The Quiet Leader

Thoughts on a Manly Handshake It’s an art every leader must master. Let’s delve into the cultural significance of the manly handshake, a unique aspect of our Louisiana Pineywoods region. Sometimes it’s called a manshake. A man-shake is firm instead of its opposite number, the dead fish/damp washrag handshake. Men in our area are judged by their handshake. It can …

An Obituary I’d Love to Have. One of the reasons I still receive a paper copy of The Town Talk is to read the well-written obituaries submitted by families. I was touched by the concluding sentence of the obit. of Judge Frank Alan Little, Jr in Sunday’s April 7, 2024 edition. “He often remarked that his wife, family, and friends …

  Curt’s rendition of “The Seed Tree” can be seen on our Creekbank YouTube channel. Our audio Podcast is also available at Spotify. The Seed Tree I’ve been studying this majestic Loblolly pine for over thirty years. It’s located along LA Hwy 113 after you cross the Calcasieu River and enter Louisiana’s No Man’s Land. It caught my eye because it …

What is “Courage under Fire?” Most people run away from trouble, while others run toward it: David: ”This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!” ”As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him.“ * What is it in a man that causes some to run away, while others face it head …

    Resolve This week I’m thinking about the word “Resolve “ and its double first cousins, Grit, Determination and Perseverance. “Resolve: to act with determination, boldness, steadfastness, and faith.” Resolve: it’s a good word to have in our toolbox.

A Remarkable Mentor named Fox Conner. You’ve probably never heard of Major General Fox Conner.  He had an outstanding career spanning the Spanish-American War through the post-World War I years. There are three names marking him as remarkable: Patton, Marshall, and Eisenhower. Fox Conner evidently had the skill of bonding with young officers as a mentor and friend. It started …

John Wooden’s Socks   “It isn’t what you do, but how you do it.”   -John Wooden   I was a college senior the year I met John Wooden in 1979. I was preparing to embark on my journey as a high school basketball coach. I traveled to Monroe, Louisiana to hear John Wooden speak at a coaching clinic. Wooden, who’d …

Leaving this World Better . . . “L.T.W.B.T.U.F.I.” Leave this world better than you found it! It’s a good motto to live by. Whatever we touch. Wherever we go, we ought to leave it better. I’ve always loved camping and hiking. Part of the joy is in setting up camp along a bubbling mountainside creek or under the tall pines …

The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The next best time is today. It’s a story worth retelling. His name is  John Stephen Akhwari and he had the dubious honor to finish last in the Marathon at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. John Stephen, a Tanzanian runner, finished more than one hour after the winner had …

    Know Those Who Serve. Do unto others as you’d have them do unto you. -Jesus in Luke 6:31 ESV His name was Raymond, and we met when we were both about eighteen. It was unlikely we’d cross paths, much less become friends. Raymond was an urban black man from Pineville, and I was a redneck fresh from the …