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The Environment Leaders Create
Helm & Horizon is a yearlong leadership guide organized as a progression from self-leadership to team leadership, strategic thinking, and legacy, treating leadership as a daily practice. Why was this an important book for you to write?
Throughout my career, I spent countless hours reading some of the greatest leadership books out there and listening to leadership podcasts and audiobooks while running along the California coastline. I filled notebooks with ideas from military leaders, historians, philosophers, psychologists, coaches, and business executives. Every author offered another piece of the puzzle. Over time, I noticed the principles were remarkably consistent. The source didn’t matter. Marcus Aurelius, Admiral Chester Nimitz, John Maxwell, Admiral Arleigh Burke, Sun Tzu, Simon Sinek, to Brené Brown- they all pointed toward the same timeless truths about leadership.
I wanted to bring those ideas together in one place and make them practical. So instead of writing another leadership framework, my goal was to create a guide that distilled the best ideas into something people could apply every single day. The examples come from U.S. naval case studies because that’s the world I know best, but the principles are universal. Trust, humility, accountability, resilience, communication, and service aren’t military concepts. They’re human ones. My hope is that a teacher, business owner, healthcare professional, coach, parent, or military leader can all open the same page and find something meaningful.
The book emphasizes that leadership is a daily habit rather than something earned with rank or position. When did that philosophy first become important to you?
I don’t think there was one defining moment, but I will say that one experience shaped my leadership philosophy more than any other.
During my first tour as a surface warfare officer, my ship went through six commanding officers in less than three years. Some departures were routine, while others followed highly publicized incidents. Every transition brought a different leadership style, different priorities, and a different command climate. As a junior officer, I watched firsthand how dramatically one leader could influence the morale, trust, and effectiveness of an entire crew.
Then I transferred to my next ship, and the contrast couldn’t have been greater. We had a commanding officer who deliberately pushed decision-making down to the lowest levels and encouraged initiative instead of demanding compliance. People weren’t afraid to speak up, solve problems, or take responsibility because they knew they were trusted to do so. The culture was fundamentally different, and so were the results.
Experiencing those two commands back-to-back completely changed how I viewed leadership. I realized that leadership is reflected in the environment leaders create and the way they bring out the best in the people around them. Every conversation, every decision, and every action either strengthens trust or weakens it. That comparison stayed with me throughout the rest of my career, and it became one of the central ideas behind Helm & Horizon. Leadership isn’t a rank, title, or position. It’s a mindset. It’s the accumulation of hundreds of ordinary decisions that shape a culture, influence people, and ultimately define the legacy we leave behind.
Writing 366 entries is an enormous undertaking. How did you keep each day’s lesson fresh while maintaining a consistent voice throughout the book?
There were definitely days when I wondered if I’d ever reach Day 366. Fortunately, I wasn’t starting with a blank sheet of paper. For several years I’d been reading, highlighting, taking notes, and collecting ideas from leadership books that changed the way I thought about leading people.
The challenge was deciding what deserved to be included. Every principle had to earn its place. I kept asking myself two questions. Is this timeless? Can someone put this into practice tomorrow? The consistent voice came from looking at every lesson through the same lens. Every entry had to help someone become a better leader today. That’s why each day follows the same format. A leadership principle. A practical application. Two actions to put into practice. One final thought to carry forward.
In the military, we have a term called BLUF, which stands for Bottom Line Up Front. That’s what I wanted Helm & Horizon to be. A collection of concise, accessible leadership principles that deliver value quickly, especially when your time to read is limited.
Although the book is written for Sailors, many of the principles seem applicable beyond the military. What do you think civilian leaders can take away from Helm & Horizon?
One of the most rewarding parts of publishing Helm & Horizon has been discovering who is reading it. Although I wrote it through the lens of a Navy Sailor, I never intended it to be just a military leadership book. Leadership is ultimately about people, and people face many of the same challenges no matter where they work. That’s been reinforced by the feedback I’ve received.
Physicians have shared that they’re giving the book to every new medical resident joining their program. Financial executives have told me they’re using it to develop leadership within their organizations. I’ve used it myself to lead discussions with an eighth-grade classroom, where the conversations quickly moved beyond the Navy and into character, teamwork, and personal responsibility. Today, those same principles form the basis of a professional leadership course I’m developing with the University of Michigan, with Helm & Horizon as its primary resource.
