Colonel John Boyd, an Air Force Fighter pilot who was never defeated in a dogfight, was also a master tactician and student of modern warfare.  Boyd used to tell junior officers that in every man’s life he will come to a point where he must make the choice to be someone or to do something.

General George Patton, when referring to confronting the enemy told his troops that “We are going to grab them by the nose, and kick them in the pants.”  That same concept can be translated to daily problems.

Patton often irritated his peer and superiors by saying what was on his mind, forcefully, and not simply going along to get along. He was never afraid to tell the Emperor that he was naked.

Who is your Relief Valve? A relief valve allows excess or dangerous pressure to be

“bled off” or vented before the pressure becomes too great and catastrophic failure occurs. Everyone needs a person who acts as their relief valve.

Maintaining the Habit. Humans are creatures of habit. That is not a mystery. When it comes to developing good or positive habits often we allow the great to be the enemy of the good. My coach, Matt Reynolds, recently discussed Optimal versus Real life.

Regarding strength training, it is better to do something physical, rather than simply to do nothing at all because the conditions are not perfect. The important thing is to maintain the good habit.

Quiet Time is Meditation  Not all meditation has to be that of the eastern philosophical kinds. You do not need to sit cross-legged on a bamboo mat to enjoy and appreciate meditation.

Meditation is about give you mind a break, a deliberate and purposeful break. Mental rest is essential for clarity and continued productivity.

Give them a lagniappe, that little something extra. You might have also heard the phrase “give them the pickle”. Let’s talk about the benefits of give people just a bit more than they expected or paid for.

Don’t Cut Corners, Dave’s Way. Why are Wendy’s hamburger patties square? Because, according to Dave Thomas the founder, “we don’t cut corners”.

Earning the Reward. Hot cocoa on a cold winter day. Cold beer on hot day. We understood this concept as children but far too many have lost the understanding of earning the reward.

Don’t tell me, Show me. Too many people spend far too much time telling you what they are going do or want to do, while at the same time too little time actually doing that thing.

In beautiful tourist areas, people say they want to move there, but few ever do it. People complain that a situation is wrong, but they don’t ever take steps to make that situation right.

Endurance is the mental and physical stamina that is measured by your ability to withstand pain, fatigue, stress, and hardship. For example, enduring pain during a conditioning march in order to improve stamina is crucial in the development of leadership.

Develop your endurance by engaging in physical training that will strengthen your body. Finish every task to the best of your ability by forcing yourself to continue when you are physically tired and your mind is sluggish.