John Maxwell says leadership can be summed up in one word—influence. It’s hard to argue with one of the most widely acclaimed leadership experts of our generation.

Recently, I was invited to address the senior leaders of the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC. The 82nd is the world’s most elite light infantry unit. They jump out of airplanes behind enemy lines, and their mission is to forcibly gain entry to enemy territories to secure key targets.