There are more pictures added.  I hope you strive to become a leader and join the Woodward family for a weekend or weekday for that matter. :)  But until you get there, the next best thing is the pictures and this blog.  My goal is to answer every comment.  I will do so for as long as I can keep up.   A comment from you deserves and answer, agreement, or encouragement from me.  If I am traveling it may take a day or two.  God Bless, Orrin Woodward

Author Jeff O’Leary has hit a homerun with his book Centurion Principles.  Former Colonel O’Leary’s views of world changing leadership are right in line with mine.  This is an inspiring read from a man who has walked his talk.   He has a section on George Washington about Leadership that Serves Greater Ends.   George Washington took an incredible risk to be part of the Revolutionary War.  He had plenty of land and was doing “pretty good.”  Why would someone get involved in a conflict where they Colonist were severe underdogs?  I think the answer is; George lived by principles and he would rather sacrifice his wealth than his principles.  There were many times during the war where it was George’s convictions and character that held the army together.  Compromise on your core convictions is cowardice.  In the end, George Washington and his principles overcame England and a new country was formed.  We need more men and women with the courage of George Washington.  Let me quote from the book:

The greatest leaders were also great risk takers.  Stop for a moment and decide if you are willing to become that kind of leader.  If not, move on to the next chapter.  This risking is costly.  If it wasn’t everyone would be doing it.  Who wouldn’t want to leave a legacy like Washington’s behind him? …………

The key to getting beyond the illusions of fame, money and power is to take the long view.  It is paradoxically both simple and difficult.  Take the long view—not the quarterly, monthly, or daily view of your business or calling.  When you finish your race and look back at the footsteps of your life, what are you going to see, and what are you going to be proud of? ……………

Near the end, I was offered the opportunity to continue my service and be promoted to brigadier general within a few years.  I politely declined and turned in my papers for retirement at the same time my book was released.  This infuriated my superiors, and I was quickly moved from my special status of “golden boy” to untouchable leper.  But I believed then, as I do now, that we are created for a destiny greater than accumulating power, money, or fame.  (Certainly, being a general could be a high calling for someone if that was his or her destiny.  It just wasn’t mine.)

This is some incredibly courageous thinking!   A Colonel that is offered and opportunity to be a general turns it down to follow his destiny.  Very few people will do that.  Most settle for the immediate and give up the long term.   Leaders must stay focused on the long term even through the inevitable criticism.   How is your legacy coming together?  Have you even considered a legacy before?  I know I was 25 years old and had never thought about it.  That is why I am so thankful for Dexter Yager.  I heard Dexter when I was 26 and he said, “You must be willing to give up everything you have to accomplish everything you want.”   This thought resonated with me and I realized I had been playing it safe with my life.   Why are we playing it safe?   Haven’t WE all figured out that we are not making it out of life alive?  So if we are all going to die—the only question is—are we going to truly live? 

When you make long term decisions in your life you will be criticized.  The myopic thinkers cannot see what you see or think what you are thinking.  They will see your choices as foolish, self serving or worse.  You can take heart that George Washington was criticized greatly in England for his choices.  Abraham Lincoln was criticized horribly from people in the North and South during the Civil War.  Winston Churchill was a pariah for his thoughts on Nazi Germany before World War II. Albert Einstein said, “The biggest people with the biggest ideas will be criticized by the smallest people with the smallest ideas.”  Colonel O’Leary was offered a promotion and when he refused, he was criticized by the same people who loved him minutes before.    The old saying, “Everyone want you to get by, just not by them” is appropriate here.  To Mr. O’Leary’s credit, he followed his destiny.  Sometimes you have to take the road less traveled. 

Here are some closing thoughts.  Follow your dreams!  Follow your destiny!  Leave a legacy!  If it hurts—then you know you are right on track.  What is your Legacy?  Please share your thoughts with me.  God Bless, Orrin Woodward