Doug Petch's ARC Builder Blog

America's Best Leaders

Doug — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:30:35 +0000

US News and World Report has a feature online titled America's Best Leaders 2009. Included on the list along side the expected cast of business men and women, philanthropists and politicians are honorees from the military: General Ray Odierno and "Senior Noncommissioned Officers."

Being a retired senior noncommissioned officer (NCO) I am not at all surprised that our current crop of senior NCOs are receiving this recognition. As the article notes,

Senior noncommissioned officers are taking on increasing levels of responsibility, particularly as American forces continue to engage in wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan and small units must patrol large swaths of terrain.

NCOs at all levels have traditionally been the crucial keys to the success of our military. And as our commitments in this long war against those who support and engage in terrorism continues I have no doubt that the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen who wear the stripes of an NCO will continue to support their officers, train their subordinates and do what has to be done to achieve success. This tradition of leadership is nicely summed up in the Army's NCO Creed:

No one is more professional than I. I am a Noncommissioned Officer, a leader of soldiers. As a Noncommissioned Officer, I realize that I am a member of a time honored corps, which is known as "The Backbone of the Army". I am proud of the Corps of Noncommissioned Officers and will at all times conduct myself so as to bring credit upon the Corps, the Military Service and my country regardless of the situation in which I find myself. I will not use my grade or position to attain pleasure, profit, or personal safety.

Competence is my watchword. My two basic responsibilities will always be uppermost in my mind -- accomplishment of my mission and the welfare of my soldiers. I will strive to remain technically and tactically proficient. I am aware of my role as a Noncommissioned Officer. I will fulfill my responsibilities inherent in that role. All soldiers are entitled to outstanding leadership; I will provide that leadership. I know my soldiers and I will always place their needs above my own. I will communicate consistently with my soldiers and never leave them uninformed. I will be fair and impartial when recommending both rewards and punishment.

Officers of my unit will have maximum time to accomplish their duties; they will not have to accomplish mine. I will earn their respect and confidence as well as that of my soldiers. I will be loyal to those with whom I serve; seniors, peers, and subordinates alike. I will exercise initiative by taking appropriate action in the absence of orders. I will not compromise my integrity, nor my moral courage. I will not forget, nor will I allow my comrades to forget that we are professionals, Noncommissioned Officers, leaders!

(Thanks to Greyhawk at Mudville Gazette for calling this to my attention)

Shake Up Your Routine

Doug — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:50:38 +0000

My greyhounds are creatures of habit. So the introduction of a new dog into the pack this past weekend has seriously changed their routine. All three of them are now wandering around the house trying to figure out what exactly is going on. The new boy, fresh from the race track, is trying to adapt to living as a house dog while the 2 old timers are struggling to get used to having a new companion sharing "their" house. They'll eventually work things out (they always do), and shaking up their routine will lead to a new normal.

Sometimes we too need to shake up our routines in order to find a new, better normal. Routines can lead to complacency, and complacency can lead to stagnation. Think about that the next time you find yourself struggling to break through to the next level on your journey to success.

Are your routines preventing you from achieving your goals? To paraphrase a familiar quote, if you keep on doing the same things you can't expect to achieve different results. So every now and then find ways to shake up your routine; your success depends on it.

Book Review: Fearless

Doug — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 09:48:15 +0000

We all have things we fear. Some of our fears are rational and grounded in the realities of living while others can be more accurately categorized as phobias. Regardless of the source of our fear, author Max Lucado writes in the first chapter of his latest book, Fearless, that "Fear, at its center, is a perceived loss of control." In the 15 chapters that follow he provides us with an instruction manual for regaining a sense of control by, paradoxically, giving up control.

Each chapter explores a different fear; the fear of violence, the fear of overwhelming challenges, the fear of worst-case scenarios and so on. Starting with an example of each fear in action, Lucado goes on to share the biblical scripture and parables that demonstrate why Christians have no need to fear.

The absence of fear that Lucado describes is the result of living a life of faith in God and "getting on board with Jesus" (You'll have to read the book if you want to understand what he means with that phrase). This is the point of giving up control in order to regain a sense of control.

As an added bonus, the book includes a discussion guide that provides relevant scripture for each chapter and questions to help guide your study and increase your understanding of how to apply each point in your daily living. I found the guide to be invaluable when I would come across a concept that seemed especially difficult to grasp and accept.

Fearless is an excellent resource for anyone looking for an accessible Christian perspective on dealing with fear. Lucado's conversation style and firm grasp of his subject make it an easy, enjoyable and informative read. The end result is a book that will be appreciated by Christians and non-Christians alike

Full Disclosure Notice: I received a review copy of Max Lucado's Fearless from Thomas Nelson Publishing as a participant in their Book Review Bloggers program.

Book Review: Everyday Greatness

Doug — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:08:57 +0000

Everyday Greatness, a Reader's Digest branded anthology published by Thomas Nelson and compiled by David K. Hatch with commentary by Stephen R. Covey, is not a book to be read cover to cover. Rather, it's a source of inspiration, motivation and ideas on how to lead a meaningful life. The short stories and quotations included in this anthology address the positive character traits and concepts that are central to a life well lived. Dr. Covey's commentary serves to tie everything together and provide additional context.

There was a time that Reader's Digest was one of my favorite magazines. You may remember that time; back when it focused on inspirational stories, historical features, health news, profiles of newsmakers and influencers, and a variety of humor and informational features. Back when they lived by the slogan "An article a day of enduring value." Sadly, those days are long gone and Reader's Digest has become largely irrelevant; so much so that it was recently announced that Reader's Digest Association, Inc. would file Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Everyday Greatness proves that Reader's Digest has not completely lost sight of what made them an important touchstone in American culture. Inspirational without being preachy and thought provoking without being academic, Everyday Greatness has earned a spot on my daily reading list and deserves a spot on yours as well.

5 Times That It's Good To Be Dumb

Doug — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 20:00:58 +0000

It's good to be dumb to the idea that others have tried and failed to succeed with a business like yours; your unique approach may just be the one that makes the difference.
It's good to be dumb to the idea that "someone like you" has never achieved what you're striving for; someone has to be first.
It's good to be dumb to the idea that you don't have enough education; if you're committed to your goal you'll learn what you need to succeed.
It's good to be dumb to the idea that you're not as good as others in your field; it's likely that they were once standing where you are now.
It's good to be dumb to the idea that the barrier to entry is too high; no barrier is too high for someone determined to succeed.

Yes, sometimes it's good to be dumb.

Have You No Shame?

Doug — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 11:10:58 +0000

If you don't know at least one "look at how many times this famous person failed before he succeeded" tale you really should ask for a refund on your education. Of course, most of us could change that statement to "look how many times I failed before I succeeded." Goodness knows, I could.

So take it from someone who knows: There is no shame in failing. If you're going to put yourself out there, if you're going to try new things and if you're going to attempt to grow and improve you're going to fail. There's nothing wrong with that. In fact, it's a painful but necessary step on your journey to success.

So no, there is no shame in failing. The only shame is in not trying.

The One Right Way To Use Social Media

Doug — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 13:21:18 +0000

Social media experts are a dime a dozen. That's why I generally avoid writing about using social media. I'm making an exception this time, though, in order to proclaim once and for all that there is only one right way to use social media.

Ready? Here it is: Regardless of what you may have been told, the only right way to use social media is in what ever way works for you. If you want to use social media to stay in touch with people you know, then that's the right way to use it. Want to build a network of business contacts? Use it that way. Just don't fall into the trap of thinking that just because some self-proclaimed guru is doing something a certain way then that must be the right way for you to do it.

