Tag Archives: Twentieth Century

The War To End All Wars

Veterans Day 2008

Today is Veteran’s Day here in the US, a day where we honor those who served for their love of country and willingness to sacrifice for the common good. This day became a national holiday here in honor of the end, in 1918, of  World War I when the Allies and Germany signed an armistice. Originally Armistice Day and established in honor of WWI vets, it was renamed later on to honor those who served in subsequent conflicts in Korea and WWII.  My favorite vet – my Dad – was one of those WWII airmen who flew missions in Europe, so thanks Dad and I’m glad you made in home safely (otherwise, what would these folks be reading??).

What I’ve always found interesting about WWI was that it was justified by some at the time as The War To End War after the H.G. Wells book of a similar name on the topic.  That phrase is instructive to any of us in business.  Here’s why. Continue reading

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The Double Nickles

A Maximum Speed 55 sign sometimes used in Cali...

I turned 55 today. It’s not really a “big” birthday but it feels sort of like one. As one of my friends pointed out, I’m closer to 60 than to 50 (and feel free to point out that I might need new friends). Maybe in golf terms I’ve made the turn but there’s lots of real estate left to navigate.
The thing that keeps rattling around in my head is how different the world is on each birthday. When I was born, the last Russian forces were still leaving parts of Austria – leftovers from World War II – and West Germany became a country. A vaccine for polio – which killed and crippled millions – was approved. A Daley was mayor of Chicago. The President (Eisenhower) sent troops overseas (to Vietnam), and someone planted a bomb on an airplane (United flight 629) which blew the plane out of the sky.  OK, so maybe some things haven’t really changed.  But much more has, even if the scourge is now AIDS, we’re sending troops elsewhere, and the start of our current wars is actually about as far back as the end of WWII was to my birthday.  But there’s the lesson. Continue reading

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