The Battles We Fight

A few weeks ago, as I sat in the nail salon while waiting for my wife to get her pedicure, I had an epiphany.

The people who owned the Nail Salon were in deep chatter in their native tongue.

As I tried to figure out which language they were speaking and looked around the shop for clues, I realized they were all Vietnamese; I immediately thought about the battles we’ve fought and are still fighting.

For me, it was a humbling experience, as I wore my military hat that stated I was a Gulf War Veteran.

Although I didn’t serve in Vietnam, my father did, and I came in just as the war was ending.

I often wonder what other nationalities think of Americans.

We have many foreigners who have prospered and broken the code to success.

However, in that moment of all the chatter that was going on back and forth subconsciously, I was thinking it had not been that long ago since the Vietnam War ended.

I know some are unaware of when the Vietnam War ended, which was on April 30, 1975.  I had already joined the military in June 1974.

I was able to hear some of the war stories as a new recruit and witness the things we don’t talk about today.

Vietnam War | Facts, Summary, Years, Timeline, Casualties, Combatants, & Facts | Britannica

However, I have come to realize that many are still reliving the Civil War that ended in 1865 with the surrender of the Confederate Army.

When and How Did The American Civil War End? | History Hit

Bing Videos

I’m somewhat reminded of the words Abraham Lincoln said to Ulysses S. Grant that are still happening today: “Politicians, not Generals, will set the terms of peace.

As we look at a nation that remains divided, “The battles we’ve fought” are still being fought.

Understanding it’s football season, we even have a Blue and Grey Bowl.

The Blue-Grey All-American Bowl took place at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Raymond James Stadium last year on January 27, 2025, and was broadcast on ESPN’s family of networks

This year, the Blue-Grey All-American Bowl is in Dallas, Texas, on December 21, 2026, at the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium (TX).

All-American Bowl Schedule – Blue-Grey Football High School All-American Football Games and Combines

Even at our youth level, today’s players are being prepped for the battles ahead as they prepare for scouts and college football.

Ironically, various schools will not teach anything about Critical Race Theory (CRT), yet the students are learning about it on the football fields.

Many understand the consequences of teaching CRT and remain focused on securing school funding, a measure introduced by the state legislature under the current administration.

Trump Signs Orders to Defund Schools Teaching CRT and Promote School Choice | NTD

In a few weeks, I plan to be in the presence of a Medal of Honor recipient.  Major James Capers Jr., as I prepare to attend my second Military Influencer Conference this year in Tampa, Florida.

James Capers Jr | Vietnam War | U.S. Marine Corps | Medal of Honor Recipient

I met Major Capers last year at the 2025 Military Influencer Conference, during the MIC-MIGHTY 25 Gala in Atlanta, Georgia.

So, when you think about “The battles we’ve fought,” just know they are continuous if we want them to be.

“Soldiers generally win battles; Generals get credit for them.” ~ Napoleon Bonaparte

“Part of the happiness of life consists not in fighting battles, but in avoiding them. A masterly retreat is in itself a victory.”  ~ Norman Vincent Peale

Today, I challenge you to reflect on the battles you’ve fought.  The question is, are you still fighting them?

Blog source: https://mckinleysthoughts.com/the-battles-we-fight/

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Are Teachers Teaching Your Children How to Fish?

Ever since the pandemic in 2020, I have had continuous thoughts about Are Teachers Teaching Your Children How to Fish?

My youngest grandson was affected during his senior year in High School, as I witnessed what was happening from High School to College.

Although he has graduated from college, I often wonder about how the education system is being challenged while the administration is dismantling various parts of it.

The Plan to Abolish the Education Department—One Year Later | NEA

Bills axing the Education Department introduced by GOP lawmakers

I have personally visited the Board of Education before the pandemic and am thinking very hard about seeing them again to get a better understanding.

One piece of advice that I received is to understand which schools are invested in getting their teachers National Board Certified.

I’m aware that there are “Five Core Propositions” that describe what teachers should know and be able to do.

Proposition 1: Teachers are committed to students and their learning.

Proposition 2: Teachers know the subjects they teach and how to teach those subjects to students.

Proposition 3: Teachers are responsible for managing and monitoring student learning.

Proposition 4: Teachers think systematically about their practice and learn from experience

Proposition 5: Teachers are members of learning communities

The National Board certification process is designed to collect standards-based evidence of accomplished practice. In all 25 certificate areas, candidates are required to complete four components.

COMPONENT 1: Content Knowledge.

COMPONENT 2: Differentiation in Instruction.

COMPONENT 3: Teaching Practice and Learning Environment.

COMPONENT 4: Effective and Reflective Practitioner.

Maybe it’s because I have a master’s in education with a concentration on Instructional Technology that all this bothers me when it comes to education.

I always get a kick out of watching kids work at the cash register when pennies were in use or when the machine was out of order.  Many of them could not add or subtract without pulling out their phones for assistance.

It is the dismantling of the education system that sends the message about what is being taught in our schools these days.

When I look at the credentials of various people running our country, one has to think why they were chosen for the job.

Suffice to say, in the end, what cost will all of us pay for how this country is being run, or those affected, for making poor decisions?

Do you remember the words of the three R’s in Education and Learning

The 3 R’s of Education: Reading, Writing &Arithmetic

The phrase 3 R’s of Education encompasses:

Reading: the ability to decode text, comprehend meaning and engage with ideas.

Writing: the ability to express thoughts, structure ideas and communicate effectively.

