Table Of ContentFinding Your Granite
Security, Audit and Leadership Series
Series Editor: Dan Swanson, Dan Swanson and Associates, Ltd.,
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
The Security, Audit and Leadership Series publishes leading-edge books on critical subjects
facing security and audit executives as well as business leaders. Key topics addressed include
Leadership, Cybersecurity, Security Leadership, Privacy, Strategic Risk Management, Auditing IT,
Audit Management and Leadership
The Security Hippie
Barak Engel
Finding Your Granite: My Four Cornerstones of Personal Leadership
Douglas P. Pflug
Strong Security Governance through Integration and Automation: A Practical Guide to
Building an Integrated GRC Framework for Your Organization
Priti Sikdar
Say What!? Communicate with Tact and Impact: What to say to get results at any point in an audit
Ann M. Butera
Auditing Information and Cyber Security Governance: A Controls-Based Approach
Robert E. Davis
The Security Leader’s Communication Playbook: Bridging the Gap between Security and the
Business
Jeffrey W. Brown
Modern Management and Leadership: Best Practice Essentials with CISO/CSO Applications
Mark Tarallo
Rising from the Mailroom to the Boardroom: Unique Insights for Governance, Risk,
Compliance and Audit Leaders
Bruce Turner
Operational Auditing: Principles and Techniques for a Changing World (Second Edition)
Hernan Murdock
CyRM℠: Mastering the Management of Cybersecurity
David X Martin
The Complete Guide for CISA Examination Preparation
Richard E. Cascarino
Blockchain for Cybersecurity and Privacy: Architectures, Challenges, and Applications
Yassine Maleh, Mohammad Shojafar, Mamoun Alazab, Imed Romdhani
The Cybersecurity Body of Knowledge: The ACM/IEEE/AIS/IFIP Recommendations for a
Complete Curriculum in Cybersecurity
Daniel Shoemaker, Anne Kohnke, Ken Sigler
For more information about this series, please visit: https://www.routledge.com/
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Finding Your Granite
My Four Cornerstones of
Personal Leadership
Douglas P. Pflug
First edition published 2022
by CRC Press
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and by CRC Press
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Library of Congress Cataloging‑in‑Publication Data
[Insert LoC Data here when available]
ISBN: 978-1-032-03410-2 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-032-03411-9 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-003-18718-9 (ebk)
DOI: 10.1201/9781003187189
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Contents
Endorsements vii
Introduction xi
Pflug Family Coat of Arms xv
Author’s Note xv
Preface xix
Author’s Challenge xxi
Author’s Challenge xxii
Foreword xxiii
Who Was I? 1
1 “That Little Sucker Wouldn’t Die” 3
Author’s Challenge 6
2 The Early Years: Digging Deep and Building a Foundation for
Potential Success 7
Author’s Challenge 19
3 Ram Tumkur and My Crash into the Abyss: Welcome to the Planet,
Doug 21
Author’s Challenge 26
4 The University of Guelph “Gryphon” Football and Wrestling 27
Author’s Challenge 40
5 Answering the Call to Serve and Protect 41
Author’s Challenge 52
6 When Darkness Creeps In, Try to Focus on Any Light You Can Find 53
Author’s Challenge 67
7 The Crash into the Pit of Despair 69
Author’s Challenge 85
8 Lessons Learned as an Elite Strength and Conditioning Coach 87
Author’s Challenge 101
v
vi Contents
9 My Dream Job 105
Author’s Challenge 119
10 Sgt Pflug Goes Back to the Uniform Division 121
Author’s Challenge 134
Who I Am? 135
11 Rebirth Out of the Ashes and #RiseUpAndExcel 137
Author’s Challenge 146
12 Dash Leadership 147
Author’s Challenge 151
13 Understanding Their “Why” 153
Author’s Challenge 156
14 The Four Cornerstones of Personal Leadership 157
Author’s Challenge 171
15 NO or Next Opportunity 173
Your Assignment 179
NO = Next Opportunity 181
16 Time to Practise What I Teach 201
Author’s Challenge 211
17 What’s Next? Actionable Goals for You to #RiseUpAndExcel 213
18 COVID-19 and #RiseUpAndExcel 217
19 Multimedia Resources: Where Else Can You Find Doug? 219
20 Significant Career Achievements 225
21 Final Thoughts 239
Who Do You Want To Be? 241
Appendices: Author Challenges 241
Chapter #24 Finding Your Granite Exercise 243
Doug Pflug’s Influential Leaders’ Wall of Honour 246
Index 247
Endorsements
REVIEW #1
Finding Your Granite: My Four Cornerstones of Personal Leadership is a moving and
powerful memoir. The author, Doug Pflug, grew up in a small town in Southern Western
Ontario, where from a very early age, had to overcome unimaginable obstacles. Doug
decided to attend university to escape the confines of small‑town life, where his stint as
a standout athlete led him to discover his real calling as a law enforcement officer. This
memoir chronicles his internal struggle to understand his version of his life and to have
the courage to step forward from his past. It offers a glimpse into a way of life that most
of us will never experience, as well as an inspiring story about one man’s capacity to rise
up and excel. Read this book now!
