Happy Marine Corps birthday
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Today is the Marine Corps birthday. It was founded 233 years ago. A little more than 45 years ago, I joined the Marines.
The Army, the Navy and the Air Force had all offered me select assignments and special training. The Marine Corps offered me, in the words of my recruiter, "Four years of hell. A haircut every week. And a rifle."
I joined for the challenge. Many people think that the Marines are an elite outfit because they recruit the best and the brightest. It's the other way around.
What that recruiter saw standing in front of him was a 130 pound smart-mouth with long hair. He knew how things worked, though. He knew that the Marine system could turn that kid into a Marine.
Think about that the next time someone tells you that the only way to get a great organization is to recruit the best people out there. Yes, potential is important. Yes, talent is important.
But the Marines know that high expectations and a strong culture and discipline and practice can perform wonders that the gene pool can't. And we've been demonstrating that for 233 years.
Wally's Working Supervisor's Support Kit is a collection of information and tools to help working supervisors do a better job. It's based on what Wally's learned in over twenty years of supervisory skills training. Click here to check it out.
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Wally Bock has helped people learn to be great bosses for more than a quarter century. His latest book, Performance Talk: The One-on-One Part of Leadership, makes learning key leadership principles almost effortless by teaching through a story and providing lists of resources for further growth.
Click here to find out more about Wally's coaching services.
For weekly tips and resources pointers, check our Wally Bock's Three Star Leadership Letter.
Click here to find out more about having Wally speak to your company or convention.
Bravo Wally - for this post, your decision 45 years ago, your recruiter, and the Corps.
Semper Fidelis
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You may have been a 130 pound kid. But what the Marines did is they challenged you and you lived up to the challeng. They made the job hard to get and you wanted it and you were going to prove you were good enough. How many companies are like the other services trying to find a body almost any body?
Next time you want to hire great people become a place great people want to work.
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Great point, Mel. If you want great people to work for you, the best way is to be the kind of place they want to work and the kind of people they want to work with. Thanks for adding that.
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Wally, Happy Birthday to the Marine Corps and Thank You for serving. I've learned remarkable lessons on leadership from those like you that forged their character in the service of country.
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