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Leadership: Achieving Life-Changing Success from Within
"Take one look at him, listen to him speak, watch him act, and you'll follow him. Why? Because throughout his life and military career, Sergeant Major Al McMichael has proven himself to be a visionary who develops and nurtures ideas to fruition.... Anyone who is charged with leading, teaching, mentoring, managing or caring for people should read the inspiring story of Al McMichael in Leadership." -- Dean Mark Pizzo, National Defense University in Washington, D.C.
There is only one sergeant major of the Marine Corps at any one time. It is the highest rank an enlisted Marine can achieve. From 1999 to 2003 the USMC's 14th sergeant major, and the first African American to attain the position, was Alford L. McMichael. Now, Sergeant Major McMichael shares how the values taught to him around the dinner table and in the hard times of his dirt-poor Southern childhood took him to the top of his field and made him one of the most respected and valued leaders of our time.
This is not a guide that speaks only to military personnel. This is not a guide that only CEOs will cherish. The magic of McMichael's life lessons is that anyone can relate to and build success from them, because McMichael himself learned them in the most modest of beginnings: growing up in the 1950s with nine siblings in a single-parent, one-story home in Hot Springs, Arkansas. It was the best training he could have received for the Marines, and with down-to-earth practicality and an engaging anecdotal style, McMichael demonstrates how the morals, work ethic and self-discipline he learned from his mother and grandmother gave him the life skills for groundbreaking success.
Practice dinner table values...Find your compass...Rely on intelligence over emotion...Prepare so you can prosper...Impress yourself first...Give power to your people...Lead from the heart...These are among the pragmatic and distinctive nuggets of truth McMichael imparts in Leadership, and whatever your walk in life, they are the foundation for making great things happen. Are you ready to experience the phenomenal results when you ask the best of yourself and those around you?
There is only one sergeant major of the Marine Corps at any one time. It is the highest rank an enlisted Marine can achieve. From 1999 to 2003 the USMC's 14th sergeant major, and the first African American to attain the position, was Alford L. McMichael. Now, Sergeant Major McMichael shares how the values taught to him around the dinner table and in the hard times of his dirt-poor Southern childhood took him to the top of his field and made him one of the most respected and valued leaders of our time.
This is not a guide that speaks only to military personnel. This is not a guide that only CEOs will cherish. The magic of McMichael's life lessons is that anyone can relate to and build success from them, because McMichael himself learned them in the most modest of beginnings: growing up in the 1950s with nine siblings in a single-parent, one-story home in Hot Springs, Arkansas. It was the best training he could have received for the Marines, and with down-to-earth practicality and an engaging anecdotal style, McMichael demonstrates how the morals, work ethic and self-discipline he learned from his mother and grandmother gave him the life skills for groundbreaking success.
Practice dinner table values...Find your compass...Rely on intelligence over emotion...Prepare so you can prosper...Impress yourself first...Give power to your people...Lead from the heart...These are among the pragmatic and distinctive nuggets of truth McMichael imparts in Leadership, and whatever your walk in life, they are the foundation for making great things happen. Are you ready to experience the phenomenal results when you ask the best of yourself and those around you?
- GenresMilitary Fiction
208 pages, Paperback
First published May 13, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 6, 2013
This guy basically is smart, dutiful, honest, punctual, works very hard,dresses immaculately, and fulfils the expectations of his employer, the USMC. It is a sign of the times that what I just wrote probably sounded like sarcasm, but no. The sad truth is that these values are pretty much in decline, and Mc Michael says we should return to what he terms "dinner table values". He also says in not so few words, that not everybody can be the sharpest tool in the box, but you can still achieve your potential. (To hell with the "Giant within" be honest, loyal, and work your butt off for the corps!).
His insights into empathy and empowerment I found very interesting, and very useful. He really knows how to motivate and I have already used some of his insights in the workplace and yes they work. Thank you sargeant!
Later part of the book descends into meandering memoir, about how the USMC is such an amazing this that and the other. No one wants to criticise their employer, I understand, but hearing the same tune over and over again becomes tiresome.
His insights into empathy and empowerment I found very interesting, and very useful. He really knows how to motivate and I have already used some of his insights in the workplace and yes they work. Thank you sargeant!
Later part of the book descends into meandering memoir, about how the USMC is such an amazing this that and the other. No one wants to criticise their employer, I understand, but hearing the same tune over and over again becomes tiresome.