Experiences like those have been incredibly rewarding because they confirm something I believed from the beginning. The stories may come from ships, deployments, and naval history, but the lessons don’t belong to the military. A school principal may never command a destroyer, and a physician may never stand watch on the bridge, but both are responsible for earning trust, developing teams, making difficult decisions, and creating a culture where people can succeed.
If Helm & Horizon helps readers recognize that leadership isn’t defined by a title or profession, but by the choices they make every day and the impact they have on others, then I’ve accomplished exactly what I set out to do.
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Every day is an opportunity to lead. Helm & Horizon: Daily Leadership Principles for the Motivated Sailor is a 365-day leadership guide built for serious professionals committed to continuous growth. Designed for leaders balancing demanding schedules, each concise daily entry delivers practical wisdom drawn from proven leadership works, naval history, and real-world operational experience.
Recognized as the official partner publication of DODReads, a leading platform dedicated to military leadership, professional reading, and lifelong learning, Helm & Horizon stands alongside works trusted by service members, veterans, and defense professionals seeking disciplined leadership development.
This comprehensive year-long guide draws from over fifty of the most influential leadership books ever written. It integrates insights from best-selling authors such as Jocko Willink (Extreme Ownership), Stephen Covey (The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People), Ryan Holiday (The Obstacle Is the Way), L. David Marquet (Turn the Ship Around!), and Sun Tzu (The Art of War), alongside naval case studies featuring leaders like Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Admiral Hyman G. Rickover, and Medal of Honor recipient Chief Boatswain’s Mate James E. Williams. From Viktor Frankl’s reflections on meaning under hardship (Man’s Search for Meaning) to Angela Duckworth’s research on perseverance (Grit), the book connects timeless principles to the demands of leadership under pressure.
Each of the 365 daily entries teaches a focused leadership principle with immediately applicable insight.
You will learn how to:
• Take ownership and build a culture of accountability
• Make disciplined decisions in high-pressure environments
• Communicate with clarity and moral authority
• Inspire sustained performance through standards and example
• Lead ethically when stakes are high
• Develop cohesive teams capable of operating independently
Read one page a day. Reflect. Apply. Repeat. Over time, you will build the habits, judgment, and professional character required of leaders entrusted with real responsibility.
Whether at sea, in business, or within your community, Helm & Horizon provides a structured framework for daily leadership development.
The leadership journey starts with you.
Lead with Purpose. Take the Helm. Keep Your Eyes on the Horizon.
Helm & Horizon: Leadership Principles for the Motivated Sailor
Helm & Horizon: Daily Leadership Principles for the Motivated Sailor by Steven-Paul Lapid is a yearlong leadership guide built around 366 short daily readings. Each entry draws a principle from an established leadership, history, psychology, business, or military book, then translates it into the language and routines of naval service. The consistent format includes a core principle, a story or operational example, two practical actions under “Take the Helm,” and a closing reflection called “Eyes on the Horizon.” Organized as a progression from self-leadership to team leadership, strategic thinking, and legacy, the book treats leadership as a daily practice rather than an achievement tied to rank.
Lapid’s strongest contribution is his ability to connect broad leadership ideas to situations a Sailor can picture immediately. Concepts such as accountability, humility, emotional intelligence, decentralized command, and moral courage are placed aboard ships, inside watch teams, and amid maintenance, training, personnel problems, and emergencies. Naval history gives the lessons additional weight, with examples ranging from Chester Nimitz and James Stockdale to the crews of the USS Fitzgerald, USS Forrestal, and USS Thresher. Because the readings are brief and concrete, they could work well before quarters, during a Sailor 360 discussion, or as prompts for a division’s professional development.
The book’s steady structure is also central to the experience. Its repetition reinforces the argument that character is formed through habits, though readers moving straight through all 366 entries may notice familiar themes and historical figures returning often. That rhythm makes more sense when the book is used as intended, one reading at a time, with room to reflect and apply the lesson. Lapid writes with conviction and a clear affection for naval service, and his recurring nautical language gives the collection a unified voice. The result feels less like a conventional book to finish and more like a leadership companion to keep nearby, mark up, discuss, and revisit.
