Gresh and I have done a couple of blogs about great guys for whom we’ve worked, and in thinking about that last night I asked myself: Who’s the best boss I ever had? The answer was both immediate and easy: Captain Omer McCants. I was a young lieutenant in Korea and Captain McCants was an old man (he was a 28-year-old Captain). Captain McCants was my battery commander and he was a major influence on my approach to work, leadership, and life in general. While remembering those good old days, I did a Google search and this appeared:
Nah, can’t be, I thought. But it was. Captain McCants retired as a Lt. Colonel and went on to do other great things. Watching the video above instantly took me back 45 years, and listening to the “old man” was about as enjoyable an experience as I’ve ever had. I think you’ll enjoy it, too. There are several videos about Colonel McCants (check the link below the video when you go to the page) and my advice is to listen to them all. I did. You can thank me later.
Gresh and I have talked about adding an ExNotes page with links to our “Back in the Day” stories about the great guys we’ve known, and we’ll get around to that in the near future. I’ve been around some great leaders. Do you remember the movie Apocalypse Now and the guy Robert Duvall played, Colonel Kilgore? There actually was a Colonel Kilgore in the US Army and I reported to him (he was nothing like the guy Robert Duvall portrayed). I worked for a couple of company presidents in the aerospace business who changed the way that industry worked, and I’ll tell you about them at some point. I know Gresh has amazing stories, too. I’ve heard them. Stay tuned, folks. There’s more good stuff coming.
The human condition improves when we are connected to another person who has abilities and talents
that they transfer to us and help us to be the best that we can be at that moment!
I really look forward to you and Gresh share your stories of these encounters!
When Gresh finishes the Kawi ….I’d like to hear who inspires him to “stay the course”.
Joe Gresh: I think Mungie is giving you a nudge!
Every once in awhile you get introduced to Great Men. Thank you Joe Berk for introducing me to a great man. When you hear men talk about a calling and having them tell you that they listened to the calling and did it, it’s always something that most of us can only dream. I look forward to more of the two Joe’s best boss stories. Thank you again.
We’ve all been lucky, Terry. Thanks for the comments.