dispatches from the new world of work

Cool Friend: Robert Coram

When Tom first read Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War, he launched a campaign to send it to about a hundred friends and relatives as a gift. He'd been discoursing on Boyd's OODA Loop in presentations for years, and the book struck a chord with Tom. He devoted a special presentation entirely to wisdom from the book (download the PPT here). We are happy to add the author of Boyd, Robert Coram, to our roster of Cool Friends. Read the interview to learn more about Mr. Coram and about Colonel Boyd, his engrossing subject.

Cathy Mosca posted this on 02/08/06.

Comments

Great job on both the interview with Robert and the ppt slides. I truly believe that the concepts espoused by Boyd in Patterns of Conflict could change the performance of american corporations and eliminate the great fear of China. You hit the nail on the head recognizing Robert for elevating Boyd out of the depths of the unknown.

Posted by MP at February 8, 2006 1:23 PM

Thank you for the interview. John Boyd is one of those rare results-driven individuals you'd wish you have more of in your organization. Robert Coram did a superb job telling his story; very readable. Perhaps the best biography I have ever read.

If you're interested in applying Boyd's concepts to business, Dr. Chet Richards' "Certain to Win" book is a must.

sonshi

Posted by sonshi at February 8, 2006 6:28 PM

Robert Coram's wonderful account of Boyd's life highlights one of the great barriers to organizational progress: careerism.

In Boyd's terms, these are those who choose to 'Be' rather than 'Do'. Score another big point for the small company over the big. Whilst people at corporations are thinking 'What do I have to do to make VP?', at the startup, 'What do we need to do to be in business in six months?' is the imperative. This contrast in emphasis alone makes a world of difference to the focus of a company.

PS I'm not an American citizen, but we're all stakeholders in the corrupt US military-industrial-poltical complex. Men like Chuck Spinney (one of Boyd's 'acolytes') are still bearing the standard against the Pentagon's careerists. In the pre-9/11 world, their actions were a disgrace; now, they are criminal.

If like Gandhi, Boyd's life is his message, read Robert Coram's book and take its message to heart.

Posted by Phil at February 9, 2006 5:03 AM

Thank you so much for spreading the word about Coram's book. Boyd's conviction and determination to confront corruption is inspiring, and is a story that needs to be told.

As a fighter pilot, he was willing to put his life on the line in service to his country. Once he was out of the cockpit, he was willing to put his CAREER on the line in service to his country. That is the sort of selflessness military officers (like myself) need to exhibit.

For those of us who are not in combat billets, physical courage is generally not demanded of us on a regular basis. However, we have opportunities to demonstrate moral courage and intellectual courage on a daily basis. Boyd is a great example of both.

Posted by Dan Ward at February 9, 2006 8:24 AM

Sonshi, yes, Chet's book is great.

Posted by tom peters at February 9, 2006 9:46 AM