The Referral Edge

Happy 250th Birthday to the United States Marine Corps! Each year when I offer this birthday wish, I do so with deep sincerity because many of the greatest people I’ve known and the most loyal friends I’ve ever had have been Marines. Over time, I’ve asked myself: Why do I find so many of my most meaningful friendships among Marines? What is it about them that resonates so strongly? As I reflect, I’ve come to see that the answer holds powerful lessons not just about patriotism

In the Army, no mission ends without an After Action Review (AAR), a disciplined debrief designed to extract every lesson from every operation. The process is brutally honest, laser-focused, and always revolves around four core questions: What was the mission? What actually happened? Why did it happen? What will we sustain or improve for next time? No fluff. No ego. No excuses. It’s not about assigning blame rather about building better performance through reflection. Now ima