Despite the fact that so many of them make it look easy, the daily lives of senior U.S. military leaders can be incredibly demanding. Laura Weimer examined how senior leaders manage their well-being (or, at times, struggle to do so) amidst these demanding careers, and she’s in the studio with host JP Clark to share her discoveries. Drawing from her research, Weimer highlighted the unique pressures of senior roles, including frequent relocations, intense scrutiny, and the weight of consequential decisions. She also discussed the inevitable challenges of mid-life, such as caring for aging parents and navigating evolving family dynamics, which compound work-related stress. Weimer’s key takeaway? Developing a strong sense of identity, meaning, and purpose is essential for fostering resilience and sustaining leadership effectiveness.
https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/podcasts/resilience-and-effectiveness
Links to resources referenced by Laura in the episode:
Joe Byerly, “Learning to Live a Halfway Interesting Life,” From the Green Notebook (March 19, 2025) https://fromthegreennotebook.com/2025/03/19/learning-to-live-a-halfway-interesting-life/
Briana Barker Caza, Lakshmi Ramarajan, Erin Reid, and Stephanie Creary. "How to Make Room in Your Work Life for the Rest of Your Self." Harvard Business Review (May 30, 2018), https://hbr.org/2018/05/how-to-make-room-in-your-work-life-for-the-rest-of-your-self
Cal Newport, “The Most Important Piece of Career Advice You Probably Never Heard,” Cal Newport, May 21, 2008, https://calnewport.com/the-most-important-piece-of-career-advice-you-probably-never-heard/
Nick Craig and Scott A. Snook. 2014. “From Purpose to Impact.” Harvard Business Review, May. https://hbr.org/2014/05/from-purpose-to-impact.
Arthur C. Brooks, From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life (Penguin, 2022).
Simon Sinek, "The Cure for Loneliness with U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy," A Bit of Optimism Podcast, 7 January 2025. https://open.spotify.com/episode/6wnHgVpkuX0i4CdCEHSFkg?si=c58cf2607d274eb7
This is restricted access (academic):
Herminia Ibarra, “Provisional Selves: Experimenting with Image and Identity in Professional Adaptation.” Administrative Science Quarterly 44 (4) (1999): 764–91. https://doi.org/10.2307/2667055.
https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/podcasts/resilience-and-effectiveness
Harding Project, a Chief of Staff of the Army initiative to revitalize professional military writing, shared details about the brand-new Harding Fellowship. This program is designed to equip Army leaders to shape professional discourse by enabling them to earn a graduate degree while editing their branch journal. The program is open to Captains, Master Sergeants, and CW4s from select branches.