Leadership is about relationships, not power

Leadership is about relationships, not power

I really like Stephan Pastis’ comic strip “Pearls Before Swine” because it’s clever and funny when he isn’t making horrible puns. The strip has it’s main characters like Goat, Rat, and Pig but there are some other characters that occasionally make an appearance like The Wise Ass on the Hill. The character is, you guessed it, the proverbial wise person sitting on a hill dispensing wisdom to those willing to make the journey. The insights from the Wise Ass are normally enough to make me smile though I occasionally cringe because he hits too close to home.

Goal Setting vs Trend Setting

Goal Setting vs Trend Setting

We hear it all the time from our family, friends, and peers. What are your goals? Did you succeed? Even better, what about their reactions to our answers. “Whoa, that’s quite ambitious of you,” and in doing so, planting the seed of doubt that our eyes might be bigger than our stomach.

Sharpening Leadership Skills through Volunteering

Sharpening Leadership Skills through Volunteering

Volunteering—particularly with an industry or professional organization provides an opportunity to develop leadership skills in many ways. Seasoned professionals will often find time to volunteer and contribute in specialized ways, but if you’re looking for…

Dare to Fail...to Succeed.

Dare to Fail...to Succeed.

In today’s world we are obsessed with winning; we love to celebrate success: parades for world champions, news interviews for medalists, top stories on award winners - the list goes on and on. Turn on the news or ESPN and you will find…

Feedback at Its Finest: Both Honest and Kind

Feedback at Its Finest: Both Honest and Kind

As you reflect on the wisdom and counsel you have received over the years, what are the most memorable? Take a moment. Not just the ‘good’ ones, but the truly stop-you-in-your-tracks, I’ve-got-to-think-about-this-more-deeply’ kind. Hopefully, you’ve had at least a few of these. Let me tell you about one that still stands out for me, from a while back, but is now maybe more important than ever before.

Decision-Making 101

Decision-Making 101

I can’t help but notice over the last several years the basics of decision-making appear not so basic anymore. One thing is for certain, we’re all faced with important decisions, personally and/or professionally. In my opinion, such an important thing merits universal basics to apply.

Focus and Direction

Focus and Direction

There is a rule of thumb known as the 1 in 60 rule in aviation. It states that for every 1 degree a plane veers off its intended course, it will miss its target destination by one mile for every sixty miles flown.

Managing Transitions; Private Sector Considerations from a Military Mindset

Managing Transitions; Private Sector Considerations from a Military Mindset

Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity. These words seem to define business and the non-profit operating environment. Changing politics, the COVID-19 pandemic, supply challenges, and changing labor attitudes represent only a few of the many topics that leaders must address. However…

Three Leadership Killers: Pride, Judgment, and Comparison

Three Leadership Killers: Pride, Judgment, and Comparison

Self-awareness is one of the most important things in being a leader worth following, particularly if seeking to be known as a true servant leader. Knowing your strengths, weaknesses, and even your emotional vulnerabilities is vital to successfully “walk your talk” as a leader. At this point in my life, career, and journey as a leader, I can reflect…

Reflections upon choices: a journey committing to a life of continuous learning and a positive attitude

Reflections upon choices:  a journey committing to a life of continuous learning and a positive attitude

Several times in my life I’ve had the opportunity to take part in many educational, training and leadership development venues. For the most part when given the opportunity I gave my best effort. However, there were a few times when…

Wisdom shared on "sacrifice" by Mike "Loco" Uyboco

Mike completed a 20-year career as a Navy SEAL leading high performing teams in dynamic environments. He began his leadership journey just after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, garnering experience from the battlefields of the Middle East to the jungles of the Pacific. Throughout his military career he was mentored by some of America’s finest leaders which helped develop his own unique style of servant leadership.

Mike spent the last six years of his Naval career in a COO-equivalent role, helping senior leaders navigate complex decisions, developing actionable processes and procedures to ensure performance in crisis conditions, developing strategic partnerships within DOD, and managing the day-to-day operations of diverse 400-person organizations. The techniques he developed can be utilized to help any individual or organization achieve their full potential.

Mike excels in coaching for peak performance. As the top graduate in his SEAL training class, he understands the mindset required to achieve physical and mental mastery. Additionally, he spent over four years at the SEAL training center applying his hard-won knowledge to the assessment, selection and training of the next generation of elite warriors. He is passionate about sharing these best practices with individuals and teams from every fabric of society.

Today, he is determined to improve the lives of others by utilizing the tools he developed through his naval career. After retiring in June of 2020, Mike embarked upon a one-year RV trip around the USA, learning from the stories of others, reconnecting with over 70 families, and gaining a deeper appreciation for the country he defended for two decades. Upon return from that trip, he and his wife started a small business that was inspired by their personal journey, providing care packages for cancer patients. Mike also spends time as a personal trainer, a board member for a non-profit, and a volunteer for a disaster relief organization.

Michael is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and received his MBA at the University of San Diego.

Why do people hate seeing others win?

Why do people hate seeing others win?

Though on the surface you may believe that statement isn’t true, I challenge you to reflect on your initial reaction or the reactions from others around you when they heard of someone who was winning.

If you are the majority, someone around you probably immediately jumped in with a negative comment, judgement, or uneducated perception of the winner’s journey.

Why? Why don’t we applaud and appreciate winners more than we look for their faults?

I have an opinion on the topic.

Bad Leaders Part Two – How to Become a BAD Leader

Bad Leaders Part Two – How to Become a BAD Leader

Now that I have your attention…yes, I said become a BAD leader. In the first Wisdom installment of “Bad Leaders,” we examined how to thrive and not survive under bad leadership. In this installment we are going to examine how to be a “BAD” leader…a really good one.

Bad Leaders Part One – Serving & Learning

Bad Leaders Part One – Serving & Learning

As a Fighter Wing Commander, one of my favorite recurring events was engaging with our Airmen who were about to graduate Airmen Leadership School (ALS) along with my Command Chief. ALS is the first tier of professional military education for our enlisted force. Airmen must attend this course before taking their first level supervisory position as a non-commissioned officer (NCO). Up until this point in their careers, they have

13 Strategies For Coming Out of This Pandemic Victoriously

13 Strategies For Coming Out of This Pandemic Victoriously

Imagine, if the whole world stopped. You couldn’t leave your house. And, when you did, you had to wear a mask and gloves, and carry hand sanitizer. Once you were back inside the safety of your home, you had to wash your clothes in hot water, and your hands and body while singing Happy Birthday twice to make sure that soap had 20 seconds to kill the invisible virus. In this scenario, what would you focus on? How would you spend your days? How would you re-invent yourself for the new world?