Leadership at the frontlines - the story of Chris Kyle - the "American Assassin"

'Quamplurimi et quam aptissimi" (As many as possible of the very best)

Rizal Philippines
March 3, 2013

HBO feature of the week was "The American Assassin" directed by Clint Eastwood.  It is a story about Chris Kyle a Navy Seal, known as "Legend"  Devil of Ramadi and credited with 160 kills as a sniper. It is a true story and based on the book he wrote.  He served four tours in the ME campaign.

As a sniper, he is tasked with saving the lives of other combatants, and to take out other snipers.  He is credited with one of the longest (about 2 km) shot of an opponent.

The movie portrays his conflict with his wife/family as he struggles with his tour of duty to to defend fellow Americans. He saw the value in what he was doing - to protect and save lives of other Marines

It was unfortunate, that one of the soldiers whom he tried to help, a psychotic, killed him and a companion.  The killer Eddie Ray Routh was sentenced to life imprisonment with out parole.  People lined up the street for  200 km to watch his funeral procession

Thus by being good at something you can be a leader

Some question though if Chris was to be considered a hero after knowing the circumstances behind the Iraq war.

But these were the things at the head of Chris:

"A warrior has a job to do," she writes. "It is a noble job. It is a hard job. He takes those moments upon himself so the rest of us will not have to. He looks evil in the eye and stands up to it so we can sleep soundly."

In a 2012 interview with the BBC, Kyle made that point directly.

"Every person I killed I strongly believe that they were bad," he said. "When I do go face God there is going to be lots of things I will have to account for, but killing any of those people is not one of them."

Leadership talk for a an agri venture company (chicken business)

'Quamplurimi et quam aptissimi" (As many as possible of the very best)

Rizal Philippines
March 3, 2016

Last Saturday, I had a talk before a group of employees, sons and daughters of the owners of an agri venture. It was at the initiative of an uncle who heads the company as the President.  The talk covered:  1. duties and responsibilities of board of directors    2.  leadership by the board of directors  and 3. the future of the chicken business in the Philippines

The first part was the legal and business aspect of managing the business.  What should be the role of the board of directors as the highest governing body of the corporation.  At this aspect, I noted that the current board resisted the new roles as being pointed out in the presentation.  Why do all of these things being prescribed, when there is the President.   The President takes the initiative, he directs and executes.  The Board merely watches, as passive observer.  As in other enterprise which this body tried to assist, the enemy is always from within.   There has to be change from within.

The good thing about the presentation, was this writer noted that there are 3 people whom the President can trust and rely upon.  The President said that what we need are not more knowledge but more passion.  I suggested to the President that this talents must be nurtured.

As for the chicken industry he noted that the opportunity is in the household (90% of the total market) so they left the hri market, and went to the wet market. And now he sees that faster turn over could be made in eggs and he plans to increase the number of layers from current l00,000 to 200,000.  Shall he borrow at 4 to 5% vs margins of 10 to 15% on eggs. But his executive gave the answer. She wants to be sure of the market and doubling the number of layers at once may not synch with their ability to sell

The chicken a la carte presentation resonated well with the President.  As a student of DVM, while in Manila, he noticed the same stuff that a lot of hungry citizens scrounge, scavenge for food, and these were mishandled by the food server.  He took steps that they be handled well as food for the hungry and homeless