Monday Security Memo

Intellectual Firepower for Professionals

The Einstein Mindset Shift

“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.”

- Albert Einstein

Dear A,

We all face moments that test us - the deal that falls through, the argument that cuts deep, the failure that stings. Our natural instinct in those moments is to ask, “How do I get out of this?” 

We look for an escape route. A quick fix. A way to make the discomfort stop. But Einstein’s wisdom points us toward a better question — one that transforms struggle into strength: “What is this teaching me?”

When we ask “How do I get out?”, we’re focused on survival. When we ask “What is this teaching me?”, we shift toward growth. That single change in perspective turns pain into purpose. It changes the narrative from victimhood to agency. Instead of being trapped in the problem, we start learning from it.

Think of the difference between reacting and reflecting. Reaction closes doors. Reflection op...

Dear A,

I've been in Washington DC all week conducting a CARVER course. It's been fun to reconnect with old friends in the city I lived in for 20 years.

BOOK I'M READING...

The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown. Ever since I read The Da Vinci Code years ago, I’ve devoured every Dan Brown novel that’s followed. While the film adaptations have been largely underwhelming, I’ve always enjoyed the Robert Langdon storyline — the mix of history, art, and mystery is unmatched. I’m genuinely excited to dive into this new installment in the series.

RESTAURANT I'M TRYING...

801 Chophouse in Tysons Corner. I had an outstanding meal this week — the lamb chops — while catching up with one of my closest friends at this classic steakhouse. From the moment you walk in, 801 Chophouse envelops you in the feel of a timeless, upscale dining experience with a modern edge. The rich dark-wood finishes, brass accents, and warm lighting create an atmosphere that’s both elegant and inviting.

Monday Security Memo

Intellectual Firepower for Professionals

Victims vs. Victors

“Winners don't complain... they're too busy getting better.”

- Nick Saban

Dear A,

Every week, we all face a choice.

We can walk into Monday as a victim — defeated before the game even starts — or we can step up as a victor, ready to own the day, no matter the obstacles.

The truth is, life doesn’t hand out participation trophies. You either take responsibility or make excuses. You either find a way or find a reason. Victims wait for circumstances to change; victors change their circumstances.

Below is a simple comparison — a mirror, really — between how victims and victors think, speak, and act.

Read it slowly. Then ask yourself: which column are you living in today?

Victim Mentality vs. Victor Mentality

• “That’s not my job.” vs. “How can I help?”
• Blames others for outcomes vs. takes ownership, even when it’s not their fault.
• Waits for motivation vs. creates momentum thro
...

Monday Security Memo

Intellectual Firepower for Professionals

The Birth of Nike's Vision

“The cowards never started and the weak died along the way. That leaves us.”

- Phil Knight

Dear A,

You want to see what vision looks like in real life? Look no further than Phil Knight, the co-founder of Nike.

In the 1960s, Knight was just a scrappy entrepreneur selling running shoes out of the trunk of his car. No investors. No marketing team. Just a belief that American athletes deserved better gear — and the relentless drive to make that happen. That’s what vision looks like before the world believes in it.

In those early days, Knight teamed up with his track coach, Bill Bowerman, who became Nike’s first innovator. One morning, Bowerman poured rubber into his wife’s waffle iron — and out came a sole that changed the game: lightweight, grippy, and perfect for runners chasing fractions of a second.

That single act of creativity became the DNA of Nike. But innovat...

Dear A, 

We're in the fourth quarter of the year.  Let's get after it!    

Here's what I'm following this week...

ADVICE I'M FOLLOWING...

From Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, the intellectual Roman emperor wrote that in the morning he would often remind himself that "the people I deal with today will be meddling, ungrateful, arrogant, dishonest, jealous, and surly." When you prepare yourself for potential interactions with people who engage in ugly behavior, you build resistance, as well as ensure you don't fall into the trap of responding in kind with ugliness. Basically, heed the advice of Ron Burgundy, "Stay classy."

STUDY I'M READING...

The Curious Connection Between Purpose and Lifespan. According to Science Direct, researchers tracked more than 13,000 adults aged 50 and above for eight years. They found that only 15 percent of people with the highest sense of purpose died during the study period, compared to 36 percent of those with the lowest sense of purpose...

