People get work done, not buildings, not staffs in a generic sense, and not plans, but people

Have fun in your command. Don't always run at a breakneck pace. Take leave when you've earned it, spend time with your families.

You need to learn what people have done, but you need to learn where they have failed... Usually when they fail it is in the execution.

You can't get it all done yourself. The best leaders are not afraid of picking people who are better than they are and who may one day replace them.

Maybe we don't put our young people in situations often enough where they're allowed to fail. When you fail you gain experience, and with enough experience, you don't fail as often.

Leaders have followers. The primary role of a leader is to convey to those followers a sense of purpose, vision, and mission.

Some of the generals are saying, 'We're making progress. We are clearing an area.' But you really don't defeat the Taliban by clearing an area. They move.