Leading Growth

Prologue

MY FRIEND TOM Strasburg had a high school buddy named Jeff. Jeff wasn't exactly certain what to do after high school, so he joined the army. Jeff's experience in boot camp was the stereotypical representation you've seen in every war movie.

Jeff's drill sergeant worked his recruits hard, relentlessly telling them they were the worst recruits he'd ever seen in his many years training soldiers. He insisted they were not fit for his beloved army. Over several weeks, the recruits got used to the insults until the comments were expected, regardless of their performance. Then one day, the drill sergeant changed from insults to a challenge.

In the evening, as he had his soldiers in formation, dog-tired and hungry, he'd challenge someone to step forward to fight him. He'd badger them, belittle them, curse at them, insult them, doing everything in his power to compel someone to engage him in combat. The drill sergeant was tough as steel, and he could also make their lives miserable. As you might imagine, no one stepped up. There was little upside for accepting his challenge, and an enormous downside.

One day, after the drill sergeant had spent weeks prodding the soldiers to muster up the courage to fight him, he said, “Isn't there a single one of you with the courage to step up and tangle with me?” Having heard this same challenge for weeks, Jeff took one step forward without turning his head toward the drill sergeant. No one said a word for what seemed an eternity.

The drill ...