THE “HOW TO LEAD” SERIES — EPISODE 1: MajGen Dale Alford, USMC (ret)
Update: 2025-10-31
Description
The “How To Lead” Series is one I’ve wanted to do for a while. The idea is simple: bring on outstanding leaders to the podcast and ask them how they DID IT. Ask them about what worked. Ask them if they think that leadership is soooooooo different today.
The image I use for this series is of General George Washington crossing the Delaware River on Christmas night of 1776 to surprise Hessian forces in the Battle of Trenton, which he won decisively. The wife of a friend of mine, Carrie Costantini, whose husband Will was on my podcast last week, posted it on Facebook years ago before she passed away… That meme is below. It symbolizes what leaders do for me… they do difficult things on a regular basis, and then they do the impossible.
You can watch the YouTube video HERE
Washington conceived the operation and led his force that night, and his leadership during the difficult winter at Valley Forge was still ahead of him. With that kind of leader in mind… the first person I wanted to have on is a good friend of mine, both in and out of uniform, MajGen Dale Alford, USMC (ret). Dale’s career speaks for itself, and he did a lot of great things… but the one thing that separates him from everybody is that he participated in a contingency operation or combat at every rank he held in the Marine Corps, from 2ndLt to MajGen… so, that is where we begin… with THAT guy.
In the weeks ahead, you’ll hear from leaders whom I’ve crossed paths with who’ve impressed me with (1) their leadership abilities and (2) their ability to articulate to you their ideas about leadership… so standby, it’s gonna be a good time, we’ll all learn a lot, and a promise that these episodes will generate a lot of reflection. And finally, the focus of this series is from the squad to the battalion/squadron… where the rubber meets the road.
Mac
The image I use for this series is of General George Washington crossing the Delaware River on Christmas night of 1776 to surprise Hessian forces in the Battle of Trenton, which he won decisively. The wife of a friend of mine, Carrie Costantini, whose husband Will was on my podcast last week, posted it on Facebook years ago before she passed away… That meme is below. It symbolizes what leaders do for me… they do difficult things on a regular basis, and then they do the impossible.
You can watch the YouTube video HERE
Washington conceived the operation and led his force that night, and his leadership during the difficult winter at Valley Forge was still ahead of him. With that kind of leader in mind… the first person I wanted to have on is a good friend of mine, both in and out of uniform, MajGen Dale Alford, USMC (ret). Dale’s career speaks for itself, and he did a lot of great things… but the one thing that separates him from everybody is that he participated in a contingency operation or combat at every rank he held in the Marine Corps, from 2ndLt to MajGen… so, that is where we begin… with THAT guy.
In the weeks ahead, you’ll hear from leaders whom I’ve crossed paths with who’ve impressed me with (1) their leadership abilities and (2) their ability to articulate to you their ideas about leadership… so standby, it’s gonna be a good time, we’ll all learn a lot, and a promise that these episodes will generate a lot of reflection. And finally, the focus of this series is from the squad to the battalion/squadron… where the rubber meets the road.
Mac
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