Why You Need a Coach

I need a coach. Anyone can trudge through a task or lesson on their own, but if I truly want to get better I’m in need of a coach. I’ve been an athlete all my life. I started soccer at age 6, baseball at age 8, and I lettered in both football and track in […]

What Is Courage? (Part II)

Mickey is moving his household from Hawaii to Texas. While he’s moving, please enjoy these posts from last year, and remember “The Five Be’s” Second Edition comes out in September!  Last week, I brought you Part I of a discussion of courage from my book, The Five Be’s.  This week I conclude with some stories about […]

What Is Courage? (Part I)

Mickey is in the midst of moving his household from Hawaii to Texas, so please enjoy this “classic” post from 2016. Original posts will resume in September. Also, don’t forget that The Five Be’s Second Edition goes live on Lulu and Amazon next month!! In the film, The Bridges at Toko-Ri, the Task Force Commander, Admiral […]

My Favorite BE – To Be Authentically Free

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be spotlighting ideas and concepts from my book, The Five Be’s, in advance of the release of the Second Edition in September. Over the last two weeks, we discussed authentic pride in oneself and highlighted a really cool young entrepreneur. This week, it’s all about being authentically free. When […]

Seizing the Opportunity

Today’s post will be a little different than usual, but it has a tie back to The Five Be’s as well as a really cool story about a hard-working young entrepreneur. Bella is the Bomb One of the best parts of moving to a new community is seeing as extraordinary what fades into the background […]

Be Authentically Proud of Who You Are

Being proud of who you are is really about understanding your self-worth. Consider the following story: There was a woman who worked for me who suffered from a crisis of confidence in her own worth. She was extremely technically competent in her job, a friend to those around her, and a good leader. Her lack […]

On Civic Virtue, Respect, and Followership

Ever work for someone or have to be deferential to someone you didn’t respect or didn’t like? Fortunately for me, all the men and women I reported directly to were people I did respect. Civic virtue demands we understand how to respect the office rather than just the office holder. Respect the Rank and the […]

Character Matters Part 2 – Respect

Today’s post is all about the second “brick” in the foundation of leadership: Respect. As I travel around I meet a lot of good people, but it seems to me the social norms about respect are not what they should be. Too often I find the extremes: either a legalistic approach to respect that approaches […]

Dad’s Sage Advice for Sophomores

My annual advice for new college students is really focused at freshmen, but you sophomores need advice, too. In fact, if my own personal experience is any measure, sophomores need it more. You’re Experienced, but You’re Not an Expert. Returning to college this fall will feel familiar. You know the locations of your classrooms, you […]

Dad’s Sage Advice for the Class of ’20

The Class of 2020 is arriving at college this month, and so keeping with August’s “Advice That Sticks” theme, here’s the latest version of Dad’s Sage Advice for College – 2016 Edition 1. Keep Yourself Healthy You can’t run at full throttle all the time-be sure to maintain your mental, spiritual, and physical health. Don’t […]

Patio Wisdom Tuesday: Road Poetry

Been too long Since I pointed the compass out of town Too long since I raced the sun It’s time to hear the engine whine And listen to those tires hum Like what you’re reading? Get more Patio Wisdom at the Lulu Store and at Amazon. Mickey believes everyone can reach high levels of performance […]

Patio Wisdom Tuesday: Not a Good Day to Die

Below is an excerpt from the hilarious and inspiring book, Patio Wisdom, by my brother Tony and I. You can get your copy here. While stationed in Germany, Tony attended the European Harley-Davidson Super Rally over Memorial Day weekend. It was Europe’s version of Sturgis, South Dakota, and that year it was in Austria. He’d […]

Patio Wisdom Tuesday: Outstanding In His Field

  I’m going to go stand outside so, if anyone asks, I’m outstanding. Like what you’re reading? Get more Patio Wisdom at the Lulu Store and at Amazon. Mickey believes everyone can reach high levels of performance if inspired and led. During his 28 year US Air Force career Mickey commanded thousands of Airmen, managed […]