#355: Leadership and Public Service With Gov. Eric Greitens

Nov 9, 2017

Eric Greitens, a former Navy SEAL and governor of Missouri, dives into the profound impact of resilience on leadership and public service. He shares his journey from military duty to community activism, stressing the importance of engaging in civic life. Greitens reflects on the transformative role of service, inspired by experiences during the Ferguson unrest. He discusses balancing a demanding career with fatherhood and how biographies can shape values. With a focus on courage and character, he encourages listeners to actively contribute to their communities.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Books

Transcript

Episode notes

ADVICE

Create Your Vocation by Serving

To find your vocation, start by acting and serving others instead of searching aimlessly.
Challenge yourself through community involvement and meaningful service projects to discover purpose.

ANECDOTE

Ferguson Sparked Political Run

Eric Greitens went to Ferguson during the 2014 unrest to witness the lack of leadership firsthand.
He saw the need for strong command presence and community service, which motivated him to consider public office.

ANECDOTE

Cleaning Cemetery After Vandalism

As governor, Greitens led a massive community cleanup of a vandalized historic Jewish cemetery.
Thousands joined in service, showing leadership through action and unity across diverse groups.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

Napoleon

A Life

Andrew Roberts

Andrew Roberts’s 'Napoleon: A Life' is the first one-volume biography to fully utilize Napoleon’s 33,000 recently published letters, offering a radical transformation in our understanding of his character and motivation. The book portrays Napoleon as a protean multitasker, decisive, and surprisingly willing to forgive his enemies and his wife Josephine. Roberts, an award-winning historian, traveled to fifty-three of Napoleon’s sixty battle sites and discovered crucial new documents in archives, including a trip to St. Helena. The biography is praised for its magisterial, insightful, and beautifully written narrative, providing a deep and nuanced look at Napoleon’s life, successes, and failures.

Alexander the Great

The Brief Life and Towering Exploits of History's Greatest Conqueror--As Told By His Original Biographers

Plutarch

Quintus Curtius Rufus

Arrian

Michael Wood

This book presents a comprehensive biography of Alexander the Great, drawing from the works of three ancient biographers: Arrian, Plutarch, and Quintus Curtius Rufus. Edited by Tania Gergel, the narrative spans Alexander's life from his princely boyhood to his death, covering his conquests and the expansion of his empire from Greece to India. The introduction by Michael Wood highlights Alexander's enduring legacy and provides context for the historical accounts.

Resilience

The Science of Mastering Life's Greatest Challenges

Steven Southwick

Jonathan M. DePierro

Dennis S. Charney

This book, written by three experts in trauma and resilience, answers key questions about adapting to life's most challenging situations, building personal resilience, and the science behind resilience. It combines cutting-edge scientific research with personal experiences of individuals who have survived traumatic events, including the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors describe ten key resilience factors such as facing fear, optimism, and relying on role models, providing practical tips and inspiring stories to help readers adapt and grow from stressful life events.