Listen now | Is greatness a choice? If so, why doesn't everyone choose greatness? And more broadly, what are the prerequisites for a great society? This week, I'm joined by Ethan Penner, author of the new book "Greatness is a Choice" and one of the most influential figures in modern real estate. In his early 30s, Ethan pioneered the creation of commercial mortgage-backed securities and almost singlehandedly built a new market at a critical moment in history. We discuss his journey from the streets of Yonkers to the heights of Wall Street and what he learned from industry greats like Sam Zell.
When greatness is a product of ego and self-aggrandizement it is a bug, not a feature.
The model for greatness in the last century in America is a man whose memory is slowly being erased -- to our detriment. I would bet that not half of the readers of your substack even know who he was.
George Catlett Marshall (VMI 1902) was a 5-star general who won the Nobel Peace Prize. He was a hard man who identified the talent necessary to prevail in WWII when he was the Ass't Commandant of the Infantry School (1927 - 32) when men like Eisenhower, Bradley, Patton were all majors.
He was unparalleled as a talent spotter and developer. He was the man Winston Churchill called "the architect of victory" in WWII for his ability to fashion a working coalition between the Brits and the Americans.
He went on to be Sec State, Envoy to China, Sec Defense, architect of the Marshall Plan that saved western Europe post WWII, and President of the American Red Cross.
A modest man, he was sitting in his garden at his home Dodona Manor in the upper reaches of the Shenandoah Valley when approached by Newsweek to write his memoirs and receive a $1,000,000 advance.
He responded, "I did not enter public service to aggrandize my purse."
What man in America today can hold that man's horse when it comes to selfless leadership in big things, the quality of his ability to spot talent, and the ability to get huge things done? I dare you, name a man with that vision, skill, and results. Who?
Marshall's creation of a 16MM US military in 3 1/2 years -- standing up 100 divisions, building the greatest Navy in the world, creating the manufacturing infrastructure to make the US the Arsenal of Democracy -- is the greatest startup in US history. His genius allowed the US to fight and win two major wars simultaneously.
So, yeah, that greatness is what we need today. God bless us all.
Have you considered writing/recording a podcast on the need for a Religious Revival? I feel like the West is in desperate need of one, and a lot of intellectuals are starting to realize the benefits of religion and some of them even converted.
Whose notion of greatness are we discussing?
When greatness is a product of ego and self-aggrandizement it is a bug, not a feature.
The model for greatness in the last century in America is a man whose memory is slowly being erased -- to our detriment. I would bet that not half of the readers of your substack even know who he was.
George Catlett Marshall (VMI 1902) was a 5-star general who won the Nobel Peace Prize. He was a hard man who identified the talent necessary to prevail in WWII when he was the Ass't Commandant of the Infantry School (1927 - 32) when men like Eisenhower, Bradley, Patton were all majors.
He was unparalleled as a talent spotter and developer. He was the man Winston Churchill called "the architect of victory" in WWII for his ability to fashion a working coalition between the Brits and the Americans.
He went on to be Sec State, Envoy to China, Sec Defense, architect of the Marshall Plan that saved western Europe post WWII, and President of the American Red Cross.
A modest man, he was sitting in his garden at his home Dodona Manor in the upper reaches of the Shenandoah Valley when approached by Newsweek to write his memoirs and receive a $1,000,000 advance.
He responded, "I did not enter public service to aggrandize my purse."
What man in America today can hold that man's horse when it comes to selfless leadership in big things, the quality of his ability to spot talent, and the ability to get huge things done? I dare you, name a man with that vision, skill, and results. Who?
Marshall's creation of a 16MM US military in 3 1/2 years -- standing up 100 divisions, building the greatest Navy in the world, creating the manufacturing infrastructure to make the US the Arsenal of Democracy -- is the greatest startup in US history. His genius allowed the US to fight and win two major wars simultaneously.
So, yeah, that greatness is what we need today. God bless us all.
JLM
www.themusingsofthebigredcar.com
Really enjoyed this one. I share a similar early background as Mr. Penner. If I could do it, anyone can.
Have you considered writing/recording a podcast on the need for a Religious Revival? I feel like the West is in desperate need of one, and a lot of intellectuals are starting to realize the benefits of religion and some of them even converted.