This Guy’s Nickname Was “Crazy Horse” 😳
A military operator discusses how working under a leader nicknamed 'Crazy Horse' after joining a special operations unit in September 2001 fundamentally changed his understanding of leadership. The conversation takes place against the backdrop of 9/11, which occurred just as he completed selection.
Summary
The speaker reflects on a pivotal leadership experience early in their military career with a commander they refer to as 'Crazy Horse.' This leader exemplified effective leadership through hard work, leading by example, being comfortable asking questions, and delegating tasks to people with superior skills in specific areas. The speaker explains that these qualities earned their deep respect and fundamentally shaped their own approach to leadership. The timing of this experience is particularly significant, as the speaker had just completed the selection process for what appears to be a special operations unit in September 2001. The conversation touches on the immediate aftermath of 9/11, with the speaker recalling their initial confusion about the first plane hitting the World Trade Center, initially assuming it was an air traffic control error. When the second plane hit, the gravity of the situation became clear, and their entire class was brought into a briefing room, marking the beginning of what would likely be a transformative period in their military service.
Key Insights
- The speaker identifies a leader nicknamed 'Crazy Horse' as one of the best leaders he ever worked for due to his hard work ethic and leading by example
- The speaker emphasizes that effective leaders aren't afraid to ask questions, challenging the stereotype of leaders needing to have all the answers
- The speaker learned that good leaders delegate to people who are better at certain tasks, showing humility and strategic thinking
- The speaker completed a military selection process called 'green team' in September 2001, just before 9/11
- When the first plane hit the World Trade Center, the speaker's initial reaction was that air traffic control had made an error, showing the initial disbelief about the attack
Topics
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