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This is Part 2 of our Interview with Chris Wilkens, Commander of 3rd Platoon, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Marines during the 2nd Battle of Fallujah in November 2004. Our discussion begins on the battalion's arrival on the outskirts of Fallujah and Chris walks us through his platoon's deadly skirmishes through that very kinetic battle of the war in Iraq.

The 2nd Battle of Fallujah (aka Operation Phantom Fury) was fought over a 6 week period beginning on Nov 7th, 2004. It was the bloodiest battle of the Iraq war and also the heaviest urban fighting for US Marines since the Battle of Hue, Vietnam in 1968.

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Operation Phantom Fury, also known as The 2nd Battle of Fallujah, was fought over a 6 week period beginning on Nov 7th, 2004. It was the bloodiest battle of the Iraq war and also the heaviest urban fighting for US Marines since the Battle of Hue, Vietnam in 1968.

As we remember the 20th Anniversary of the battle, we have a special guest, Chris Wilkens, who served as the Commander of 3rd Platoon, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Marines. This is Part 1 of our interview where Chris talks about growing up in New York, becoming a Marine Corps Infantry Officer, Deploying to Iraq with 1/8, and the Battalion's actions leading up to Fallujah.

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Winning BIG in the lottery often ends in tragedy. In this episode, we take a look at the story of Jack Whittaker and how his family was destroyed after winning a $313M PowerBall jackpot. Along the way, we discuss why lottery winners go bankrupt, what you should do if you win big, and the political wranglings surrounding State Lotteries where we're often told, "Buy lottery tickets! It's for the children!!!"

Episode Resources

1. Tragic Story of PowerBall Jackpot Winner
2. Why Lottery Winners Go Bankrupt
3. NC Education Lottery Spending Data
4. The Cons of Georgia's Hope Scholarships
5. The Lottery: Poor People Play, the Rich Win

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When considering leadership, we have a tendency to focus on the workplace and how leaders operate in that sphere of influence. The reality is EVERYONE needs leadership skills to create a fulfilling life. Specifically, we need the ability to look out for our own personal welfare and that of others. 

If you're an individual responsible only for yourself, these skills will enrich your life tremendously. If you're a leader of an organization, these skills will have a very positive impact on your team and the bottom line of your business.   

For this episode, we discuss the vital leadership goal of Human Welfare, touching on these areas:

1. Physical welfare
2. Mental/Emotional Wellbeing
3. Personal Development & Growth
4. Financial Health

Chapters:
00:00 - Welcome
00:15 - Introduction
03:17 - Vital Objective #2
04:51 - Mission Accomplishment vs Human Welfare
09:05 - Physical Welfare
20:16 - Mental/Emotional Welfare
34:38 - Development & Growth
40:55 - Financial Security
50:18 - How to Measure Impact
62:50 - Closing Thoughts

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What is the Most important Goal of Leadership? This episode digs into that one simple question. When you say the goal out loud, it sounds so basic and obvious that it's almost TOO simple. The fact is, we humans struggle in this area of leading ourselves and others. The chaos of life often steers us away from our objectives. Distractions, In-fighting, Drama, and Friction conspire to take us in the wrong direction. 

This episode starts by identifying the #1 Goal of Leadership and then we break it down into a Simple, 4-Step Action Plan to help deal with chaos and stay on the path. 

00:00 - Welcome
00:13 - Introduction
03:16 - Vital Objective #1
04:37 - Define the Mission
17:03 - Plan the Mission
35:31 - Execute the Mission
40:48 - Measure Results
48:54 - Closing Thoughts

Resources for this Episode:

1. The Ultimate Guide to S.M.A.R.T Goals
2. 30 Events that Shaped Cisco Systems in 2011
3. Why "Visionary Leadership" Fails
4. 13 Notorious Examples of Strategic Planning Failure
5. CEO Shares Top 3 Red Flags She Sees in Employees

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This episode digs into the impact of leadership, both good and bad. Chances are you've had a number of "First Day on the Job" experiences. Some were GOOD and some were notoriously BAD. What was the difference in these "First Day" experiences? The answer is LEADERSHIP!

