Ed Burns

Faith. Freedom. Freight.

[Ed Burns @EdifyBurns]

When a Marine Corps NCO hands you a book and says, "you have to read this," you do.

Here are some of my takeaways of Call Sign Chaos, a well-written book that blends leadership advice with fascinating anecdotes from Mad Dog Mattis' long career as a Marine officer.

1. If a leader has not read hundreds of books, he is functionally illiterate.

Mattis is extremely well read, pulling from literature, history, philosophy and more. It served him well.

2. Most of us are not working in combat situations. The stakes my be high, but not that high. Relax.

3. Indecision is a killer and a loser. Literally and figuratively.

4. Commander's intent. "We will ___ in order to ___." The formula is simple, but something that I've been missing.

It has to accomplish the mission, be achievable, clearly understood, and deliver on the task.

And the leader doesn't have to be there for it to happen.

5. Do your homework. Mattis studied the battles of Mesopotamia, Alexander the Great, WWII in anticipation of the Iraq invasion.

He then played out scenarios time and again before going into battle, especially when working with other units.

Walking through the plan on football-field-sized-spaces to determine where there would be logistical challenges, then adjusting accordingly.

6. Decision loops. OODA.

Observe what's going on.
Orient yourself.
Decide what to do.
Act before your opponent.

7. Decentralized decision making. If the leader properly makes his intent known, it is up to everyone on the team to execute.

This means giving specific phrases that capture the ethos of what the commander wishes to accomplish, while leaving things broad enough that each team or individual has the leeway to get the job done in dynamic situations.

8. Value a bias for action. Junior leaders need to be ready to go, eager for action. People who get it done are the ones you want on the team.

"You must unleash initiative rather than suffocate it."

9. Protect your mavericks. Of course a maverick can be seen as a risk, but the ones who are willing to challenge the status quo are the ones who push the organization to be all it can be.

10. Doctrine is good, but you must know it well enough to know when to shift away from it.

11. The burden of war is heavy.

While General Jim Mattis is clearly a stoic, nevertheless, the burden of war is heavy. He mentioned pushing emotion to the side during combat situations, because there would be time to "think about that later."

This is a worthy read.

[Ed Burns @EdifyBurns]

@JoloTheTrucker Business is tough! Most entrepreneurs seem start out thinking, "I'm good at this thing, so I should work for myself." I know I did.

But I got smacked in the face every day with all the things I didn't know.

Profit First by @MikeMichalowicz really helped me with the numbers.

[Ed Burns @EdifyBurns]

@StephenRuhe As long as it is not a labor of union.

[Ed Burns @EdifyBurns]

There are business virtues other than scalability.

[Ed Burns @EdifyBurns]

@StephenRuhe Yes, and you are great at that one!

[Ed Burns @EdifyBurns]

It seems quite obvious that it is a no-brainer to talk with whomever would have you on his or her show. You are sharing a message, a perspective, advocating for truckers, that transcends political affiliation.

We are engaged in a war of ideas, not of persons. At least, we should be.

[Ed Burns @EdifyBurns]

@ChristopherHale St. Jude works on his own timeline.

[Ed Burns @EdifyBurns]

@BeaglTech @TheHoopHerald 100%

[Ed Burns @EdifyBurns]

@trusygnal I know someone!

[Ed Burns @EdifyBurns]

@dartinguphill @supertrucker It's a crazy world

[Ed Burns @EdifyBurns]

@GrandeDiesel @C_and_C_Books I hope it was made in America!

[Ed Burns @EdifyBurns]

Very much looking forward to cracking open my latest delivery from @C_and_C_Books.

It seems appropriate reading for the semiquincentennial.

[Ed Burns @EdifyBurns]

@Byron4Tradition @C_and_C_Books You may! Life is too short for a bad cigar.

[Ed Burns @EdifyBurns]

@carrierwhisper1 @C_and_C_Books Dude smoked cigars, so I like him.

https://t.co/t4ZKGzdwfj

[Ed Burns @EdifyBurns]

@therightfrankd He should get vaccinated.

[Ed Burns @EdifyBurns]

@ChristianNbdy St. Augustine said, "the beard signifies the courageous."

[Ed Burns @EdifyBurns]

@maryricehasson Catholic schools are needed, but they must be orthodox and unapologetically Catholic, forming young souls in the Faith.

Not marketed as "more likely to get your kid into college."

[Ed Burns @EdifyBurns]

@EricRSammons A low mass in the early morning, quiet, no homily. Tremendously profound.

[Ed Burns @EdifyBurns]

@BenSasse is a badass.

[Jeremy Wayne Tate @JeremyTate41]

Ben Sasse has always been honest, but facing a terminal diagnosis he has been unplugged. Last night, in exactly 13 seconds, he explained the real reason compulsory education ever started in America.

Catholics, consider this when making choices about education for your children.