“Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest.”
– Mark Twain
“Conduct unbecoming” ….
You may have heard this phrase before, perhaps from the clenched teeth of a military JAG officer about the same time you learned that “Crystal” is a perfectly apt response to “Are we clear?”
Throughout my service as a U.S. Army officer, this phrase was constantly refreshed as the highest standard to apply to the official actions of military officers.
The complete phrase is contained in Article 133 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ):
“Any commissioned officer, cadet, or midshipman who is convicted of conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.”
If you have some difficulty associating an officer of the Armed Forces with being a “gentleman,” it may be that’s because soldiers are more easily are seen as “warriors” while the term “gentleman” is more typically associated with a three-piece suit, courtly manners and a snifter of cognac in hand. Be assured, however, that the U.S. Military takes it very seriously.
“If you seek authenticity for authenticity’s sake you are no longer authentic.”
~ Jean-Paul Sartre
One day, it stopped working. Cartier is a highly reputable brand, so I didn’t hesitate to send it to their New York facility for repair. Imagine my stunned surprise when several weeks later they returned it with a note that said it was a reproduction. A fake. I not only bought the watch from an established retailer, but I had the beautiful Cartier box, a written certificate of authenticity and a warranty card. All of it was fake.
“Most of what we say and do is not essential. If you can eliminate it, you’ll have more time, and more tranquility. Ask yourself at every moment, ‘Is this necessary?”
~ Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
Does it seem like we’ve talked about distractions a lot in the past?
Maybe it’s just the ones in my head that makes me think so … which of course, is a distraction itself. (In the interest of full disclosure, I did write about distractions last April, “Are Distractions Destroying Your Brain?”
In “Just Plans … or Sleeping around“, I responded to the tempest by offering some ideas about how to defend your castle by building a moat, then some barricades, then some lookout posts.
The Exkalibur Facebook page is now
”Building a Business”
For years, I have used Facebook simply to replicate the articles I’ve published on Sword Tips, the Exkalibur blog.
I rarely provided anything else on the Facebook platform to help you and other business leaders solve their everyday problems … even though that’s what I do every day everywhere else.
“I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: The ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.”
~ Albert Schweitzer
Your mom is watching: Is your moral compass malfunctioning?
You grabbed the last piece of cake before your sister could get it. The principal
“It’s not the will to win that matters, everyone has that. It’s the will to prepare to win that matters.” ~ Paul “Bear” Bryant
Prepare to Win … or get ready to get your butt kicked!
Many moons ago when my daughter was 3 years old, she really wanted a Barbie dollhouse for Christ
mas. She never played with
This week, two North Bay organizations deserve a round of applause!
Amy’s Kitchen opens an on-site health care clinic
First, congratulations to Amy’s kitchen for its innovative approach to employee health care. They recently opened a primary health care clinic at their Santa Rosa production facility.
This is a terrific idea and a clear recognition that a company CAN do
How to Keep Smart People from Killing Each Other
This phrase is powerful in so many ways. Smart people can often be prima donnas – I’ve born those accusations myself … the first part, of course, not the second (and typically disguised in less elegant terms) … but the brilliance of some people is often more blinding than enlightening.
Fortune
“Every organization must be prepared to abandon everything it does to survive in the future.” — Peter Drucker
Leadership Obstacles: No execution? No results!
If the execution of a company’s plans is an avowed priority, critical to the success of both the CEO and the business, why aren’t CEOs spending enough time on it to make it successful?
Why is
Welcome to Exkalibur. I’m Lary Kirchenbauer, President of Exkalibur Advisors, Inc. Please take advantage of our resources to help you build your business ... and let me know what more we can do to serve you.
Read my latest column from the NY Times affiliate, the North Bay Business Journal.
Lary began advising our company when we were going through some difficult challenges, and now, two years later, we are in a completely different and significantly better place. His advice was specific, direct, and not always what we wanted to hear, and that was invaluable. Lary has been quick to cut through to the heart of an issue. His coaching, prodding, and tough questioning helped us to make changes that truly and measurably have helped both our top and bottom lines.
Paul Levitan, CEO Galaxy Desserts, Inc.
