What happened to basic Leadership?

My best scout and I were talking about leadership and he wanted to know what makes a good leader. Since I'm old and wise (quit laughing) I came up with 10 practices that make a good leader. I've pulled many of these from different books and articles I've read over the years.


10 things that make a strong leader.




1. Lead from the front not the rear: People need to see you’re confident not arrogant.

2. Be well informed: If you don’t know what you’re talking about people will notice.

3. Surround yourself with people better than you: Listen to them, they can only make you look better.


4. Golden Rule: Treat people the way you expect to be treated.


5. Be Trustworthy: If your people don’t trust you, you’ve already lost.


6. Helpful: Don’t be afraid to roll up your sleeves and get dirty. Sometimes you have to do the grunt work.


7. The buck stops with you: If something gets screwed up admit it’s your responsibility and move on.


8. Learn from the past: Leaders who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.


9. KISS: Keep it simple stupid!


10. You’re the Leader, LEAD!: There is a big difference between managing your people and being bossy. People will respond better if they know you’re there for them.




It seems that some of the people who lead have forgotten basics of leadership.




Maybe they will read this blog...










© copyright 2020 Michael Burke







Technical Schools Vs. College

I was listening to a conversation between two sets of parents not too long ago and they were talking about higher education for their children. They were debating Vocational Technical Schools and 2 or 4 year colleges.

One parent was saying that college was not as necessary anymore and that the wold needs more welders, construction, mechanics and manual labor workers than it needs business majors.

The other argued that in order for the construction worker to have a business they needed a business degree to be successful. They would also need accountants and financial planners to save for the long term. These jobs require college education.

I thought both sides had a point, but I also though both might be a little short sighted.

When I was in high school, I had no idea what I wanted to do. I was already a farmer/rancher and could have continued to do that and been able to make a living. That’s not really what I wanted to do. My mom and dad wanted me to be a veterinarian and I went to a year at OSU didn't want to be a Vet, and didn’t like college so I left college and didn’t have any direction.

I decided at that point, I would enroll in a Vo Tech school. I took classes in residential wiring and construction. Then got a job as a journeyman electrician. I was proud of my accomplishments and had a great job that paid a pretty good salary. Then the bottom dropped out of the Oil industry and it affected everyone. Work was still there, but new construction dropped to nothing and I decided I needed options.

Close by my home town was a Junior College. I went to check it out and ended up enrolling. I still didn’t know what I wanted to do. but I thought by the time I got the general education out of the way, I’d figure it out. I did, and went on to get a degree in Fine Art and then Visual and Graphic Design at a 4 year college.

I’ve worked for almost 30 years in the Advertising and Graphic Design industry and have had my own business for over 16 years. I have been lucky that I’ve been able to do what I love and make a living. However I also am comforted by the fact that I have always had manual skills that I can fall back on if I needed (it also helps around the house).

My advice is, think about letting your kids do both. Put some time into Vocational Technical schools to learn a trade, then go to college and continue education. Both are worthwhile, both can provide you with skills and employment for the rest of your life.

Both give your kids options, they don't have to pick one or the other, they can do both! You can’t prepare them for life any better than that!

© 2020 Michael Burke