Gallantry.
There are battles to be fought every day, and while they might not draw blood, they can take a chunk out of your hide. One of the greatest concepts, gallantry, extends beyond the battlefield. Wherever the arena, there are moments in every life that present the opportunity to be gallant -- courageous, courtly and always with a sense of the big picture -- while holding onto one's convictions. Ultimately, gallantry outlives us because it changes the world, one gesture at a time.
The Signal. John William Goddard. 1899. Oil on panel. Getty.
When it comes to culture, don't pretend to be something you're not
Alice Zhou and Christopher Hannegan: The reality is that an innovative culture simply isn’t right for many organizations and industries. Case in point: a high-safety environment like a nuclear power plant, where even minor failures are completely unacceptable. Similarly, open and transparent decision-making may be impossible for organizations in highly regulated sectors or those that work with sensitive or classified information. And autonomous working may be undesirable in industries that require strict operational discipline, such as air traffic control or healthcare. These tensions do not mean that companies in highly regulated industries cannot be great places to work. Their leaders just need to be honest about what kind of culture they can create—and build a superior employee experience within the parameters of those strategic choices.
Air master
Bob Gibbons: After Bremen, with his own plane a scrap heap, Blakely was promoted to squadron commander, often flying as co-pilot in the lead plane and providing tactical guidance. He also served as Group Training Officer at Thorpe Abbotts airbase, where he hated being a disciplinarian. He completed his tour of 25 missions, receiving 11 medals, including the Silver Star for “gallantry in action” and the Distinguished Flying Cross for “heroism or extraordinary achievement during aerial flight.”
Travis Milton nominated as James Beard Award semifinalist
Colleen Curran: It took almost 10 years but, in 2022, he opened Hickory, a farm-to-table, high-end Appalachian food restaurant at the Inn at Nicewonder Farm & Vineyards in Bristol. He is nominated for his work at the Inn at Nicewonder Farm & Vineyards, which draws on his Appalachian cooking and turns it into fine dining.
Rachmaninoff's last living piano student
Cathy Free: For the next two summers, she was Rachmaninoff’s student, and she enjoyed tea and Russian cakes served by his niece after her lessons, Slenczynska said. Her famous teacher gave her a Fabergé egg necklace, which she still wears in his honor. Slenczynska said Rachmaninoff taught her to think about how music related to the composer, and the importance of adding history and emotion to each piece.