Both victorious soldiers and successful managers tend to be inordinately admired and disproportionately
rewarded as risk takers. True, the specific risks and rewards are different; but the phenomenon
is the same. They both may have to put their careers, and sometimes significant parts of their
anatomy as well, “on the line” to obtain a goal for their state or organization. Notice again the military
language for “the line” originally referred to the line of battle where they faced the enemy. This is why
line officers today are still those who perform the services for which the organization exists. This is the
direct link between the Roman centurion and the fire chief, hospital director, or school principal. Life
on the line is still a daily struggle.