This book will be most appreciated by active-duty Sailors, especially junior officers, chiefs, petty officers, and emerging leaders who want practical material they can use with their teams. Veterans, military families, ROTC and academy students, and civilian managers who enjoy service-based leadership lessons should also find value in it. Readers looking for an intensive academic study of leadership will probably use it differently, but anyone who benefits from brief daily prompts, memorable examples, and clear actions will find plenty to carry into the next watch. It’s particularly well suited to leaders who believe professional growth happens through small, repeated choices and who want a structured way to turn that belief into practice.
Pages: 770 | ASIN : B0GHZL6H9N
Dog Tags and Ghost Roads
Dog Tags and Ghost Roads is a poetry collection about military service as both a calling and a haunting, moving from enlistment and duty into combat, homecoming, healing, and legacy. D.C. “Buddy” Lee writes from a place of deep reverence for veterans, families, faith, brotherhood, and the invisible weight that follows people long after the uniform comes off. The book begins with the solemnity of “The Oath” and “For God and Country,” then widens into the dust, salt, fear, and fellowship of service before settling into some of its most affecting terrain: the kitchen-table quiet of coming home, the startled body that still hears war in a slammed door, and the slow mercy of therapy, love, and ordinary mornings.
What moved me most was the book’s emotional honesty about what service costs. Lee doesn’t treat sacrifice as a clean, polished word. He lets it drag sand into the house. In “The Echoes of Service,” honor becomes heavy enough to make breathing hurt, and in “Where Shadows Wait,” home is warm but not simple, because safety feels like a language the veteran has forgotten. Those moments stayed with me because they feel intimate rather than ceremonial. I believed the wife’s hand on the shoulder, the daughter’s laughter in the kitchen, the veteran sitting on the edge of the bed watching the dark. The best pieces in the collection understand that war doesn’t always announce itself with gunfire. Sometimes it lives in a hallway, a cup of coffee, a flinch.
The writing has a strong, thunderous pulse, full of flags, storms, steel, salt, sacred vows, and ghosts. At times, that grand register gives the poems real force, especially in the sea poems like “Underway,” “Run Silent, Run Deep,” and “A Life in Salt and Wind,” where Lee’s Navy background brings texture and authority. I loved those sensory touches: brine, deck, whistle, harbor, anchor, tide. The collection uses repeated images of fire, bone, flame, honor, and eternal watchfulness. When Lee lets the poem breathe in a specific room with a specific person, the book becomes richer and more piercing.
I felt that Dog Tags and Ghost Roads is interested in bearing witness, and there’s something earnest and worthy in that. Its ideas are rooted in respect, resilience, faith, service, and the conviction that healing is not weakness but another form of courage. This is a heartfelt, reverent book with its strongest power in the places where public honor meets private pain, and I’d recommend it especially to veterans, military families, caregivers, and readers who want poetry that speaks openly about duty, trauma, love, and the long road home.
Pages: 92 | ASIN : B0DST3795Y
Helping Kids Understand
Why I Must Go offers parents a gentle way to talk about a family member’s military service and the reasons behind their time spent away from home. When did you realize there was a need for a book like this for young children?
My husband deployed twice in two years when my children were very young. My daughter started asking why her daddy had to leave for work when other daddies came home. I didn’t have a good enough answer that explained the magnitude of service and courage of military members. There was one defining moment on the day my husband deployed for the second time. We were at a friend’s house, and their dad got home from work. The kids all started yelling Daddy! and running to meet him at the door. My eldest got caught up in the moment and joined in, only for her face to fall when she realized her daddy wasn’t going to be home for a long time. I saw that there was a need for a way to explain to children that loved ones leave for the military because of love for them. They love their kids and family so much, they deploy to protect them.
How do you ensure the tone stays comforting without minimizing the reality of separation?
The reality of separation is very much present in the book, but I tried to pair different examples of the separation with reasons behind it. I focused on the freedoms and the safety that the children can enjoy because of the service of members in the military.
The story emphasizes routines and small moments of joy. Why was that important to include?
Life doesn’t and shouldn’t stop when family members deploy. It is so easy to fall into the trap of “Wait until Daddy gets home.” I wanted to show that fun and exciting things can still happen even though their loved ones may not be there to experience it with them.
What is one thing you hope families take away from Why I Must Go?
