Culture
Authenticity
Those of you who read this blog but aren’t from Iowa may not realize that we have been in a Presidential election cycle for nearly a year. Because Iowa is the first state in the nation to hold a Presidential primary—what we know as a caucus—we have been inundated with...
“Some Luck” by Jane Smiley
First, a primer about Iowa culture. Culture and Iowa aren’t necessarily concepts that fit together for most people. When I asked one well-known presidential candidate his impression about our state he commented, “The corn. The corn. I can’t get over how nearly every field for miles on end is filled...
Poverty
Over the next several months, in addition to the topic of leadership, I’ll be writing about several topics that require the very best that leaders have to offer within what James Davison Hunter calls in To Change the World our “sphere of influence.” The first topic that I want to...
Discipline
In their extensive study Leadership that Works, Barbara Wheeler and colleagues set out to discern “…the ingredients of executive leadership that make institutions both durable—as in fit for the long haul—and visionary—that is, moving forward in ways the future is likely to require.” Four common character traits were identified that...
Thanksgiving
As my family and I drive across the country today, our car is just one of many on interstate 80. The reporters on the radio are still covering the recent atrocities in Paris, the massive dislocation of over 1 million refugees, and the recent downing of a Russian fighter jet...
With Thanksgiving for Committed Teachers
Published November 17th, 2015 in the Telegraph Herald Lila Belle Koffron was my ninth grade English teacher. I remember her as being aged, demanding, strict, and not easily charmed by what I thought was my winsome personality. She didn’t even smile in our senior Yearbook picture. Every teacher smiles in...
Interpersonal Skill
In their extensive study Leadership that Works, Barbara Wheeler and colleagues set out to discern “…the ingredients of executive leadership that make institutions both durable—as in fit for the long haul—and visionary—that is, moving forward in ways the future is likely to require.” Four common character traits were identified that...
Leadership Lessons Learned While Delivering the Omaha World-Herald
I started my working career as a newspaper carrier for the Omaha World-Herald. I was in 5th grade, and my first route had 53 customers. This was my first seven-day-a-week, 365 day-a-year job. The Wednesday and Sunday deliveries were a lot of work. That’s because the Wednesday paper included all...
Humility
In their extensive study Leadership that Works, Barbara Wheeler her colleagues set out to discover “…the ingredients of executive leadership that make institutions both durable—as in fit for the long haul—and visionary—that is, moving forward in ways the future is likely to require.” Four common character traits were identified that...
Personal Strength
In their extensive study Leadership that Works, Barbara Wheeler, C. Douglass Lewis, Sharon Miller, Anthony Ruger and David Tiede, set out to discover “…the ingredients of executive leadership that make institutions both durable—as in fit for the long haul—and visionary—that is, moving forward in ways the future is likely to...
