General Schwarzkopf, also known as ‘Stormin Norman’ (for his famous temper), was a 4 Star General of the US Army famous for his role as CIC of US Central Command during the Persian Gulf War against Saddam Hussein 1990 – 91.

Gradutaing from West Point in 1956 he spent much of his military career in field commands, including the Vietnam war, and leading a decisive victory in Desert Storm.

It was Desert Shield and Desert Storm that catapulted him into the public consciousness as the charismatic yet no mess face of that campaign for the media.

We were fortunate enough to meet him when he came to Australia for the World Masters of Business, and to also have him sign some items. We actually have some of the rare Stormin Norman signed Kevlar Helmets for sale on this site.

A highly intelligent commander, he is also renowned for some great quotes on leadership and military matters. Here’s a few of them:

Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without the strategy.

The truth of the matter is that you always know the right thing to do. The hard part is doing it.

It doesn't take a hero to order men into battle. It takes a hero to be one of those men who goes into battle.

You learn far more from negative leadership than from positive leadership. Because you learn how not to do it. And, therefore, you learn how to do it.

True courage is being afraid, and going ahead and doing your job anyhow, that's what courage is.

Going to war without France is like going hunting without an accordion.

You can't help someone get up a hill without getting closer to the top yourself.

He is neither a strategist nor is he schooled in the operational arts, nor is he a tactician, nor is he a general. Other than that he's a great military man.