Arithmetic: the ability to understand numbers, operations and problem-solve in everyday life.

We need all 3 R’s today in our society, as reading is a daily habit for me.

When I think of how people communicate and what I went through with all the various research papers I wrote without the use of AI, it is unbelievable.

Finally, as I sit on various boards, being able to understand the finances and numbers and manage funds is so important.

It’s this foundation I believe we all see continues to be weakened with no voices being heard to protect it.

Interestingly enough, families will move into neighborhoods that support a great school system; however, are they engaged in what is being taught to their children as they pay the costs of living in that area?

In a recent article online from AL.com, “Many Alabama virtual school students lack basic math and reading skills, report cards show.”

https://www.al.com/news/2026/08/many-alabama-virtual-school-students-lack-basic-math-and-reading-skills-report-cards-show.html

That alone signals trouble to me.

It’s already bad enough that Alabama is ranked 43^rd in the public-school ranking by state for 2026 as we begin to start another school year this week.

https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/public-school-rankings-by-state

Therefore, the question is: Are teachers teaching your children how to fish or just helping them bait the hook?

Today, I challenge you to think about whether teachers are teaching your children how to fish or just helping bait the hook.

Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day.  Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime. Proverbs

Blog source: https://mckinleysthoughts.com/are-teachers-teaching-your-children-how-to-fish/

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Boost Communication, Build Influence, and Lead with Confidence through Curtis Leadership and Training

Think about the best leader you have ever worked with. They probably did not just tell people what to do. They listened. They made people feel included. They communicated clearly and stayed calm under pressure. When they walked into a room, people paid attention — not because of their title, but because of who they were. That kind of leadership is not something you are born with. It is something you build. And with the right training, anyone can develop it.

If you or your team want to communicate better, have more influence at work, and lead with real confidence, you do not need to figure it out alone. You need a proven program that teaches these skills in a clear, practical, and encouraging way. That is exactly what this training was built to do.

A Program Built on Real Experience and Proven Methods

Curtis Leadership and Training is a Maxwell-certified program designed to help individuals and organizations grow stronger leaders at every level. It is built and facilitated by a retired U.S. Army Command Sergeant Major who served for 30 years on active duty and spent over 14 years in federal civil service leadership. This is not a program written by someone who read about leadership. It was built by someone who lived it — in the field, in the boardroom, and everywhere in between.

The program brings together the world-class leadership principles of John Maxwell and applies them through hands-on sessions, open conversations, and real-life practice. Every module is designed to be practical and easy to apply. You will not just learn ideas — you will practice skills you can use the very next day at work.

Boost Communication: Say Less, Connect More

Most people think good communication means being a good talker. But the truth is, the best communicators are the ones who make other people feel understood. That is the difference between simply talking and truly connecting — and that difference changes everything at work.

In this program, you will learn the five factors that help people connect: the relationships you build, what you know and share, what you have accomplished, what you can do, and how you have lived your values. You will also learn how to adjust how you talk to different kinds of people, how to have tough conversations without making things worse, and how to handle workplace conflict in a healthy way. For any team struggling to communicate clearly, these skills are a game changer.

Build Influence: Lead Because People Choose to Follow You

Through Curtis Leadership and Training, you will discover something important: real influence has nothing to do with your job title. It comes from how you treat people, how consistently you show up, and whether others trust what you say and do. When you build that kind of influence, people do not just follow your instructions. They follow your lead.

The program walks you through five different ways people try to influence others — from force and intimidation to genuine, two-way trust. You will figure out where you currently land on that scale and learn how to grow into the kind of leader people are grateful to work with. When you increase your influence, your leadership grows. And when your leadership grows, so do the people around you.

Lead with Confidence: Know What to Do Even When Things Get Hard

Confident leaders are not the ones who have all the answers. They are the ones who know how to stay calm, keep thinking clearly, and keep moving forward — even when things get messy. That kind of confidence is a skill, and it can be learned.

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Handle Conflict. Build Teamwork. Grow Together.

Every team has conflict. That is normal. What matters is how your team handles it. Do people speak up or shut down? Do disagreements get resolved or swept aside? When conflict is handled well, it actually makes teams stronger. It builds honesty, respect, and better ideas.

This training gives your team tools to resolve conflict in healthy ways, build genuine trust with each other, and create the kind of environment where everyone feels like they belong and their voice matters. You will also explore how to tap into the full wisdom of your workforce — especially in diverse teams — and how to build collaboration that makes your whole organization better.

Twenty Modules. One Clear Goal: Better Leaders.

Curtis Leadership and Training covers 20 structured modules across five areas: Leadership and Management, Conflict Resolution, Performance Measurement, Team Building and Communication, and Productivity and Resiliency. Each module builds on the last, so by the end of the program, participants do not just have a set of new skills — they have a clearer, more grounded sense of who they are as a leader and how they want to show up for the people they serve.

Whether you are an individual looking to grow, a manager ready to lead better, or an organization that wants to build a stronger culture from the inside out, this program meets you where you are and helps you move forward with purpose.

Conclusion

The leaders your organization needs are already on your team. They just need the right training to bring out what is already inside them. Investing in people is never wasted. It is the most important thing a leader can do. And it starts with one simple decision to take the next step forward.

Take the next step today. Explore the full course catalogue at McKinley's Thoughts and discover how 20 Maxwell-certified leadership modules can transform the way your team communicates, collaborates, and leads. Visit mckinleysthoughts.com/courses/ to review the full curriculum and connect with us to schedule your organization's training today.

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