First published 2013
What separates good leaders from great ones? Decorated Marine Corps veteran Donovan Campbell argues that character forms the foundation of all effective leadership. Campbell identifies six essential virtues: humility, excellence, kindness, discipline, courage, and wisdom. He draws from his military training and combat experience to show how these traits work in practice. The book centers on the military servant-leader model, where leaders prioritize their mission first, their team second, and themselves last. Campbell supports his framework with examples from Marine Corps training, historical figures, Scripture, and American business leaders. He takes readers from corporate boardrooms to the grueling twelve-week Infantry Officer Course that prepares Marines for combat leadership. Campbell contends that America faces a crisis of trust in leadership, but the military's commitment to character offers a proven model. The book provides practical guidance for developing these six virtues in any context, whether at home or work. Campbell's central message is simple: being a leader means being worthy of being followed.
Genres: leadership, self-help, non-fiction, military-history
Vibes: inspirational, practical, thought-provoking
Tropes: practical-application, real-world-examples
Setting: America, Marine Corps
Period: 21st Century
256 pages · Hardcover · Random House