Darrell Thomsen

Living on the east coast, one of my most favorite things to do is to sit on the beach and watch the sunrise. I guess it is because I respect the sunrise for what it is, the dawn of a new day. I have watched hundreds of sunrises on the ocean’s horizon, and all are uniquely different. A new day deserves respect, first, because it is a new day, and second, because it is full of potential and possibilities, kind of like humans. A person deserves respect simply because they are hu

As common it’s use today though it finds its origin in the 14th century, the old proverbial phrase, “misery loves company” has no place in leadership vernacular. Originally, this phrase had a connective quality relative to one’s ability to provide quality care to a person suffering miserable circumstances because the one providing the care had been through similar circumstances. People having “been there and done that” possess the ability to commiserate and relate empathetica

A leadership truth is this, “If you must build yourself up by tearing others down, you have not earned the title of “Authentic Leader.” A more fitting title would be “Divisive Leader.” While divisive leadership is not the same as toxic leadership, without a timely course correction, it can quickly become toxic.” Divisive Leaders are all about themselves and utilize “me first” methodologies to “MACE” (manipulate and control everyone) those working within their span of leadersh

My grandfather was arrested for being drunk in public, and though this may be shocking, even more shocking is the fact that my grandfather had never had a drink in his life. Nor had he been drinking at the time they arrested him. The beat police who had cuffed him and walked him into the Magistrates office to have him processed were quite surprised when the magistrate (who knew my grandfather quite well) told them to remove the cuffs and apologize - especially since there was

My service in the military lasted for thirty-three plus years, both as an enlisted soldier and commissioned officer, and yet it seemed so brief. During that time, I learned so many valuable life lessons from many different people, situations, and sometimes unexpected realities that caused me to reconsider my acumen and actions. One such experience involved spit-shining shoes and boots, a practice I had never heard of until joining the Army. Somehow, I was supposed to shine my

My grandfather always had a way of teaching me to think hard about whatever he wanted me to think about. Like the time I said to him, as we were watching sports on television, “I wish I could do that.” To which he replied, “Do me a favor, I want you to wish in one hand and spit in the other and tell me which hand you get more in.” He was obviously teaching me the difference between wishing and working. Several years later, I read an old proverb that is both profound, and abso

The purpose of an organization’s vision statement is to give definition to a desired future state. These statements should be no more than ten words that can be easily memorized and repeated by everyone who is part of the organization or team. Vision statements are a must for any organization or team, but what about an individual? The power of a personal vision statement is that it provides focus, promotes faithfulness, and pinches failure. I created one for myself early in m

My wife coerces me into go shopping with her because she wants us to “spend some time” together, my thought…she wants us to “spend some money” together. I must admit, I am not a shopper by any stretch of imagination, I am an “item hunter!” I tell her, “Tell me what item you want, and I will hunt it down, buy it, bag it, and bring it to you. She, on the other hand, wants me to walk with her through store after store after store looking for the best deal which supports her stat

Have you ever thought, “This is not what I asked for,” I certainly have. It was my second duty assignment as a military officer. I asked for the warm sunny beaches of Hawaii and somehow ended up in Alaska. I thought to myself, “Who did I make mad? There was no room for challenge, so off I prepared to go. Before I left, a friend of mine offered to sell me a pair of snow skis telling me they would be a benefit for me in Alaska, the land of snow. The skis my friend sold me were

In my early years of leading teams, I learned one of the most valuable lessons in my leadership life. So simple, yet so true. It became known one day when I was at work and one of my team members said, “You must have woken up on the wrong side of the bed today.” I responded, “Why do you say that.” He said, “You’re giving us your beast, not your best!” I just looked at him with a look that must have said, “Don’t bother me anymore” because he walked away. The problem was he sai

These days everyone is looking for a convenient, easy, speedy, and practical application that can facilitate a quick win. Sadly, leaders do the same. Most good things come through hard work and perseverance, but for those leaders desiring a quick approach that will help to change the leadership atmosphere and culture, let me recommend practicing the “TWF” model. The TWF model is a three-practice approach that requires being watchful, being involved, and being nice. Be Watchfu

Many leaders think that the most important words used in the leadership arena are, “get to work,” but nothing could be further from the truth. Most everyone who sets an alarm to wake up, and takes time to get ready for work, and drives to their workplace, know that they are heading in to work…to work! Those who work hard are those who know they are doing work worth doing. The real challenge is creating and developing a “work worth doing” mindset. How do leaders accomplish bui

At three years old, my son taught me one of the most valuable leadership truths I’ve learned, and one I will never forget. When I played hide and seek with my children, he could never stay hidden. As soon as I walked into the room where he was hiding, he immediately busted out of his hiding place and hollered, “HERE’S ME!” He never left me guessing, looking, or wondering where he was, and what a great lesson it is to learn. Hide and seek is not a game to be played in the real

Pick up football was a lifesaver for me during my growing up years. Most call them developmental years, but I call them growing up years because some of us are put in positions requiring us to grow up quickly. During preteen and teen years, with little control while living in an unstable and ever-changing environment, we are forced to make life altering decisions in an instant. Pick up football provided me a clear field of play and a rules-based environment where I excelled.

In the realm of leadership “BFF” does not mean “Best Friends Forever,” it means “Building Frustration Fatigue.” There are some common questions employees ask, externally or internally, that reflect symptoms of frustration fatigue. “Why did you task me, if you are going to keep changing what I’ve done?” “What did you hire me for it you are going to do the job?” If BFF is prevalent in your organization, it is usually because of an impatient and insecure leader. Frustration fat

Saxon White Kessinger, penned a poem, “The Indispensable Man” comprised of a few words with so many second and third order effects. An excerpt reads, “Take a bucket and fill it with water, Put your hand in it up to the wrist, Pull it out and the hole that’s remaining, is a measure of how much you’ll be missed.” In the work-a-day world, one could see this poem’s first order effect as a metaphor addressing pride and arrogance using humbling words that declare the truth that, as

Living in a less urbanized location, some call it the country, I’ve had the privilege of experiencing a wide range of wildlife be it deer, bear, beavers, or birds like majestic eagles, hawks, falcons, turkeys, and of course vultures. Vultures, what a nasty bird, feeding on the bodies of the broken even while life exists in them. A nit-picking leader is like a vulture feeding on their people, and yet they see themselves as mighty eagles. How SAD! Nit-pickers spend more time SE

Make A Difference Enthusiastically “You made my day,” said the weary employee to the junior leader who walked by with a cheerful disposition and offered words of gratitude for him as a person, and for the positive difference he made to the organization. Somehow, the wearied employee caught a second wind, perked up, powered up, and pressed on with a spring in his step, and a tune in his heart, because he started quietly whistling a song by the band Bachman Turner Overdrive (BT

The best advice I ever received came from a team member who happened to be a most valuable team member serving with me as my assistant director for matters pertaining to futures, capabilities development, and integration. The advice came at a critical time during an intense global telephonic conference call where I introduced a unique approach, truth if you will, that would affect the entirety of our organizational operations across the globe. The advice was short and to the

Recently, I was sitting at a restaurant where they served both a buffet and the freedom to order from the menu as well. What freedom to choose! As I sat there, watching people approach the buffet became my entertainment. You should try it sometime. There were “a little bit of this and a little bit of that” kind of people. There were the “reach across and grab it before anyone else can” kind of people. There were the “let’s think about it for a few minutes,” and the "what pai