Category Archives: Uncategorized

Happy Flay Day leaders!

How well do we integrate work and life? There are so many lessons from home that can easily integrate into work and the other way around, but if you’re like me, I tend to compartmentalize.

Today we dive into the world of magic, drug-dealers, and the U.S. 1936 Olympic crew team to understand how to integrate lessons into other facets of our daily lives.

The best leaders see a holistic worldview of family, leisure, career, and hobbies and share lessons from each into the other.

I hope you’ll find time to blend these lessons together to be a better leader for your family and organization.

Lead well!

Steve

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The best leaders have the ability to enter the other person’s world. They see what inspires, encourages, and motivates them.

This week using a raised crosswalk initiative by the New York City Mayor, we look to see how we can move from our world to our team’s world to better lead.

Never stop learning!

Steve

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This week we explore what Blaise Pascal called the three orders of greatness. These three orders of the body, mind, and heart are all needed reach your full leadership potential, but followers gravitate most towards the third order.

I hope this makes you think today about what our followers truly need from us day in and day out.

Lead well!

Steve

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January 18, 2022 by Stephen T. Messenger Oblintunity: An obligation that one must do, but at the same time provides massive opportunity for personal growth and development I’ve recently been part of a mission to place military medical professionals into civilian hospitals struggling with high numbers of COVID patients and staffing shortages. These military doctors,Continue reading “Oblitunity”

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This week, I had the honor of promoting to the rank of Colonel in the United States Army. As I looked back over a 21-year career, I reflected to select one, seminal leadership lesson I wanted to pass along to military and civilian leaders, and especially my children.

It’s not about me.

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by Stephen T. Messenger July 13, 2021 Last week I completed my Battalion Command experience—it has truly been an honor to lead America’s best and brightest. I was challenged, humbled, and encouraged by the great men and women who so diligently work on behalf of our Nation. While I learned many lessons from the job,Continue reading “Success Versus Significance”

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July 4, 2021 This Independence Day, we thought it would be appropriate to share one of our Nation’s foundational documents, the Declaration of Independence. The struggle our fledgling Nation went through to separate from Great Britain was leadership at its finest. Fifty-six signatories supported by a countless background cast signed this declaration that would essentiallyContinue reading “Independence Day”

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by Stephen T. Messenger April 20, 2021 COVID scrapped our plans again.  We spent over two months planning an exciting, week-long, COVID compliant, offsite for our leadership team.  Between reinforcing our strategic narrative, sharing best practices, conducting one-on-one counseling, hosting a competitive event and team building, and providing ample down time, this event was destinedContinue reading “Plans Are Worthless; Planning Is Everything”

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by Stephen T. Messenger January 17, 2021 It was the day after one of my peers and good friends left the organization.  I walked into the office and staring me in the face that morning was a white envelope with my name on it.  Outside was his name professionally printed on quality cardstock.  Inside IContinue reading “The Art of the Thank You”

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Stephen T. Messenger January 7, 2021 Roger Federer and Andre Agassi are two of the most successful tennis players of all time.  With over 2,000 match wins between them, they ruled the courts of their day and demolished their competition.  Interestingly enough, one loves the game while the other hates it.  Federer found his motivationContinue reading “Acing Transformational Leadership”

by Stephen T. Messenger January 1, 2021 I have three baseball caps in my house.  One is a clean tan Army hat that I wear outside in public at places like sporting events and beach gatherings.  This reminds me that I am a military officer both on and off duty and represent the profession ofContinue reading “Wearing Different Hats”

by Stephen T. Messenger January 1, 2021 In 2007, Starbucks faced backlash for a failure to protect the environment.  Between wasting over six million gallons of water per day from constantly running faucets and selling more than two billion unrecyclable paper cups per year, their environmental footprint, or lack thereof, was not making any friends.[i] Continue reading “Not a Hint of Impropriety”

by Stephen T. Messenger January 1, 2021 The most powerful words any leader can say are “Follow me.”  Leaders lead from the front and are the first to walk into any conflict—be it the field of battle or boardroom.  You cannot expect your team to do what you say unless you do what you said. Continue reading “Follow Me!”

by Stephen T. Messenger January 1, 2021 I’ve been a runner now for many years typically hitting the pavement five times a week.  In periods where I run just to say I exercised; I rarely improve. I generally don’t see changes in my performance except preventing atrophy.  I can tell my coworkers I ran toContinue reading “Doing Things Right”

by Stephen T. Messenger January 1, 2021 What would you get your boss if she asked you for a cup of coffee first thing in the morning?  One of my mentors asked me this very same question ten years ago.  I pictured myself walking to the break room to fill up a Styrofoam cup two-thirdsContinue reading “Cup of Coffee Philosophy”