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On Marshall

Nobel peace price winner most known as state secretary and the Marshall plan, George C. Marshall, was one of the pillars on which the US military might founds on today

As army chief of staff, Marshall was responsible for who to fire and who to keep. When he stepped into the office on the day Germany attacked Poland, The US army was old dated, and their military tactics were as well.

The US was a third rate military power. Less than 200k men and a handful of tanks and bombers.

On his reign, it grew to be a force of 9 million and to be the world's most powerful army. His contributions to the war effort were so significant in his peers' eyes that President Franklin Roosevelt said that "I could not sleep at night with you out of Washington"

How did he do it?

Before the US got involved in the second world war, he was to retire hundreds of senior leadership. They did not fit the Marshall profile. In essence, it is a handful of character traits.

1. Good common sense
2. Professionally educated
3. Physically strong
4. Cheerful and optimistic
5. Energetic
6. Extreme loyalty
7. Determined

Marshall did not care if his subordinate was a bit eccentric; he just needed to fit the profile. The focus was on that the general was a team player, leaving their ego behind. He earned respect for his subordinates even though his hiring and firing methods were seemingly harsh.

Marshall gave you a chance if you fit the profile. Then you had a relatively short period to show if you are capable. Successful commanders were promoted, and the not so successful ones were relieved. Fortunately, getting fired was not the end of your career, but rather a temporary setback where you could step back into similar or even higher positions later on.


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