Monday Security Memo

Intellectual Firepower for Professionals

Capability: Ted Williams and the Science of Hitting

“The greatest hitter in the world can fail two-thirds of the time and still be great.”

- Ted Williams

Dear A,

When discussing “Capability” in leadership, my father’s favorite baseball player, Ted Williams, provides a perfect example. Williams famously argued that hitting a baseball is the single hardest skill in all of sports - and he was probably right. Imagine the challenge: with a round bat, you must strike a round ball traveling 100 miles per hour, released from only sixty feet six inches away. On top of that, the pitcher can manipulate the ball with curves, sliders, knuckleballs, and even throw a high fastball at your head to keep you off balance.

Williams wasn’t just good at this nearly impossible task; he was extraordinary. In 1941, he accomplished what no Major Leaguer has done since - finishing a season with a .406 batting average, suc...

Dear A,

This month is almost over... the holidays will be here before you know it.

Here's what I'm following this week... 

AUDIOBOOK I'M LISTENING TO...

The Technological Republic: Hard Power, Soft Belief, and Future of the West by Alexander Karp and Nicholas Zamiska. From the co-founder of Palantir - named one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People of 2025 - and his deputy comes a critically acclaimed, sweeping indictment of the West’s culture of complacency. They argue that timid leadership, intellectual fragility, and Silicon Valley’s limited vision for technology’s potential have left the United States dangerously exposed in an era of escalating global threats. It's definitely more historical and academic than I would have guessed.

STUDY I'M READING...

How Writing Down Any Goals Helps You Achieve All Goals. Most people think goal-setting only matters if you’re writing about the exact thing you want to improve. But research shows it can boost every area of your life. I...

Monday Security Memo

Intellectual Firepower for Professionals

No Plan Survives First Contact

“Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.”

- Mike Tyson

Dear A,

In 1871, Prussian field marshal Helmuth von Moltke the Elder stated, "One cannot be at all sure that any operational plan will survive the first encounter with the main body of the enemy." Over time, that phrase has been simplified by the military into, "No plan survives contact with the enemy.” It’s one of those quotes that sticks because it’s so true - not just for war, but for business, sports, and life itself.

Without a doubt, plans are important. You wouldn’t start a business, coach a team, or train for a marathon without some kind of roadmap. But Moltke reminds us that the world is messy. The moment you “make contact”, whether that’s with competitors, opponents, or just life throwing you a curveball, your perfect plan is going to get tested.

And that’s where flexibility com...

Dear A,

It's football season and my Tampa Bay Bucs are 2-0, while the Michigan State Spartans are 3-0. Needless to say, I'm in an upbeat mood.

Here's what I'm following this week...

AUDIOBOOK I'M LISTENING TO...

Stay Sane in an Insane World: How to Control the Controllables and Thrive by Greg Harden. I’m really enjoying this audiobook. Every morning, I put it on while I run and during my commute, and it’s quickly become a highlight of my day.

Greg Harden rose to fame as the athletic advisor at the University of Michigan — best known for convincing a frustrated, bench-warming quarterback named Tom Brady not to transfer to USC, instead instilling him with the confidence to eventually become the starter.

But this book goes far beyond that one famous case study. Harden shares incredible stories of countless athletes he’s helped over the years, many of which are even more inspiring. At its core, the book is about “controlling the controllables” — learning to tune out outsid...

Monday Security Memo

Intellectual Firepower for Professionals

The Power of Sua Sponte

“In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.”

- Theodore Roosevelt

Dear A,

I was recently reading Admiral William McRaven’s book on leadership, The Wisdom of the Bullfrog.  In one chapter, he reflects on the Army Rangers’ motto, Sua Sponte - Latin for “Of Your Own Accord.”  It means doing what needs to be done without waiting for permission.

That idea immediately took me back to a remote CIA base in Iraq where I worked during the early days of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  On the wall of our compound hung a simple sign that read: “If not us, who?”

Over time, you begin to realize that this is the essence of leadership: stepping up when others look away, taking responsibility when it would be easier to say, “That’s not my job.”

Admiral McRaven shares a powerful s...