Latest from the Man Cave

Leadership – Part 10 of 10!

Finally - the 10th principal! What has been the delay, you ask? Well, I have finally completed the Army Operations Course at the Canadian Army Command and Staff College. I was on the year long Primary Reserve version of the course, during which candidates with full...

Leadership – Part 9 of 10

Link back to part 8 here with links to parts 1 to 7 at the top. 9 - Train your soldiers as a team and employ them up to their capabilities. Any organization works better if they function as a team. Training as a team will lead to working as a team. Team work amplifies...

Leadership – Part 8 of 10

Two posts in 1 day! Here's part 7, and part 6 here with links to parts 1 through 5 at the top. 8 - Make sound and timely decisions. Today we are talking about NOT doing the above.. People know if you are being rushed and guessing. If things feel reckless and not...

Leadership – Part 7 of 10

Back again with part 7. Part 6 here with links to parts 1 through 5 at the top. 7 - Develop the leadership potential of your followers. This - sorta, but not this... Since you can't be everywhere all the time, you can't always rely on your personal influence to ensure...

Leadership – Part 6 of 10

Here is another installment of the 10 part series on leadership, highlighting the 10 principles of leadership as instructed in the Canadian Armed Forces in the 1980s and 90s. Here are links to the first 5 parts: part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5. 6 - Know your...

Leadership – Part 5 of 10

Moving on with part 5 today. (don't miss part 1, part 2, part 3, or part 4). 5 - Make sure your followers know your meaning and intent, then lead them to the accomplishment of the mission What can happen if intent is misunderstood, and you don't stick around to see...

Leadership – Part 4 of 10

Time for my favorite! (don't miss part 1, part 2, and part 3). 4 - Lead by example Ralph Waldo Emerson - one of my faves (from: http://www.movemequotes.com/lead-by-example-quotes/) This IS my favorite, and probably the most important of the ten. You can not do...

Leadership – Part 3 of 10

In our third installment, we continue exploring the principles of leadership developed by the Canadian Armed Forces and taught in the 1980s and 90s. You can find part 1 here, and part two here. Today we will talk about the third principle: 3 - Seek out and accept...

Leadership – Part 2 of 10

Welcome back! Last week I discussed the achievement of professional competence, the first principle of leadership as I learned them in the late 80's, early 90's. Today's topic is the second principle: 2 - Appreciate your own strengths and limitations and pursue...

Leadership – Part 1 of 10

Leadership is a concept, skill, practice, and idea that I ponder often. I first received formal leadership training as an air cadet at the age of 12 or 13. 30 years later, 11 years of that as a full time Army Officer, I have learned many many lessons about this acrane...

The “Why”

Welcome to the home of Braxton Consulting (a.k.a. Andrew Gower).

Before we get on with blog posts, philosophical ramblings, and reviews/reports on equipment I am looking at, let’s talk about me and why the hell I am doing this site anyways.

I get things stuck in my head that need to come out. I also do some gear reviews and testing on the side. This page provides me the platform to say what I am thinking, and pass on things I learn about life. Originally focussed on gear reviews and advenetures, the path I have been following has diverged somewhat, so now you will hear about many topics – all shared with passion.

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