Dr. Gary Marshall: DBA—Leadership
www.linkedin.com/in/dr-gary-marshall-dba-1a57b2aa
REVIEW #2
Doug’s story brought back many of the struggles I faced during my time with the Canadian
Forces and post‑service. It is a story that many veterans and public safety members share,
and I am truly inspired by Doug and his ability to put that fight into words and his will‑
ingness and courage to share it with others. A key underlying principle to leadership
displayed is that not all outstanding leaders are born but are created. Leadership is a
journey that a select few navigate with the grace and humility that is showed in this book.
A must‑read for LEOs and public safety professionals.
Adam Kinakin: Founder, International Law Enforcement Training Network
https://podcast.ilet.network/show/tactical-breakdown/
REVIEW #3
Reflecting on his life and career, Doug recounts the many events and people that shaped
him. From a serious childhood illness, through school, his involvement in sports, coach‑
ing, and a successful police career—he learned from the good and from the bad along
that journey. He presents his personal learnings and advice on resiliency and leadership
vii
viii Endorsements
from the heart, and additionally offers challenges to make the reader a better person and
leader. A down‑to‑earth and enjoyable read!”
Chris D. Lewis: OPP Commissioner (Ret.) and author of “Never Stop on a Hill”
REVIEW #4
Webster’s dictionary symbolizes “granite” as possessing “unyielding firmness or endur‑
ance”. Doug Pflug provides a blueprint for life based of real‑life experiences from birth
and how he utilized many of his life moments to create a legacy driven by the ideals of
firmness and endurance”. We all have life history and Doug tells his story like we are at a
backyard barbecue—relaxed and sincere—in hopes we can identify with something that
can help us as we create our own legacy.
James “Jim” Barker: Canadian Football League GM, VP and Coach: Four-time Grey
Cup Champion. XFL Coach and Champion. TSN CFL Analyst.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Barker
REVIEW #5
Doug and I met early in my career. He helped me set a base for hockey’s physical
demands. Never would I have guessed he was battling the demands of his job. Doug is an
incredibly positive person, always presents himself with a smile and a joy to be around.
When I asked him to assist me in presenting the Stanley Cup in Guelph, he jumped right
onboard. Incredibly happy he has come out on top of his PTSI and helped others with the
same battles.
Rich Peverley: 7-year NHL veteran and Stanley Cup Champion with the Boston Bruins
https://g.co/kgs/cxbwE9
REVIEW #6
From life struggles, obstacles, adversity and the darkness that Doug reveals. It is a testi‑
mony to who Doug is as a person and a mentor. Doug discusses and shares the events that
he encountered as a young man that many people would not discuss. This says everything
about him as a leader. A leader is not just someone who shows only their best and positive
side, a leader is someone we can relate too. Doug is someone we can relate too because
we all have our own personal battles that we do not share. We all need help and Doug
discusses that countless times that we need to help each other and pick each other up. It’s
Endorsements ix
not a sign of weakness but a sign of strength. Amazing read and listen, Thank you Doug
for being an inspiration to many including myself.
Johnny Augustine: 2-year CFL veteran and Grey Cup Champion Winnipeg Blue
Bombers https://g.co/kgs/my1yxV
REVIEW #7
Something happens when someone writes so openly and honestly about their life expe‑
riences, no matter how hard it is. . . . The world breaks open, people lean forward and
everyone who has ever had to deal with tough situations feels less alone. To me, Doug’s
display of that level of vulnerability is a display of amazing inner strength and a sign of
a true leader. I knew Doug in high school as a cool, football player who was a pretty big
deal. Now I know him as a leader/author . . . and he’s even a bigger deal!
Naomi Sneickus: Canadian Actress and Comedic Icon “Mr. D” on CBC
https://g.co/kgs/QCH1qx
REVIEW #8
Doug beckons us forward into our own self‑discovery through the humble grace of his
own story. Through humour and vulnerability, Doug ushers us into an opportunity for a
perspective shift; encouraging us to embrace life’s triumphs and tribulations as a crucible
for transformation instead of destruction. His servant leadership motivates us to consider
that our messes are perhaps a gate to explore a higher purpose. Doug inspires us to climb
into the crucible of change instead of running for the hills and even if we have run for the
hills . . . and felt that we’ve missed it . . . that it’s never too late because every setback is
just a setup for true success”.
Sheila Good: International Speaker, Coach, Author and Creator of Born to Influence.
Www.Bossladybizcoach.com