I want families, and especially children, to be proud of their loved ones for their service. To see the positive in their absence.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
Being separated from a loved one for a long period of time is especially hard. But why is it that loved ones who serve in the military have to leave for so long? Why is it they have to miss important life events?
Why I Must Go explains to children that their loved ones leave because they love them very much, and that they serve their country to protect and ensure their freedom. It is hard, but they are not forgotten.
This book helps children understand that they are a service member’s motivation and encouragement for what they do.
Book pictures and storyline are applicable to all services and inclusive of all ranks.
Why I Must Go
Why I Must Go, by Jennifer Nielsen Thill, is a gentle, reassuring children’s book about one of the hardest experiences a young child can face: a family member leaving for military service. Told in rhyme, the story centers on the bond between parent and child. It explains the reason for that separation with warmth, clarity, and a tone young readers can understand.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is its use of rhyme to communicate a complicated emotional reality. The writing shows how children and families keep moving through daily life, finding joy in small moments and comfort in familiar routines. At the same time, it quietly underscores that these ordinary freedoms are safeguarded by the sacrifices of those in service. That balance gives the story unusual weight. The rhythmic language softens the subject without diminishing it, making the message feel steady and comforting rather than overwhelming.
The parent’s voice is especially effective throughout. Again and again, the narrative returns to love, devotion, and purpose. That choice shapes the emotional core of the book. Instead of allowing the sadness of separation to dominate, the story frames the parent’s absence through pride, protection, and deep care for the child. The result is tender and affirming.
Ilma Salman’s illustrations also play an essential role in the book’s emotional impact. Soft, expressive, and inviting, they work hand in hand with the text to create a sense of comfort. The artwork is simple in style, yet emotionally rich. Younger children can easily connect with the images and gain a small, approachable understanding of what this kind of work may look like for their family. The visuals also emphasize the everyday moments of childhood, reinforcing the idea that a child remains loved, supported, and cared for even when a parent is away.
Why I Must Go is a thoughtful and supportive book that will be especially meaningful for children in military or service families. It is well-suited to younger readers who respond to emotional storytelling and gentle reassurance. For families searching for a calm, positive way to talk about separation, this book is likely to feel both helpful and deeply comforting.
Pages: 34 | ASIN : B0CNN15ZLB
My Dad, My Hero
My Dad, My Hero, by Kacey Hoysted, is a short, rhyming picture book about a kid whose father serves in the army. The child talks about Dad’s “cams and combat boots,” the obstacle courses, the late nights, the gear, and the long stretches apart, then circles back to how much fun they have together and how he is their hero who helps keep them safe. The last pages invite children to write a letter to their own hero parent and add a picture, and there is a heartfelt note from the author, plus a closing “Lest We Forget” spread filled with poppies and a glowing sky.
I really liked how simple the writing is. The rhymes feel natural and light, and they roll off the tongue when I read them out loud. There is no heavy explanation of war or danger, just small kid-sized details like painted faces, staying awake until sunrise, and missing Dad when he goes. It lets the big emotions sit in the gaps between the lines. The repetition of “my dad” and “my hero” gives the book a steady rhythm, like a heartbeat in the background, and it makes the story feel like a little poem a child might actually come up with.
The book treats military life as something real and tough, but also full of love and pride. I felt a tug in my chest when the art switches to silhouettes in the poppy field and again in that final “Lest We Forget” page, because it nods to sacrifice without spelling it out. The activities at the end are a sweet touch. They turn the book into a keepsake, not just a quick bedtime read. Kids can claim their own hero, whether that parent is deployed, training, or working odd hours, and that feels both comforting and empowering.
I would recommend My Dad, My Hero to military families and especially to kids who have a parent in the army or any service role that takes them away from home. Hoysted’s book is idea for classroom discussions about remembrance days or service and sacrifice because it offers a very soft, age-appropriate narrative. It is short, warm, and easy to share, and it opens the door to big conversations without feeling scary.
Pages: 26 | ASIN : B0GKD3542T
Challenges and Triumphs
What Are We Going to Do Tyrone Jr.? follows the parents of an adult autistic son who faces challenges from the neighbors with his behavior. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Life was really my inspiration. My wife’s and mine personal journey along with the experiences of other parents of autistic children served as the primary inspiration for this story. Because I’m a part of this community, I’ve become aware of the challenges and triumphs that other parents of autistic children have experienced. There are a lot of challenges, but, fortunately, there can also be a lot of wins.
