Specializing in the concept of CrossLead, The McChrystal Group focuses on transformational leadership, leveraging lessons learned in combat and applying them to business.
Archive for the ‘Disruptive Tech’ Category
McChrystal Group Launches New Website
Friday, May 25th, 2012What Lurks in the New York Night
Wednesday, May 16th, 2012Haley Strategic Partners recently held a Disruptive Environments Urban Darkness exercise in New York. Participants were a mix of law enforcement narco/counter terrorism background.
In the photos, look for BCM, Mayflower Research, Smith Optics, Mechanix Gloves, Battery ACOGs, EOTech, HSP Thorntail Light Mounts, Surefire Mags, HSGI pouches, G-Code Holsters, B5 Systems and Arcteryx LEAF.
HSP discovered that Arc’teryx Wolf Grey is great for interiors but found Croc actually more suited to the “yellow” light of the NYC night. The team ran a mix of Croc tops with their civy Raider pants in graphite.
Disruptive Thinkers – Intrapreneurship or Entrepreneurship?
Thursday, May 10th, 2012The war is almost over. We can’t have a bunch of cowboys running around making up the rules as they go along. The time is nigh to bring them to heel.
You may recall my recent comments on surviving as a disruptive thinker in conventionally minded organizations. Looks like folks on active duty are starting to consider what they have wrought and what a future military will look like.
Navy officer Michael Campbell has penned an interesting read, “Disruptive Thinkers: Intrapreneurship vice Entrepreneurship – Why this Distinction Matters” in which he asserts that entrepreneurs work outside the system and intrapreneurs work within the framework. I’ll throw in my two cents that anyone who has only served during wartime doesn’t have the length of view to see what things were like during the peacetime military. Lockstep adherence to the status quo is what we had. Even after the war began, unconventional thinking was looked at with suspicion by ‘company men.’ While the author suggests that the intrapreneur “puts the goals of that organization first,” so does an entrepreneur. He just looks outside the organization in order to make it better, and doesn’t allow the dictatorship of ‘good enough for government work’ to stifle his efforts. Rather, author Campbell vilifies the concept of entrepreneurship, writing, “failing as an entrepreneur in uniform can very well result in breaking a solemn promise between you and the American people.” Spoken like a future member of the board. For examples, he cites Lt Col Oliver North and PFC Bradley Manning. Laughable. He equates being a military entrepreneur with being a criminal. Too bad he didn’t suggest such examples as Gen Billy Mitchell.
I once had an O6 SF officer call me a used car salesman because he was threatened by my confidence, knowledge (as a mere O3, and an Air Force one at that) and ability to move in circles outside our organization to bring in new, enabling capabilities. What makes this completely outrageous is that this was in 04 and I worked in a future capabilities cell at a Theater Special Operations Command. If anyone should have been thinking outside the box, it was me. He was just very threatened by unconventional thinking. Then again, he was serving as a Chief of Staff and not a Group commander. I’d say the system had his number but that doesn’t mean that he couldn’t do damage outside of command.
Remember, bucking the system isn’t for everybody. You’ve got to decide if the juice is worth the squeeze. And, coming up with a new way to conduct arms room inventories doesn’t make you a disruptive thinker.
Please take the time to read the article I referenced. It is well worth your time and will give you insight into the future groupthink.
And…make sure you keep up with disruptivethinkers.blogspot.com.
GEN McChrystal on Design, Execution, and Leadership
Tuesday, May 8th, 2012When the Pope talks, we listen, and you should too. Here, Retired General Stanley McChrystal talks the American experience regarding design, execution, and leadership courtesy of Fast Company. This video was recorded at their recent Innovation Uncensored conference.
Pivothead Video Recording Eyewear
Sunday, May 6th, 2012Pivothead eyewear provides still and video recording. But there’s no fish eye distortion with this camera system. It features a 75 Degree Field Of View.
The lenses offer 100% UV A/B/C Blocking and ANSI Z80.3 Impact Resistance. There are multiple frame options including the Durango seen here.
HD video recording options include 1080p@30 frames per second / 720p@60fps / 720p@30fps with continuous auto focus. Pivothead also offers wind-resistant audio recording. The sensor incorporates a 8MP Sony CMOS Image Sensor for crisp still images as well as face tracking. Still recording options include time lapse burst stills with up to 16-shot rapid bursts shots per interval. Includes a 8GB internal memory capacity.