October 22, 2017
I met Sergeant Major McMichael when I was a Lance Corporal in 2000 aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. He came to speak to senior Staff Non Commissioned Officers about his pet project, the Single Marine Program. At this time, it was only a few years old and very much in the fledgling state. As a unit representative for the SMP, I was voluntold to attend this briefing with my Sergeant Major, along with Lance Corporal Miller. While I would be learning about my job that I already knew how to do, I begrudgingly went because it would get me out of the office for an afternoon and of course because I was ordered to do so. Miller and myself were the only ones below the rank of First Sergeant. The plans laid out were actually informative to me because it laid out not only what had been going on with the SMP but also what the intended future was. At the end of the briefing, SgtMaj McMichael said to the gathered crowed “Thank you for being here, please join me at the bar.”
Miller and I looked at each other glad to obey that lawful order. Most of the senior SNCOs were there and being the very junior Marines of that room, Miller and I took a four person table off to the side where the assistant SMP coordinator soon joined us. Along the buffet was roast beef, crab legs, lobster tails and so much more that we could not afford on our pay, so we naturally loaded our plates before we got to talk shop. Into our discussion and second plate, I hear “Do you mind if I join you?” off of my right shoulder as a Marine in cammies sits in the chair to my right. Here is SgtMaj McMichael, the senior enlisted man in the Marine Corps. Being the sarcastic junior Marine I was, I replied “If I said yes, would it stop you?” to which he fortunately laughed, recognizing my humor.
Over the next 45 minutes, he took the time to talk with the two Marines in the room who would actually be carrying out his plans. Not only did he talk with, more importantly, he listened to. He repeated back what he thought were the important parts, asked questions to clarify, suggested refinements in areas that he had experience with. Now in 2017, twenty years after its inception, the Single Marine Program has continued to grow into what he envisioned at the beginning of this century. Why? The one simple word that is the title of this book.
Leadership: Achieving Life Changing Success from Within shows how he did just that, and shows the affect that a good leader can have on others and obtain a top leadership position in a world renound organization that has made a difference since 1775. Instructional and biographical, you will see why “leadership by example” is an important principle that should never be forgotten or neglected. Sadly, this book has been slighted by not being placed on the Commandant’s Reading List for the professional development in the United States Marine Corps, an oversight that will hopefully be corrected soon.
Miller and I looked at each other glad to obey that lawful order. Most of the senior SNCOs were there and being the very junior Marines of that room, Miller and I took a four person table off to the side where the assistant SMP coordinator soon joined us. Along the buffet was roast beef, crab legs, lobster tails and so much more that we could not afford on our pay, so we naturally loaded our plates before we got to talk shop. Into our discussion and second plate, I hear “Do you mind if I join you?” off of my right shoulder as a Marine in cammies sits in the chair to my right. Here is SgtMaj McMichael, the senior enlisted man in the Marine Corps. Being the sarcastic junior Marine I was, I replied “If I said yes, would it stop you?” to which he fortunately laughed, recognizing my humor.
Over the next 45 minutes, he took the time to talk with the two Marines in the room who would actually be carrying out his plans. Not only did he talk with, more importantly, he listened to. He repeated back what he thought were the important parts, asked questions to clarify, suggested refinements in areas that he had experience with. Now in 2017, twenty years after its inception, the Single Marine Program has continued to grow into what he envisioned at the beginning of this century. Why? The one simple word that is the title of this book.
Leadership: Achieving Life Changing Success from Within shows how he did just that, and shows the affect that a good leader can have on others and obtain a top leadership position in a world renound organization that has made a difference since 1775. Instructional and biographical, you will see why “leadership by example” is an important principle that should never be forgotten or neglected. Sadly, this book has been slighted by not being placed on the Commandant’s Reading List for the professional development in the United States Marine Corps, an oversight that will hopefully be corrected soon.
March 13, 2012
This book was written by the highest non-commissioned officer of the marines. He has some excellent points. By always doing what he is required to do, he is always able to sleep well at night.
It was also very refreshing to hear him to state it is respectable to work an honest jobs even if if you don't earn large quantities of money. This view is counter-cultural.
Even though the book had some good stories, I felt the book was disorganized, redundant especially towards the end.
It was also very refreshing to hear him to state it is respectable to work an honest jobs even if if you don't earn large quantities of money. This view is counter-cultural.
Even though the book had some good stories, I felt the book was disorganized, redundant especially towards the end.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews