When I enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, I certainly wasn’t expecting a 30-year lesson in leadership. I had completed my first year of college, which hadn’t gone very well, I was anxious to be on my own and away from people telling me what to do. (I didn’t have a terrific grasp on reality in those days) I thought working on airplanes seemed like a neat thing to do.
What started as an escape became a lifelong passion. From the rude wakeup of the first day of service to retirement 30 years later, I learned how to work with people, how to work with authority, and how to use authority. In short, I learned the skills and techniques of successful leadership. Those skills and techniques are the foundation of the leadership development training I provide today.
I’ve captured some of those experiences in my new book, Digging for Dhub Dhubs: Leadership Lessons from 30 Years in U.S. Air Force.
There are many, many books available written by veterans which tell exciting tales of combat and heroism. Many of them are quite good and I encourage you to read them; however, this isn’t one of those. It is short stories about events that provided examples of good leadership techniques, and how they can be applied outside the military.
The stories span the globe and include a wide range of events, both humorous and serious; from ice cream in the desert, great organizational shake-ups, and a brain tumor, to an odd critter called a Dhub Dhub.
During this time of year everyone has suggestions for great gifts. So do I! If you have any leadership responsibility (and if you are a supervisor or manager you do) this would be a good gift for yourself.
Get Digging for Dhub Dhubs: Leadership Lessons from 30 Years in U.S. Air Force and see how my experiences can help you be a better leader.