillusioned priest who is finally able to exercise his purpose.
• Jimmy Cody, the doctor who must learn to balance science with the supernatural.
• Salem's Lot, the town seeped in evil and that attracts the worst behaviors.
• Richard Straker, the human henchman who does his master's bidding.
• Barlow, the Master vampire, who is in direct conflict with the hero protagonists.
• The letter scene, where the protagonists learn their adversary is much smarter than they thought.
• Mark's escape scene, where King masterfully takes us into life-and-death situation, inch by inch.
• The beginning of the Kitchen scene, where Mark and Father Callahan are confronted by Mr. Barlow.

Who says you must only read leadership books for professional development?! In the spirit of Halloween, Kevin and Michael Lang, US Army combat veteran, author, and process analyst for strategic projects, analyze Stephen King's groundbreaking Salem's Lot, the story how the forces of good combat a town under siege by forces of darkness. They break down the plot of the story, examine key characters, analyze events, and discuss the different methods of writing and storytelling.

In this episode, Kevin and Mike discuss the background to the novel and the general plot, and then dive deep into three central characters:

• Ben Mears, the author revisiting Jerusalem's Lot.
• Mark Petrie, the local, twelve-year old boy who takes the fight to the vampires.
• Matt Burke, the high school teacher who acts like a corporate headquarters to the team.

In this third and final episode of this series, Military History as a Professional Resource, Kevin and Christoph continue their conversation and focus on topics such as "Grand Strategy," comparing the US and Germany during WW2; Operation Barbarossa and the impact of culture on planning and strategy; design companies and their focus; the nature of "competitive advantage" in business and in the military, using the US Navy's turf-war with the new US Air Force in 1947 as a fascinating example. Kevin and Christoph end the conversation with last thoughts on the value of military history for leadership and strategy development.

LINKS/RESOURCES

Website: https://www.kevinblack.co

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinblack1999/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kevinblack.co

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/blackmarketleadership

Locals: https://blackmarketleadership.locals.com/

In this second episode using military history as a professional resource, Kevin and Christoph go deeper into their conversation. Topics discussed are focus and differentiation, personally and professionally, and the American Civil War; Michael Porter and the deliberate strategy; the impact of behaviors on leadership; Peter Drucker and George C. Marshall; Tim Tebow and the "combat multiplier"; and finally, Hans Delbruck and emergent strategy. CORRECTION: Kevin mistakenly said Jack Welch was the CEO of GM; he was the CEO of GE.

LINKS/RESOURCES

Website: https://www.kevinblack.co

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinblack1999/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kevinblack.co

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/blackmarketleadership

Locals: https://blackmarketleadership.locals.com/

In this episode of Black Market Leadership, Kevin opens a very interesting discussion with Christoph Lohr, Director of Education and Strategic Projects, of LiquiTech. Christoph has over 10 years of experience in designing plumbing systems for healthcare, laboratory, hospitality, sports, and university projects. One resource that both he and Kevin use professionally is military history. Kevin and Christoph explain the value of military history in developing as a leader and with your organization's strategy. They also address a potential pitfall that you must consider when using this unconventional resource. Several topics are discussed, such a decentralized command and "auftragstaktik," scientific management and Taylorism during WW2, "agile" systems and John Boyd, and the management expert Henry Mintzberg and the emergent strategy.

LINKS/RESOURCES

Website: https://www.kevinblack.co

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinblack1999/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kevinblack.co

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/blackmarketleadership

Locals: https://blackmarketleadership.locals.com/

In this fourth episode of Black Market Leadership, Kevin interviews construction executive, Conor Evans, about a tool he deployed to him manage uncertainty in leading his office. The "Expectations Document" is critical instrument enables you to better guide your organization, no matter how big or small, or homogenous or diverse, to the intended goal despite the uncertainty and its ultimate byproduct, chaos. Conor created one and it's worked out to his advantage. But it's not an easy document to create. Kevin and Conor discuss his document in some detail, along with its origins and how to effectively use it.

LINKS/RESOURCES

Website: https://www.kevinblack.co

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinblack1999/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kevinblack.co

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/blackmarketleadership

Locals: https://blackmarketleadership.locals.com/

In this third and final installment of "how to develop holistically as a leader," Kevin the third and fourth sub-pillars or core elements: systems management and culture. Systems management represents the actualization of competencies and identity. It is how the person leads the team and controls the elements required for success. For culture, Kevin discusses key elements required to inspire people to ensure the mission is accomplished, despite the "fog of war."

LINKS/RESOURCES

Website: https://www.kevinblack.co

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinblack1999/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kevinblack.co

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/blackmarketleadership

Locals: https://blackmarketleadership.locals.com/

In this episode, Kevin focuses only the second sub-pillar, or core elements, required in the "holistic" development of leaders: competencies. He explains competencies are general bodies of knowledge and that they represent what a person should know prior to acting. Kevin breaks down competencies into four major areas, then goes into depth explaining how each relate to leader performance.

LINKS/RESOURCES

Website: https://www.kevinblack.co

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinblack1999/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kevinblack.co

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/blackmarketleadership

Locals: https://blackmarketleadership.locals.com/

In this episode, Kevin explains why leadership development requires looking at the "whole," rather than taking a specialized view only into people. He first identifies the two fundamental pillars of leadership, people and mission. Kevin then breaks down general leader development into four areas, called sub-pillars or core elements. The first area is called, "identity," which Kevin discusses its essential components: behaviors, motivators and adaptability. He elaborates on each affect performance and decision-making.

LINKS/RESOURCES

Website: https://www.kevinblack.co

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinblack1999/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kevinblack.co

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/blackmarketleadership

Locals: https://blackmarketleadership.locals.com/

In this episode, Kevin Black, Leadership Expert and Forbes Coach, explains the "why" of Black Market Leadership. He dives into the current state of leadership development and identifies some major gaps in it. If you want stand out from the crowd and accelerate your growth, Kevin makes the case for you to listen to Black Market Leadership!

LINKS/RESOURCES

Website: https://www.kevinblack.co

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinblack1999/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kevinblack.co

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/blackmarketleadership

Locals: https://blackmarketleadership.locals.com/