Everybody can benefit from learning leadership skills. It doesn't matter if you're a young person just getting started in life, a regular employee working a job, or if you are leading a team. At a minimum, you need to understand how to take responsibility for your own life to influence positive outcomes. If you're a parent, you are responsible for the lives of little people and leadership skills are a must. If you have an official title that puts you in charge of a team, it's important to study your craft and gain skills to help your team succeed. 

In previous episodes, we discussed the life of Genghis Khan and the tremendous influence he's had over the lives of millions. Many of the ideas he introduced in the 12th Century resonate in today's society. The character of his leadership took him from a local clan leader to nation builder with influence that transcends time and place. 

00:00 - Welcome
00:13 - Introduction
05:09 - Ripple Effect of Leadership
23:18 - Negative Impact of Bad Leadership
36:06 - Positive Impacts of Good Leadership
47:42 - Character of Genghis Khan’s Leadership
59:32 - Closing Thoughts

Reference Material for this Episode:

1. Interview: Colonel David Hackworth's 1971 Interview on the Vietnam War   
2. Article: Trickle Down Effect of Good (and Bad) Leadership
3. Article: The Butterfly Effect of YOU: Your Actions Matter More than you Think

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This is part 7, the last in our Series on the Life of Genghis Khan. 

After the military campaign in China, Genghis Khan struggled to keep his family and, by extension, the empire from tearing itself apart. Desiring to find a purpose and mission for his people, he seeks a trade agreement with the Empire of Khwarizm, but their Sultan unwisely chooses war with the Mongols. Genghis Khan would lead military campaigns up until his death at the age of 65. Along the way, we get insight into the very human grief Genghis Khan experienced due to his failure as a father. After his death, Genghis Khan's legacy would continue on for over 100 years before the plague brings about the Fall of the Mongolian Empire. 

Chapters:
00:00 - Welcome
00:10 - Introduction
04:01 - Problems After the China Campaign
13:07 - Sultan of Khwarizm Chooses Violence
23:28 - Genghis Khan Plans for a Successor
35:31 - The Fall of the Mongolian Empire
39:33 - Closing Thoughts

Resource for this Episode:
Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World, by Jack Weatherford

As an Amazon Partner, this podcast earns from qualifying purchases.

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This is part 6 in our Series on the Life of Genghis Khan. 

After establishing the institutions that form the foundation of "The Great Mongol Nation", Genghis Khan and the people enjoy 4 years of peace. The Jurched in China make a political play to subjugate the Mongols but the Clans respond by declaring war. 

This story gives us an excellent primer on great leadership, with insight into the deliberative process the Mongols followed to plan for war.  When the Mongols march South into China, the Jurched mocked them, thinking there was no way the impoverished nation of Mongolia could beat them. They soon learned a hard lesson. 

The Mongols engage in a masterful campaign that involves psychological warfare followed by simultaneous military strikes across the region to create the most confusion and chaos. New tools and fighting tactics are developed by the Mongols with a mindset of Total Victory.  This was a fun episode to research!   

Resource for this Episode:
Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World, by Jack Weatherford

As an Amazon Partner, this podcast earns from qualifying purchases.

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This is part 5 in our Series on the Life of Genghis Khan. After 20 years of warfare, Temujin's father figure, Ong Khan, is getting old and a successor is needed. Temujin makes a political play to gain an advantage over his rival, Jamuka, but he soon finds himself fleeing for his life with a small band of men. This sets the stage for the final battle for control of all the Mongol Clans.

Resource for this Episode:
Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World, by Jack Weatherford

As an Amazon Partner, this podcast earns from qualifying purchases.

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This is part 4 in our Series on the Life of Genghis Khan. In this episode we talk about the bitter conflict that springboards Temujin to the position of Khan of his own clan. Upon taking that leadership role, he institutes ingenious governing policies that, up to this point, were a first in human history. We dig into topics of Meritocracy, Rights of Citizenship, Treatment of Conquered Leaders, Distribution of Wealth, and the organization of the Mongol Army.  Along the way, the bitter conflict with Temujin's blood-brother continues with some pretty egregious atrocities committed by Jamuka.  

Resource for this Episode:
Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World, by Jack Weatherford

As an Amazon Partner, this podcast earns from qualifying purchases.

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