Coming out of high school, however, I wasn't a decorated recruit. As a result, I found myself one month from signing day with only two scholarship offers and they were from the Mid-American Conference.

Growing up in the Chicago suburbs, I was a college football junkie. My mom attended the University of Iowa and so I can remember I used to run around the backyard in a number 6, Tim Dwight Iowa jersey when I was very little.

I’m not a guy who wants to skydive and open my parachute at the last minute. I want to open my parachute right away and know what’s coming.

I constantly want to be learning, growing and better understanding things. And see where that takes us.

The first Iraq War was one of necessity because vital U.S. interests were at stake, and we reached the point where no other national-security instruments were likely to achieve the necessary goal, which was the reversal of Saddam Hussein's invasion and occupation of Kuwait.

I've tried lots of things. The reality is, I'm excited by everything on Day 1. And if by Day X things aren't working the way I hoped, I lose my passion. I have not seen the correlation between my passion and my success.

Enthusiasm is the inspiration of everything great. Without it no man is to be feared, and with it none despised.

On any high-performing team I've been a part of, putting mission first, and team before self, was always key to collective success.