The Memo

The Memo reveals how to succeed in business using the covert WWII strategy that ultimately led to the Allied victory.

Much is known about how the atomic bomb helped the United States achieve final victory in World War II. However, little is known about a weapon that was, perhaps, even more powerful—a memo. Classified as “Restricted” by the U.S. War Department, “The Memo” contained a management doctrine under the subject of “Completed Staff Work." This memo turned military command structure on its head and focused on the power of staff instead of their commanders. Simply put, instead of relying on senior leaders to think up solutions and then order staff officers to implement them, , aides would be charged with presenting fully developed solutions, which command could approve. 

Now declassified, The Memo holds valuable lessons that will help anyone advance in his or her career.  The Memo emphasizes leadership and followership, and shows aspiring employees how to advance by employing the power of teamwork to make their leaders successful.

John “Jack” Wesley Yoest is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Management at The Catholic University of America where he teaches graduate and undergraduate business students. Jack is a senior business mentor in high-technology, medicine, and non-profit and new media consulting. His international expertise is in management training and development, operations, sales, and marketing.

Jack is a columnist for Small Business Trends and The Stream and has been published by Scripps-Howard, National Review, The Business Monthly, and other outlets. 

Yoest has served in government as Assistant Secretary for Health and Human Resources in the Commonwealth of Virginia. He was COO of a $5-billion budget and acted as the CTO for the Secretary of Health and Human Resources where he was responsible for the successful Y2K conversion for the 16,000-employee unit.

Yoest is a former Captain in the US Army. He earned an MBA from George Mason University and completed graduate work in the International Operations Management Program at Oxford University. He has been active on a number of boards and has run several marathons.

Yoest and his wife Charmaine live in the Washington, D.C., area with their five children.