Morning Minute – 7.25.25
Anticipating & Benefiting From the Unexpected!
(Using the power of critical thinking to achieve your goals and defeat your enemies)
When I think of great strategists who turned vision into reality, two names come to mind: General Douglas MacArthur and Elon Musk.
Different leaders. Different eras. Different missions. But both harnessed critical thinking to anticipate challenges, take bold action, and achieve remarkable success.
Let’s define critical thinking:
It’s the disciplined process of questioning, analyzing, interpreting, and evaluating situations to make sound judgments. It involves seeing events clearly, imagining alternate scenarios, and using unconventional methods to solve problems and shape outcomes.
General Douglas MacArthur displayed critical thinking in three distinct arenas:
• In World War II, he used the strategy of island hopping in the Pacific to outmaneuver Japanese forces. He calculated every potential move—his own and the enemy’s—preparing contingency plans for each. That process helped secure total victory after Pearl Harbor.
• In Korea, bold strategy and swift execution drove North Korean forces back across the 38th parallel.
• As military governor of postwar Japan, MacArthur took a radically different approach: instead of dismantling Japan’s identity, he preserved the emperor as a symbol of national stability. That single move helped transform a former enemy into one of America’s strongest allies.
Elon Musk, on the other hand, sees the future through a different lens.
• He launched Starlink, a satellite network that delivers internet access globally without towers or wires.
• Through TESLA, he didn’t just make electric vehicles—he reinvented how they’re designed, sold, and driven. Now he’s pioneering autonomous driving technology.
• He acquired Twitter (now X) to restore a platform for free speech,, a move criticized at first—but one that has since become profitable and globally influential.
• With SpaceX, he’s revitalizing America’s space ambitions—and setting the stage for a future colony on Mars.
Whether on a battlefield or in the boardroom, both leaders mastered the art of seeing beyond the obvious. They didn’t just ask, “What is it?”
They asked, “What could it be?”
Morning Minute Challenge:
Start with the future you want to create. Then work backward.
Use critical thinking to chart the steps from where you are to where you intend to be.
The more you anticipate, the more you can influence—and benefit from—the unexpected.
That’s today’s Morning Minute.
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https://www.youtube.com/@labonorato
Morning Minute – 7.22.25
“Do You Really Want a Promotion?”
What you must understand BEFORE you get the title!
Alberto and Justin worked at the same company. Both were solid performers. Both believed they had earned a promotion. But their outcomes were very different.
Promotions often arise when managers are reassigned, when teams expand, or when vacancies open up. Yet many assume their current success—or their length of employment—will automatically lead to advancement.
It doesn’t work that way.
Excelling in an individual role doesn’t mean someone is ready to lead a team. Leadership requires a different skillset: organizing, motivating, and developing others. Likewise, how long you’ve been in your job isn’t a reliable indicator of leadership potential.
Promotions are earned by those who actively prepare for the next level—not just those who wait their turn.
Alberto made his ambitions known. More importantly, he invested in himself—developing the leadership skills his future role demanded. So, when the opportunity came, he approached his manager confidently, sharing his preparation and readiness. He was promoted, And, he was wildly successful.
Justin had past success in the military and also expressed his desire to lead. He enrolled in company training and was promoted. However, he struggled with the responsibilities of leadership. His team underperformed, and ultimately, he lost the role—and he lost his job.
So, let me ask again: Do you really want a promotion?
Are you investing in the right skills to lead others? Are you prepared to succeed through others? And, are you aware that if you fail, your former role may no longer be available?
Morning Minute Challenge:
Write out your personal plan to acquire the leadership skills required for your promotion. (Send me a copy—I’ll be happy to provide feedback.) Then, share your plan and intentions with your supervisor, and ask for their guidance on next steps.
“Do You Really Want a Promotion?”
That’s today’s Morning Minute.
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https://www.youtube.com/@labonorato