Reviewed By Dan Adamen Filling in for Rolf Crocker

The Book Report - February, 2011

God swept his hand over the earth this month and chose to tap Rolf Crocker's father on the shoulder and ask the senior Crocker to follow Him home. We will leave Rolf and his family time to grieve and heal from their loss, and send our heartfelt condolences to Rolf, his brother and all their people. With Rolf temporarily unable to fulfill his duty as book reviewer, I will look to fill Rolf's great shoes for this month's Book Report.
 
Julie was off to Nevada in 2009 to speak to CAI and IFMA chapters.  She had the opportunity to meet informally with Kent Miller, VP Sales & Development for the Groundskeeper. Kent is our long time friend, great thinker, a man of many complicated levels and best of all a man full of mischief. Looking for a dinner and to spend some time off the floor to cool hot desert feet, Julie and Kent hit one of the areas fine dining establishments. The conversations circled jobs, companies, management, skills, general gossip and old friends. To Julie's surprise,  Kent offered up a book from one of his long time friends, and a "must read": General Patton's Principles for Life & Leadership ©1979, 1988, 2009 by Porter B. Williamson, published by Management & Systems Consultants, Inc. This was a fresh print paperback that Kent had bought from Porter and saved for Julie. Kent was introduced to Porter in the Tucson area, became friends and due to a fortuitous set of circumstance spent many a time enjoying the medicinal effects of good scotch while listening to detailed stories about General Patton. We are sorry to report that God has since asked Porter Williamson at the age of 94, to join Him as well.

The book, miraculously without food stains, traveled back to Poulsbo, tucked in Julie's attaché case, and then found its way to my bed stand destined for evening reading

Porter was first introduced to General Patton in South Carolina on a chilly November afternoon 1941 and it was his destiny to become attached to General Patton serving as his G-4 until the opportunity to fly came Porter's way in November 1942. At that time, Patton commanded Porter to "Remember what we look like when you fly over us. Drop your bombs on the enemy; not on us." Porter was trained as an attorney, military officer, an aviator and later became a university instructor.

When most people think of General Patton, they think of George C. Scott playing the iconic leader in the 1970 movie Patton. The movie is great in itself and if, when in the act of channel chipping, I find it playing  I look for an excuse to sit down, eat popcorn  and watch Mr. Scott tear up the screen. However, the real Patton was much more than a war hero; he was a master administrator, who understood people and how to motivate them, which brings me to the value of this book to anyone in management.

General Patton was able grasp the magnitude of the task at hand (the 2nd World War). He was able to successfully  train  men and subsequently take those men, their equipment, logistics trains and proceed to engage a fierce, determined enemy on any front. This unfaltering leadership elevated Patton to become the German army's fiercest nemesis: The most feared US general of World War II and one could argue the most successful general of our time.

Association management pales in comparison to the task of leading people through the perilous dangers of war. We are just trying to get a job done;  however, our similar task is getting others motivated to undertake their tasks in a timely and workmanlike manner.  Just because we assign, ask, or order someone to do something doesn't mean the task will be completed.  Yet, Patton was able to inspire and move his men to accomplish what many thought was the impossible. How did he do it? I think the answers are well laid out in Porter's book.

It is through Porter Williamson's remembrances, correspondence and research that the story of Patton's leadership philosophy is told.  This work is grouped into well-organized stories describing Patton's lessons in leadership, management, fitness, courage, decision-making, success and finally life and death in a manner that keeps you reading until the books final cover is turned flat. The stories are intriguing in how a leader of men confronts obstacles, losses and successes.  The overarching message is "the men come first."   They are the ones getting the task done. They need the material, equipment and supplies. It is the leader's job to get his people what they need to do the job. (With incredible irony, God passed his hand over the earth and asked George Patton to follow Him home a few short days before Christmas, December 21, 1945 at age 60. His death was the result of a car accident, not an enemy's mortar).      

When looking at chapter titles, you catch the drift of Patton's management philosophy, i.e., We can always learn from each other. Not something you would expect from General Patton? How about these titles: Always do everything you ask of the men you command, Every leader must have authority to match his responsibility, and one of my favorites: Know what you know - and know what you don't know. In business we must make that distinction daily. General Patton's strong opinion about facts and the quest for truth apply to almost everything we do today.

Another great title:  Never fear failure. General Patton: "No matter what you do, people will be shooting at you. Even your friends will shoot at you. It is true you have to protect yourself from your friends more than you do from your enemies."  Just as true today as it was 65 years ago.

The people of the 1940's and the people of today are in essence the same; with hopes, fears, loves, successes and failures. As an educated and trained student of management I suggest that what principles we should be employ today have been tested before. Yes, our culture is different today, but not that different.  There is no need to reinvent the wheel; however, there is need to study those who have led successfully before and apply their time-proven ethics and principles. See for yourself if Porter Williamson recounting of General Patton's Principles for Life and Leadership can add strength to your management skills.  I think of Patton's lessons often because of the simple truths in his messages. His is truly sage advice for everyday management.

Four Stars both for the book and General Patton.
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