Marine Maxims: Turning Leadership Principles into Practice (Scarlet & Gold Professional Library)

I had the pleasure of working directly for Col. Gordon, and I am a better person because of that. This book captures the wisdom he routinely imparted to the Marines he served with. If you want to be a Marine, a leader, or simply a better person, read this book.

This book was great. Life skills and lessons. Great for anyone managing or working with people not just those in the military. Available on audible!

-Disclosure- Col Gordon was my bunkmate and Officer Candidate School and in my platoon at the Basic School, so of course I was going to buy the book!On the Tim Ferris podcast, Tim often asks which book a guest has most often gifted. This is going to become mine. Tom's spent a lifetime studying and applying leadership lessons from great leaders like Joe Dunford, Robert Neller, James Mattis, and Robert Gates' as well as great thought leaders. I'd have bought the book just for the bibliography, but Tom's done a great job of demonstrating what values can be learned and how he applied them in his leadership.He's quick to credit those he's learned from and even quicker to share regrets and mistakes. In doing so he's anthologized a collection of what he's glad he knew, what he wishes he'd known earlier, and what he developed along the way. This is not an academic study nor a philosophy book by someone whose merely thought about leadership. This is from a battle-proven leader who took his team into war and brought them back home.I'd read this book three times. As an entry level manager or newly commissioned officer, it will help you frame your role as a leader, close some critical blind spots, and make you aware of the essential behaviors you need to be successful. As a mid-level manager such as a GM in business or a company commander in the armed forces, it will help you make the transition from leading people to leading leaders. Finally, as an executive or field grade officer, it will be a great review of what got you there and how to set the direction and tone for your organization.If you're looking for an easy 30 minute read that will promise to capture everything you need to lead in one small story, pass on this and search Ken Blanchard. It's an easy read, but a will take a career of commitment and execution to live up to the standards Col. Gordon sets and the leaders he has learned from embodied.Ductus Exemplo and Semper Fidelis.

I admire the author and what he teaches about the virtues of principle-based leadership along with the lessons that support those principles!I give this books out with a small inscription to aspiring young people in search of greater knowledge on being better leaders…

Thomas Gordon's "Marine Maxims" enumerates his numerous leadership maxims assembled over (and honed by) a 30 year career in the Marine Corps. The use of "Marine" in the title or Gordon's background, however, shouldn't relegate this book to budding leaders in the Marine Corps or military officers - it's applicable to everyone.Gordon organized the book so that each chapter is about a maxim, and each chapter features three distinct parts: broad discussion of the topic; a summary of the chapter; and related, recommended readings. This allows the book to be something that you can read in its entirety, but also consult in a maxim-by-maxim way (e.g., to resolve a specific leadership problem). Throughout the book, Gordon offers actionable advice to his readers; for instance, developing a daily leadership routine like: learn something, teach something, find someone doing a good job and thank them, and ask someone how you can help. I think so highly of this book that I keep a flagged/notated version at my office desk, a signed version in my home, and have already purchased several for colleagues and friends.

Colonel Gordon shares some of the most poignant leadership principles learned over his illustrious career and, more importantly, explains how to put those principles into practice. This book should be an arm's reach away on every leader's bookshelf.

In Marine Maxims, Tom Gordon offers succinct, current, and actionable advice which should be sought by civilian leaders aiming for excellence in leadership. This work strikes a balance throughout the text by encouraging emulation of great leaders in history or in one's own organization. By forging leadership lessons through the crucible of observing the success and growth of the led, the symbiosis and repetition of the same are proved through real-life examples. Gordon successfully argues the case that "born" leaders are rare in history. Leadership must be sought, studied, practiced and refined at the same constant rate as human respiration. A favorite quote from the book, "The true measure of a leader's success can best be found in the success of their successors."Niall J Gannon, authorTailored Wealth Management: Exploring the Cause and Effect of Financial Success (Palgrave-MacMillan, 2019)Investing Strategies for the High Net Worth Investor (McGraw-Hill, 2010)

If you are interested in becoming a better leader and a better person, this is a great place to start.Col Gordon, USMC (RET.) deftly weaves narratives from a lifetime of learning and real-world applications to create a clear and concise leadership foundation for the newly minted second lieutenant and provides insights to grow both professionally and personally for the seasoned CEO.A culmination of a life’s passion to pull on every leadership thread to see where it goes, Marine Maxims will help every leader accomplish their ultimate goal – to make the successive generations of leaders wiser and more willing to accept humility so they can truly lead.Don’t let the title fool you. Marine Maxims is not a book just for Marines but rather a collection of the best methods to tailor leadership principles to improve yourself and your organization.An excellent addition to any reading list!