A Marine Officer’s commission starts with “reposing special trust and confidence in the patriotism, valor, fidelity, and abilities of.” That first quality made every commission I received very special because, as a kid, all of my heroes were American patriots. My Mom and Dad were WWII Veterans. Mom loved patriotic decor, so she decorated our house in red, white, and blue. Mom would pick up old books from the Library like “Lives of Poor Boys Who Became Famous.” My Dad ensured we had the American Flag in our front yard and that I properly executed colors. I was raised around Veterans of WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. I am named after Lt. John Maurice Thompson, who fought on Guadalcanal and served with my parents. It’s no wonder one of my unifying principles is patriotism, defined as the devoted love, support, and defense of one’s Country. In our family, service to Country was second only to the priesthood. You don’t have to serve in the military to be a patriot, but everyone who takes the oath conscientiously is a patriot. There are many patriots, but American Patriots and that is precisely my focus, are committed to the values of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. That is an apolitical statement. We can disagree on interpreting those values, but we stand for, support, and defend the values that have made our Republic the greatest and most powerful Country in history. That means you understand what those values are and what they mean. So, this week, if you consider patriotism or Country as a unifying principle or core value, take some time to read the Declaration and Constitution and ask yourself, “How do I serve our Republic?” Now, how do you put that into action? If you need help with your unifying principles or want to learn more about leadership, sign up for my newsletter or set up an appointment at the link below : https://connallyconsulting.com/contact Remember, “all things are possible through prayer and heavy deadlifts.”™
