Duty gives human beings a purpose. To wake up in the morning, giving your time and energy to a particular organization fuels your will to persevere and grow. But some duties transcend the conventional limitations of what is required from your regular nine-to-five job.
These are the ones that push the boundaries of what is physically and mentally possible, such as the special operations force with the motto, “Never Out of the Fight.” Let’s step into those 6-inch boots, look adversity in the eye, and list the lessons we can learn from an Ex-Navy SEAL!
Discipline
The first fundamental that is the foundation of the Navy SEAL mentality is discipline.
Discipline is the act of obedience to a particular task and agenda. When motivation fails, discipline keeps you going. A well-known motivational speaker, podcaster, and renowned Ex-Navy SEAL, Jocko Willink describes discipline as a trait that is the root of all good qualities. People may think discipline is a restrictive practice —monotonous and demanding to be diligent. However, it’s the opposite. Jocko argues that “Discipline equals freedom.”
Through discipline, you can focus on your work, complete your tasks on time, and use your free time to indulge in hobbies and be with your family.
In the Navy SEALs, discipline is emphasized and prioritized in every aspect of life. One cannot succumb to the distractions of their surroundings. It’s all about pushing yourself out of your comfort zone and practicing, all in the pursuit of success.
Seeing Things Clearly
Another valuable trait one can learn from an Ex-Navy SEAL is the ability to assess situations from a birds-eye view. Humans often get too emotionally attached to situations, whether it be in professional or personal settings. While there is nothing inherently wrong with passionately investing in ventures and putting your heart and soul into everything you build for yourself, emotional attachment can cloud your judgment and lead to irrational decision-making.
Even an experienced Ex-Navy SEAL like Jocko is guilty of resorting to this. He emphasizes the importance of knowing when to detach and confront issues rather than making decisions erratically. Here’s a practice. Look at your situation from the view of a friend or an outsider. What advice would you give yourself, rationally?
Get To It
The Navy SEAL is one of the world’s most respected combat and special operations forces. They earned this reputation because of their tactical and strategic planning versus combat. It’s always beneficial to be prepared when facing a challenge. You should weigh your strengths and weaknesses before entering the battlefield. However, there is a disadvantage to this trait. You may find yourself overcomplicating things, a phenomenon called “analysis paralysis.” One cannot simply afford to waste time analyzing the field of combat. Every little decision needs to be taken with assertiveness.
Some things in life do not require much analytical thinking. When Jocko is asked by his peers, “How do I become a better leader?” His response is simply, “Lead.” Jocko is also asked a couple of other questions, like where are books stored on Mac? He always has the answer.
Doing is always better than thinking. We may find ourselves stuck in a loop when convincing ourselves to follow our dreams, but ambition can only take us so far; it is the execution that counts.
Responsibility
Ex-Navy SEAL Jocko Willink, alongside his comrade, Leif Babin, wrote a book that follows a theme that should be incorporated into every facet of our lives. It’s to “own everything in your world because there is no one else to blame.”
One of the sole reasons SEALs are trained for mental toughness is to bear the burden of responsibility. To be answerable for the lives of your comrades, the mission, and not to mention your family, is a hefty weight on your shoulders.
Responsibility is required in all areas of life, whether running a business, improving health, or navigating relationships. When you are in a place of leadership, everything starts and ends with responsibility.
Take responsibility for everything in your life, especially when push comes to shove. It will change how others perceive you as a leader.
Finding the Good
When Jocko was leading the SEAL Task Unit, he would be approached with problems regarding a lack of resources. To that, our inspirational Ex-Navy SEAL would reply, “Good.”
But why?
That “Good” right there isn’t negligence or ignorance but a pivot. It is a switch in perspective that helps find the solution. When faced with a challenge, we often sulk and moan about the difficulties rather than work towards a viable option. By looking at the challenge and immediately taking a positive approach, we can head to the solution much easier.
That’s the Navy SEAL way.
The qualities of a Navy SEAL serve well in combat and the challenging battlefield of life. But what happens when an Ex-Navy SEAL like Jocko is called back to fulfill an impossible assignment? Author Robert B. Marcus Jr. presents an exhilarating and authentic depiction of Ex-Navy SEAL Alexander Gray’s plight as he evades and outwits antagonistic forces working against the president. Will Gray use the SEAL fundamentals to execute his hardest mission yet? Find out in The Far Side of Silence, now available on Amazon.
