Historic meeting to be held in Augusta this week
[This guest column ran in the Augusta Chronicle on Jan. 4, 2014.] By Perry Smith There are three iconic American institutions that represent the values of valor, selflessness, compassion, and altruism: The Congressional Medal of Honor Society, the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation, and the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission. The top leaders of these three organizations have never had a meeting...
Read MoreLooking for holiday gifts? The shelves — bookshelves, that is — are
[This column originally appeared in the Augusta Chronicle on Nov. 23, 2013] By Perry Smith As the Christmas season approaches, finding the very best gift at a reasonable price is a dilemma for many of us. Books can be the answer. The gift of a book sends many messages: • You care about the enjoyment and the intellectual development of the person who is to receive the book. • You have picked a...
Read MoreHow Checklists Save Lives, Enhance Teamwork and Enrich Leadership
[This quest column ran in the Augusta Chronicle on Nov.3, 2013] By Perry Smith On October, 1935, at an military air base near Dayton Ohio, a competition took place that changed the course of aviation history. An experimental long-range bomber took to the air. It took off, turned out of the traffic pattern, rolled over and crashed. The pilot was the most experienced test pilot in the Army Air...
Read MoreGreat events in Gettysburg honor Medal of Honor recipients
[This column originally appeared in the Augusta Chronicle on Oct. 5, 2013] By Perry Smith Recently, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society held its annual convention in Gettysburg, Pa. For four marvelous days, this small historic town put on quite a show for the 44 living Medal of Honor recipients who were in attendance, for their family members, for members of the Congressional Medal of Honor...
Read MoreStrategic planning is an indispensable component of leadership
Two of my life’s great pleasures are sharing experiences with long-range planning and helping leaders reach into the future in a systematic way. Here are a few highlights from a workshop that will be conducted this week. First on the future: • Leaders should spend an hour or two each month reaching out at least five years into the future. If they do so, they are likely to see opportunities long...
Read MoreBeat the July heat
(Published June 30, 2012 in the Augusta Chronicle) The welcome mild weather of June is over, and the full heat of summer has arrived. This is the time to look for cool places to spend interesting and uplifting hours. Here are some suggestions. ALTHOUGH THE Augusta Museum of History is normally closed Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, it will be open every day this week, including the Fourth of...
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