Why Kids Need Leadership Mentors

By John Armstrong | October 11, 2020

Recently I had the opportunity to help a young man struggling with a tough decision. He has great parents, but they were far away, and I was close. I was able to say things his parents probably couldn’t, and my saying them was perhaps better received. The whole experience was a great reminder of why … Read More

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Parv Leaders

By John Armstrong | May 8, 2020

Back in high school, the word “parv” was used as slang to cut someone down or to communicate the person was an idiot. Calling someone a “parv” was also a quick way to get a black eye or bloody nose. Like all slang, it was popular for a while then dropped from everyday use. So, … Read More

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Six Reasons Leaders Talk Too Much

By John Armstrong | April 26, 2020

Recently I stumbled on this convicting quote by legendary coach Bill Walsh, check it out: “While a healthy ego is crucial in leadership, it turns unhealthy when self-confidence becomes arrogance, assertiveness becomes obstinacy, and self-assurance becomes reckless abandon. This is manifested when communication from leadership amounts to “Shut up and listen”—when your ego gets bigger … Read More

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What John Wooden Teaches Us About Leaders, Managers, and Bureaucrats

By John Armstrong | July 25, 2019

In today’s leadership culture, when we want to put down leaders, we simply call them managers. Often, we follow it with our favorite “leader versus manager” sayings. For example: “Managers generate fear, leaders inspire enthusiasm.”  “Managers place blame, leaders fix the problem.” First, we do this primarily because we have a high view of leadership. … Read More

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The Effective Manager

By John Armstrong | April 28, 2019

I was staring at my Kindle app unimpressed with the choices for my next book to read. Staring back at me from the top of the list was a book I have been putting off for two years. Both the title and cover weren’t very impressive; so, my first thought was to jump to Amazon … Read More

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Mechanics of Leadership

By John Armstrong | March 28, 2019

  My son went through a very frustrating season with his car not starting. There aren’t many things as deflating as sticking the key in the ignition, and nothing happens. In his case, the problem was intermittent. It would start, and then a day, week, month, or several months later it wouldn’t. On a trip … Read More

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Extreme Ownership

By John Armstrong | December 10, 2018

      There is something special about life and death situations that bring clarity to life. Learning leadership in an office setting where a paper cut is living dangerously doesn’t live in the same universe where a single mistake could cost people their lives (see the video at the end.)  This starkness of life … Read More

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Leadership Pain

By John Armstrong | November 19, 2018

    Every day I troll the Amazon Kindle Daily Deals, and it’s usually disappointing. Then, out of the blue, between mounds of romance fiction and self-help books, this book sticks out like a sore thumb. I bought it instantly.   I didn’t jump right in; it sat in a holding pattern while I finished … Read More

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Doing For Others What A Man Did For Me

By John Armstrong | June 11, 2018

    Out of the blue, this leadership quote jumped into my world. It wasn’t a new quote, but one I heard a long time ago. Like an old man hiding money under his mattress, I stuck it in the notes section of my address book under the man who said it.   Keep in … Read More

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Team of Teams

By John Armstrong | January 28, 2017

    I follow the leadership books top seller list on Amazon and while my wallet keeps me from buying them all, it doesn’t stop me from wanting to read them all. Team of Teams by General Stanley McChrystal has been on the list forever and ended up at our house at Christmas. (Believe it … Read More

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