Here's an example. Not too very long ago, the very influential Guy Kawasaki put forth the idea that the correct way to use Twitter was to follow, and be followed by, as many people as possible. This led to a virtual army of Twitterers racing each other to have the largest community. It didn't take long, however, for many of those who adopted the Kawasaki model to realize that, while amassing sheer numbers might work for Kawasaki and a few others, it wasn't right for them. This has led a number of Twitterers to purge their lists and start building a community that works for them.

That's not to say that anything or everything you read or hear about using social media is wrong. Rather, the lesson is that you should consider what others are doing from the standpoint of whether or not a certain technique makes sense for you. If it does, adopt or adapt it. If it doesn't, ignore it.

It's the only right way.

Book Review: Between Wyomings

Doug — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 10:55:26 +0000

As a participant in the Thomas Nelson Book Review Bloggers program I generally read and review their business-related books. This time around, though, I decided to turn my attention to something slightly different. I thought it would be interesting to read a book by a man who seemingly had it all, only to have it come crashing down around him. I was specifically interested why he lost it all and in how he rebuilt his life based on his newfound Christian faith. Here, then, is my review of Ken Mansfield's Between Wyomings:

I'm not sure what I expected to find in Ken Mansfield's Between Wyomings, but I'm pretty sure that I didn't find it.

OK, maybe that's a little too over-dramatic. I do know what I was hoping to find, after all; interesting stories from Mansfield's years as a central figure in the music industry coupled with a re-examination of those years through the lens of his subsequent adoption of Christianity. What I actually found was a fairly decent travelogue interspersed with a few stories from his music industry years - most often inspired, according to his narrative, by songs he heard on his iPod - but very little attention to reconciling his past with the present.

For example, Mansfield wrote at length about his experiences as a follower of Gururaj Ananda Yogi. Here is how he recalled a particularly memorable mediation session with his Guru:

He remained in this position for the next hour - left elbow next to his body with the left hand reaching out - palm upward. The right arm was extended slightly above his head with that hand-facing palm out to us while reaching up like we used to do as kids in school when raising our hand to ask a question. After ten minutes more of staring at him in this stance I suddenly began experiencing the most extreme sense of joy I had ever known. This was replaced by an indescribable emotion of the deepest sadness I had ever encountered, tears streaming down my face. These feelings were followed in succession by equally intesnse emotional stirrings of peace, fear, warmth, and cold. Next, his entire body started glowing and a clearly definable aura surrounded his body - it was like those clear silver waves you see in the hot summer when you look down to the horizon point on an empty highway. It was at this point the event started opening up in a grand fashion. The air became saturated with wondrously brilliant celestial music, a symphonic offering beyond anything I had ever heard in any studio or in any state of behavioral enhancement. I was then drawn to the walls in the room. The heretofore beige-matted Spanish stucco walls had turned to gold and they were melting. For purposed of clinical clarification, my basic intake that day had been sprouts and yogurt.

An interesting and amazing tale to be sure. But it's a tale without an ending, as Mansfield never offers an interpretation of this mystic experience from his current perspective as a Christian. And this was not the only story in the book to suffer that fate.

That's not to say that he's not committed to his faith, or that Between Wyomings isn't an interesting read. And it's possible that I set the bar of my expectations too high. Regardless, the fact remains that the book left me entertained but slightly dissatisfied.

Independence Day 2009

Doug — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 11:03:49 +0000

For all of you in the United States of America, enjoy the holiday but never lose sight of exactly what we're celebrating.

65 Years Ago Today

Doug — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 11:29:58 +0000

When the fate of the world hung on the decision of one man....

Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force! You are about to embark upon a great crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers in arms on other fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.

Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle hardened, he will fight savagely.

But this is the year 1944! Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940-41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats, in open battle, man to man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our home fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to victory!

I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory!

Good Luck! And let us all beseech the blessings of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.

-- Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower

You can find out more about this pivotal day and its commemoration here, here and here. You can listen to General Eisenhower delivering his D-Day message to the troops here.