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

Leadership inspiration from Alan Turing - featured in the movie Imitation Games

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

Rizal Philippines
February 26, 2016

                                            Enigma Encryption machine
Alan Turings greatest triumph

I watched the movie "Imitation Game" at HBO last night.  It was a story about Alan Turing, and a group of cryptographers to decode the German crypt code especially the enigma which they thought was unbreakable.    It took a while and his superiors at British Intelligence was furious for not having decoded a single message, and having spent a hundred thousand pounds (a great sum of money) on the machine known as bombe. When they did, they could have averted a UBoat attack and saved hundreds of lives (including that of a colleagues brother) but Alan did not allow that.  Why - the Germans would  conclude that the enigma code has been broken and would change it.  Alan there is a difference between what is right and what is logical.  What is logical is to have statistically accepted number of hits and misses so that the Germans would not suspect that they have been found out. Truly brilliant.

The movie got 8 Oscar nominations

It was remarked on the movie that Alan discovery was prelude to the modern day computer.  At the movie, they focused on the hardware.  Later, postwar, Alan in his dissertation proposed software -  programming. It was said, Von Nuemann though to be the father of computers, learned from Alan

While Turing was depressed as he was about to be prosecuted as homosexual (things have changed a lot) he was reassured by a former fiancee that many cities and many other things still exist because of Alan.   Leaders are responsible for many things. (like the computer's coming to be)

China on schedule towards world dominance?

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

Rizal Philippines
January 25, 2016

                                       China Pres Xi with African leaders


                                                     From USC China Institute

China's leadership may be on its time schedule to achieve the China dream being espoused by its President Xi Jin Ping   The China dream covers united, strong China whose citizens are prosperous. It means world dominance in trade, economics and even military hardware. (A former student in ADB said China would reclaim its rightful place in the World History (he was connected at ADB then, China is a shareholder at ADB.

What are the signs that China is pursuing world dominance.

1.  Xi visited South Africa to strengthen ties with African leaders. China has all ready a strong presence in Africa.

2. Recent visit to the Middle East. Here Xi promised loans and other financial assistance. The US influence in the region is declining -  thanks to pacifist current US leadership.  All ready US is rubbing the KSA leaders over its handling of the Iran deal (led by Shiite)  KSA is dominated by Sunnis

3.  Build up of its military (China would build additional aircraft carrier.  Did you see its display of military hardware in the Beijing anniversary of its victory over Japan?

4. It establishment, albeit illegal (from our point of view) of disputed territories in West Philippine Sea. China would be needing this to have strong global presence (military) in the region to control the shipping lanes and possibly the air space and the rich fuel resources  that the territory contains.

5.  The establishment of AIIB  would seem to challenge the US financial system and dominance of the dollar. China has the biggest currency reserve of $3 trillion, and many observers are saying that China and Russia are orchestrating moves to remove the dominace of the dollar as currency for international trade.  Yuan would be next?

Call that bullying or Chinese imperialism?

But one thing for sure, China has got balls now and they know it and using their might and resources to the hilt.

But the Western countries did just that when they were strong economically and militarily.  China is aware that it is the second (some say the biggest) world economy has biggest cash reserve.  And Xi has made forays all over the world to extend its influence (the latest visit to Africa and ME countries) Who can stop Xi/China?

Three options to solve corruption

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

Rizal Philippines
January 25, 2016

I often see the musings of Tina Monson Palma regarding ending corruption in the Philippines.  That is her role as media man to communicate what is right and to be idealistic.  I used to be idealistic.  But her comments/prescriptions do not recognize the reality of power like we end the dominance of partisan politics and personalities and go by way of what is right and just.  In the Philippines to stay in power to gain dominance in politics, the route is via parties and families and personality and thus, it will just be all talk

In my experience there are 3 options to send corruption

1.  Revolution by straight guys to cut clean corruption. Its chance of succeeding is maybe 5%. However because of activities of NPA, the idea of revolution as a solution is still alive.

2.  Dictatorship -  A strongman must head the nation to enforce the rules as the Singaporean model showed. As in China too exemplified by President Xi Jin Ping One recalls the definition of a President of Pepsi (who led the Pepsi challenge campaign) that "Leadership is taking a point of view and expressing it forcefully"  Force may be necessary at times to enforce what is the right thing to do.   As a lady businessman  expressed, "management, even consultants must be energetic, forceful, and dominant" for them to succeed and to make the business they are consulting for successful.  They can not be just peace loving observers.  (Top down approach)

3.  The Chris Lowney approach -  bottoms up approach.  That leadership must start from individuals through self awareness, to ingenuity, heroism and love;  That was the thesis of leadership class I conducted.  I hope that made a lot of difference to the student leaders who were with me and that they will be able  to make a lot of changes in their sphere of influence.