This novel was a perfect way for me to share an interesting story and to educate readers on the difficulties that families may experience while raising a loved one who has special needs. Most importantly, I was inspired by the need to highlight the uncertainty that families often experience when their special loved one becomes an adult.
What were some of the emotional and moral guidelines you followed when developing your characters?
My primary guideline was to ensure that my characters were interesting, relatable, and believable. I really want the reader to emotionally connect with my authentic characters and have a good understanding of why the characters in my story act a certain way. In order to make this possible, I deliberately shared the main characters’ personal dreams and goals. It’s important that readers understand the parents’ goals in the story, and how having a special-needs child may possibly impact them. By sharing these insights, I feel as if I developed believable, relatable, and likable characters.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
In addition to addressing the central theme of raising a special-needs adult child, family and friendship are critical themes in the story. Family and friendship create powerful emotions that many people can relate to based on experiences in their lives – good or bad. In my first novel, The Other Side of Friendship, I primarily focused on the challenges of making and keeping new friends as an adult. What Are We Going to Do with Tyrone Jr.? also captures the themes of friendship throughout the story. One of my goals was to show how the main character, Tyrone, matured in the area of friendship. As for the family theme, this story is a reminder that even the most close-knit families can experience internal personal conflicts. The goal should be to stick together as a family and work through obstacles.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
For my next novel, I’m still brainstorming ideas. I’m actually torn between writing a more light-hearted and adventurous story or a reflective novel about a character who is struggling to obtain personal goals. Both stories may include some of the characters from my current book and will contain chapters that are inspired by my military career. After spending 30 years in the Army, it’s hard for me to not include military references in a story. Brainstorming the different ideas for my next book is exciting. Regardless of the type of story I write, there will surely be a central theme to inspire or educate the reader. The expected release date is late 2025. I look forward to sharing more about my next story with you.
Author Links: Goodreads | Facebook | Website | Amazon
The devoted parents eagerly seek the right support for their child even when the odds simply feel as if they are too much to overcome. Between a military deployment for Tyrone, police involvement with their son, and unforeseen events, Tyrone and Krystal are determined to take steps in order to answer the question, “What are we going to do with Tyrone Jr.?”
What Are We Going to Do With Tyrone Jr.?
David Grant’s What Are We Going to Do with Tyrone Jr.? is a poignant and stirring narrative that dives deep into the complexities of raising a child with autism while navigating the relentless challenges of societal judgment and personal sacrifice. The story revolves around Tyrone Washington, a father struggling to provide the best life for his son, Tyrone Jr., who is on the autism spectrum. Through a series of trials, including courtroom battles, misunderstandings, and heartfelt moments, Grant masterfully paints a picture of resilience, love, and unwavering dedication.
One of the most compelling aspects of this book is its authenticity. Grant’s depiction of the everyday struggles faced by Tyrone and his family feels incredibly real and relatable. In Chapter 1, we see the frantic search for Tyrone Jr. in a mall, which sets the tone for the many anxieties and fears that follow. This scene not only hooks the reader but also establishes the raw emotion that permeates the entire narrative. The author’s ability to convey such genuine emotions is commendable and adds a layer of depth to the characters that make them memorable. Another standout element is the narrative’s exploration of societal issues. The book does not shy away from depicting the prejudices and systemic challenges faced by families dealing with autism. Grant’s background as a military officer also brings an interesting perspective to these issues, adding a unique dimension to the story. The dialogues are strong and natural, and the reflective moments offer a deeper insight into Tyrone’s internal struggles and add to the story’s emotional weight.
What Are We Going to Do with Tyrone Jr.? is a heartfelt and impactful read that will resonate with anyone who has faced adversity while caring for a loved one. It’s a powerful reminder of the strength of family and the importance of compassion in our interactions with others. I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy emotionally charged stories with strong character development and those interested in understanding more about the challenges faced by families dealing with autism. David Grant has crafted a narrative that is both enlightening and moving, making it a valuable addition to contemporary fiction.
Pages: 257 | ASIN : B0CZ4D33NY
