by Lieutenant General Jack Bergman United States Marine Corps, Retired
Quite possibly, the truest test for determining how well leaders have prepared those under their charge to perform would be for the leader to suddenly disappear and then evaluate how well those remaining continued to perform.
I am guessing that most leaders would prefer not to have such a radical situation occur. Well, in real life, ‘stuff happens.’ As was stated in the 2012 movie Redtails: “Experience is a cruel teacher; gives the exam first, then the lesson.”
Relevant leaders put themselves last and everyone else first. Proactive leaders prepare individually and collectively to attain the best possible results under the worst possible conditions. Education and training followed by evaluation and more training culminating in execution is a never-ending cycle required for success.
As a 14-year-old Boy Scout, I was given the best leadership guidance EVER by another Scout who was immediately senior to me. In assigning my objectives for a two-week camp, he matter-of-factly stated, “Life is not a popularity contest. Go out there and get the job done.”
In real life, simply “getting the job done” does not qualify an individual as a leader. Today’s and, more importantly, tomorrow’s leaders must have vision, adaptability, and grit in order to succeed in a digital world filled with analog humans. However, one essential element never changes. Lead by example!
Robert and I have been friends for over 40 years. We were roommates on board the ship that’s pictured on the cover of this book. He writes with the passion of a young Marine officer and the wisdom of a seasoned, savvy, successful entrepreneur. And, while we disagree on some things, we wholeheartedly agree that ‘those who quit never succeed’ and that ongoing education is essential to success!
Enjoy the book and remember: Truly outstanding leadership is not about YOU, it is about ME. Morals and Ethics, that is.
Semper Fidelis,
Jack Bergman
Lieutenant General (Ret),
United States Marine Corps
CONTENTS
Foreword by Lieutenant General Jack Bergman
Introduction Training for Life
Part One: A Call to Duty
Chapter One Mission Critical
Chapter Two How to Become an Entrepreneur
Part Two: 8 Lessons In Leadership
Chapter Three Lesson #1 | Leaders Are Role Models
Chapter Four Lesson #2 | Are You a Loner or a Leader
Chapter Five Lesson #3 | Discipline Delivers a Higher Quality of Life
Chapter Six Lesson #4 | The Power of Respect
Chapter Seven Lesson #5 | The Need for Speed
Chapter Eight Lesson #6 | Unite to Win & Divide to Conquer
Chapter Nine Lesson #7 | Leaders Are Teachers
Chapter Ten Lesson #8 | Leaders Is One Big Sales Job
Bonus Section
SPECIAL THANKS
There are two important contributors to this book that I want to introduce and acknowledge. They are Robb LeCount and Dave Leong.
Both men have served their country in the U.S. military, both joined the Rich Dad team in 2009, and both have embraced entrepreneurship on their path to financial freedom.
Robb, a former Navy Aviation Machinist Mate, plays a huge role in how The Rich Dad Company communications with the world in his role as Director of Information Technology at our company. He’s also a real estate investor and the owner of multiple businesses, including a software testing company, and is working to create a line of health bars.
You’ll find Robb’s Report at the end of each chapter in this book. In those sections he’ll share his thoughts on that chapter’s content as well as some of his personal experiences from his years in the service.
Robb is also responsible for the Bonus Section you’ll find at the end of this book: Special Report on V.A. Loans. He is passionate about the value that vets have in their V.A. Loan benefits and has taken the time to write and teach about what he’s learned.
Robb is a student of Rich Dad Coaching and Rich Dad Education, has played a pivotal role in bringing the Rich Dad games and books—CASHFLOW 101, CASHFLOW for Kids, Rich Dad Poor Dad via CLUTCH, CASHFLOW Classic and Capital City—into the digital world via apps and digital learning platforms.
Apart from being a Navy squid… he’s a natural leader and a huge asset to our Rich Dad team. And I thank him for his many contributions to this book.
Dave Leong attended the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, graduated in 2004, and served as a First Lieutenant at Balad Airbase, Iraq. Dave has worked in several departments of The Rich Dad Company and today is the Marketing Manager for the Mobile Apps division. He continues to apply what he’s learned to building his coffee shop, his online businesses, and investing in real estate.
If you’ve read other Rich Dad books, you know that I often write about Blair Singer, a Rich Dad Advisor, and his book Team Code of Honor. The military has an honor code and when I left the military one of the toughest transitions for me—from military to civilian life—was related to honor and code or, better said, the lack of it. I asked Dave to write about his experience with the Honor Code at the Air Force Academy, time in service, and how he’s applying it now in the civilian world. You’ll find his piece on Honor Code at the end of this book.
I know you’ll find that the contributions from these two men reflect the values and the lessons they learned from the military and how they’ve applied them to their lives today. I thank them both—for their service and for being willing to share and teach what they’ve learned.
I served in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam era. But I wasn’t a career officer and didn’t retire from the Marine Corps. I was able to retire, at age 47, because I had income coming in from my businesses and my investments. I did not have income from a career or a job.
I’m sure there are quite a few people who have been able to accomplish this, but I was able to do it in large part, due to my military training.
I loved military flight school because we were inspired to face our fears every day. I was not in flight school for a steady paycheck or early retirement benefits, although I knew many student pilots who were. Career Marines are employees of the U.S. government.
I was in the Marine Corps and flight school for the inspiration, and preparation, for war. Rather than seek security, our instructors forced us to practice “emergency maneuvers” on each and every flight. Rather than hope and pray things would go right, the instructors would intentionally cripple the aircraft in some way, sometimes even killing the engine. They forced us to face our fears, keep our cool—and still fly the aircraft. It was perfect training for a life in business.