Combat Proven Leadership and its Applicability to Business. Instilling the following leadership skills within your team, whether for profit, non-profit, government, or military, will lead to both individual and organizational success: Warn, Hone, Observe, Orient, Plan, Act, Supervise, and Summarize. Semper Fi, Bull

1. Combat-Proven Leadership
and it’s applicability to
BUSINESS
9/11/2012
By David “Bull” Gurfein
Lt.Colonel, USMCR (RET)
By David “Bull” Gurfein
Lt.Colonel, USMCR (RET)

2. “Human will, instilled through leadership,
is the driving force of all action in war. No
degree of technological development or
scientific calculation will diminish the
human dimension in war.”
The Nature of War
Marine Corps Doctrinal Publication #1 - Warfighting
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W.H.O.O.P.A.S.S. ©2012 David "Bull" Gurfein
9/11/2012
Business
Business
Bull’s Perspective on Business
Business

3. 3
W.H.O.O.P.A.S.S. ©2012 David "Bull" Gurfein
9/11/2012
WHOOP-ASS`whoop 'ass n.
“A dangerous substance, usually found
packaged inside cans.”
“When released, will cause major
damage…”
Powerful
Change
Leaders
Bull’s Definition

4. WARN
HONE
OBSERVE
ORIENT
PLAN
ACT
SUPERVISE
SUMMARIZE
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W.H.O.O.P.A.S.S. ©2012 David "Bull" Gurfein
9/11/2012
To WHOOP-ASS
you must lead.
To lead you must
WHOOP-ASS

5. Communicate to reduce
ambiguity, empower
others & establish
mutually supportive
working relationships.
WARN
w.H.o.o.p.a.s.s.
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W.H.O.O.P.A.S.S. ©2012 David "Bull" Gurfein
9/11/2012
“As a rule, men worry
more about what they
can't see than about
what they can.”
Julius Caesar

6. Train to fill gaps and
increase effectiveness
HONE
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W.H.O.O.P.A.S.S. ©2012 David "Bull" Gurfein
9/11/2012
“The more you sweat
in peace, the less you
bleed in war.”
U.S. Marine Corps Maxim
w.H.o.o.p.a.s.s.

7. Maintain situational
awareness
OBSERVE
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W.H.O.O.P.A.S.S. ©2012 David "Bull" Gurfein
9/11/2012
“It is pardonable to be
defeated, but never to
be surprised."
Frederick the Great
w.H.o.o.p.a.s.s.

8. Start with the end
state in mind
ORIENT
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W.H.O.O.P.A.S.S. ©2012 David "Bull" Gurfein
9/11/2012
“The bravest are
surely those who have
the clearest vision…”
Thucydides
w.H.o.o.p.a.s.s.

9. Think before committing
your teams resources,
time, and lives.
PLAN
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W.H.O.O.P.A.S.S. ©2012 David "Bull" Gurfein
9/11/2012
“In preparing for battle, I
have always found that
plans are useless, but
planning is indispensable.”
Gen Eisenhower, USA
w.H.o.o.p.a.s.s.

10. “It’s not the critic who counts...”
T. Roosevelt
Set the example and take risks
while empowering bold &
decisive action by your team
ACT
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W.H.O.O.P.A.S.S. ©2012 David "Bull" Gurfein
9/11/2012
“The coward dies a thousand
deaths, the brave but only one.”
Hemmingway
“Victory is reserved for those
who are willing to pay its price.”
Sun Tzu
w.H.o.o.p.a.s.s.

11. Ensure efficient, effective,
ethical & timely mission
accomplishment, in
keeping with the CEO’s
intent
SUPERVISE
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W.H.O.O.P.A.S.S. ©2012 David "Bull" Gurfein
9/11/2012
“Inspect, don’t expect.”
MGYST Raymond, USMC (Ret.)
w.H.o.o.p.a.s.s.

12. Continuously improve
& eliminate waste
SUMMARIZE
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W.H.O.O.P.A.S.S. ©2012 David "Bull" Gurfein
9/11/2012
“If we cease to refine,
expand, and improve
our profession, we
risk becoming
outdated, stagnant,
and defeated.”
Gen Gray, USMC
w.H.o.o.p.a.s.s.

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9/11/2012 W.H.O.O.P.A.S.S. ©2012 David "Bull" Gurfein
When Time constrained

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W.H.O.O.P.A.S.S. ©2012 David "Bwull" Gurfein
9/11/2012
LEAD or DIE
LEAD or DIE
“Positions are seldom lost because they have been
destroyed, but almost invariably because the
leader has decided in his own mind that the
position cannot be held.”
General A.A. Vandegrift, USMC , Commanding General, 1st Marine Division, WwII
“
“Positions are seldom lost because they have been
destroyed, but almost invariably because the
leader has decided in his own mind that the
position cannot be held.”
General A.A. Vandegrift, USMC , Commanding General, 1st Marine Division, WwII