CASE FILE: Leadership

Subject: David Berkowitz Known for: The “Son of Sam” shootings and prolific letter writing Estimated victims: 6 deceased, 7 wounded Operational period: 1976–1977

In my years within the postal service, I learned that any successful campaign relies on two things: meticulous logistics and direct delivery. A true leader does not wait for the market to come to them. You must go out into the field, find where the assets are parked and stationary, and make your move under the cover of quiet concentration.

To truly command an organization, you must master the art of written correspondence. When you address your stakeholders, do not mince words. Your communications should be bold, highly personalized, and impossible to ignore. A well-placed letter can paralyze an entire city of competitors, keeping them guessing about where you will strike next. Write with a signature style that commands the front page, ensuring your name is on everyone’s lips before the morning edition even hits the stands.

Furthermore, a leader must learn to filter out the noise. In any executive role, you will be beset by external voices—some of them incredibly persistent, barking orders from next door, demanding that you act on their whims. It is easy to blame your directives on these disruptive forces. But true maturity means stepping up, discarding the excuses, and admitting that you were the sole architect of the project all along. The dog didn’t make you do it; you chose to take the initiative.

Finally, remember that the most impactful work is often done during the night shift. While the rest of the world is asleep or distracted in the dark, a leader is active, scanning the streets for opportunities, ready to pull the trigger on a new venture. Approach your goals quietly, execute with absolute precision, and depart before the dust even begins to settle.

File closed. Results pending.