How Military Leadership Principles Influence My Business Decisions

Published Dec 6, 2025 By Kevin P. Lundquist

Leadership Beyond Personality

Leadership is one of the most misunderstood concepts in business. Many people imagine it as a personality trait—charisma, confidence, or the ability to persuade. My own definition came from a very different place: the U.S. Army.

Real leadership is not about personality. It’s about clarity, discipline, responsibility, and stewardship—principles that don’t change depending on the setting. Whether you’re leading soldiers or building a long-term holdings company, the fundamentals remain the same.

These are the military leadership principles that most directly shape the way I make decisions under Lundquist Capital LLC.

1. Discipline Creates Freedom

The Army taught me quickly that discipline is not about strictness for its own sake. It’s about eliminating variables that cause failure. Structure and consistency buy you freedom to operate safely and effectively.

In business, discipline gives you:

• clear boundaries,
• predictable outcomes,
• healthier risk tolerance,
• better decision-making.

At Lundquist Capital LLC, discipline means we don’t chase hype. We don’t bet on unknowns. We don’t make emotional decisions. We take deliberate, well-reasoned steps that support our long-term goals.

2. Clarity Prevents Chaos

In a military environment, confusion is not an inconvenience—it’s a hazard. Clarity is protection. It keeps teams aligned and ensures no critical detail gets lost.

That mindset directly informs how I approach business:

• We define expectations before a project begins.
• We document processes so nothing depends on memory alone.
• We avoid ambiguity in both goals and responsibilities.

One of the biggest causes of business failure is simply a lack of clarity. At Lundquist Capital LLC, clarity is a non-negotiable asset.

3. Systems Beat Talent Every Time

The Army doesn’t rely on extraordinary people—it relies on extraordinary systems. Systems keep the organization functioning even when individuals rotate out, get reassigned, or face challenges.

In business, systems:

• reduce error,
• increase consistency,
• accelerate training,
• make success repeatable,
• preserve institutional knowledge.

This is why the holdings-company structure matters so deeply to me. It is a system—a durable architecture for every venture we create.

Good systems outperform good intentions. Every time.

4. Accountability Builds Trust

Military leadership is rooted in accountability. You’re responsible for your actions, your decisions, your team, and your mission—whether the outcome is good or bad.

That principle shaped how I lead Lundquist Capital LLC:

• We own our decisions.
• We measure outcomes honestly.
• We correct mistakes quickly.
• We protect the people who depend on us.

Accountability is not about blame. It’s about being someone others can rely on. Long-term ventures cannot survive without trust—and trust cannot exist without accountability.

5. Prepare for Uncertainty Before It Arrives

In the Army, readiness isn’t a plan—it’s a mindset. You prepare for conditions that may never come because preparation itself is a form of protection.

That translates directly into business:

• We assess risks before committing to new ventures.
• We maintain financial and operational buffers.
• We design projects to be resilient, not fragile.

You cannot predict every challenge, but you can prepare for most of them. Preparedness is one of the biggest advantages military experience gives a founder.

6. Leaders Eat Last

One of the most meaningful leadership traditions I learned is simple: leaders take care of others before themselves.

This approach shapes how I make decisions as a founder:

• My family’s long-term well-being comes first.
• Our ventures are built responsibly, not recklessly.
• I prioritize sustainable growth over short-term wins.
• I never ask others to do something I would not do myself.

“Leaders eat last” is more than a phrase—it is a philosophy of stewardship.

7. Mission First. People Always.

In the Army, we were taught to balance mission objectives with the welfare of the people carrying them out. The mission matters—but so do the people executing it.

This principle guides how I lead Lundquist Capital LLC:

• The mission—long-term family stewardship—stays at the center.
• But every decision considers the people it impacts.

It’s a balanced approach that works anywhere leadership matters.

How These Principles Shape Lundquist Capital LLC

Every venture under Lundquist Capital LLC is built on these foundational values:

• Discipline
• Clarity
• Systems-first thinking
• Accountability
• Preparedness
• Responsible stewardship

These are the same principles that guided me through military service and continue to guide the choices I make as a business owner, husband, and father.

I founded this company to create something intentional—something that reflects who I am, where I’ve been, and what I believe we can build over the long term.

Looking Forward

Military leadership is not about authority—it’s about responsibility. It’s about setting standards, supporting your people, and leaving things stronger than you found them.

Those principles are at the heart of Lundquist Capital LLC.

And they’re the reason I believe in what we’re building.

– Kevin P. Lundquist
Founder & Owner, Lundquist Capital LLC