· 3 min read
Make your bed! 4 lessons from a Navy SEAL admiral to kick-start your week.
Before we get back into the swing of things today – here’s a ritual I’ve been using for years and which I’ve also used in keynote speeches: the speech by Admiral William H. McRaven (external link, opens in a new tab), a US Navy SEAL, speaking to graduates of the University of Texas.
You’ve probably heard some of them before – but some messages are worth hearing time and time again.
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Watch the video: The speech is available in several lengths – the full Commencement Speech, a 15-minute version, and the concise 6-minute version from Goalcast, which I’d like to share here. It’s just the right length for the start of the week.
Here are what I consider to be the key points 4 lessons compiled once again by Admiral William H. McRaven.
Leading Myself: Start with yourself
McRaven begins with the the tiniest possible ritual: the made bed. Ticking off a small task gives you a sense of pride – and that pride leads to the next task, and the one after that. If you don’t do the little things properly, you won’t do the big things properly either. And on a rubbish day, at least you come home to a made bed – a small taste of a better tomorrow.
The second lesson is a bit of a slog: don’t swim away from the sharks. During their SEAL training, candidates had to swim at night in the open water off San Clemente, knowing full well that there were sharks in the area. The rule: Do not swim away, do not show fear, and act decisively if necessary. Anyone who wants to make a difference will face resistance. The question is not whether – but how – you deal with it.
Leading my Team: What really makes a team strong
Of McRaven’s training class – 150 men, down to 42 by the end – one boat crew in particular stuck in my mind: the smallest team, mockingly known as the ‘Munchkin Crew’, none taller than 1.65 metres, from very different backgrounds. In the end, they were faster than any other team. The lesson: Do not judge people by their stature, background or title – but by the size of their heart and their determination to succeed.
The most powerful moment comes from the "Hell Week": on the freezing-cold mudflats, in the middle of the night, just before the class was on the verge of total exhaustion, one person begins to sing. Out of tune, but with total conviction. One voice becomes two, then three – in the end, the whole class is singing, and suddenly the cold seems more bearable. A single voice that stands firm can carry an entire group. To me, that is exactly what ‘Leading my Team’ is in its purest form.
The Round-up
If, for example, you’re getting back into the swing of things this week after a holiday, start by doing one small task – ‘making your bed’. And if you come up against resistance, don’t shy away from it. And for your team: who is currently the voice that inspires others? Perhaps it’s you today.
Have a great start to the week!
Do you have any thoughts or comments? I’d love to hear them. Please head over to the LinkendIn Post (external link, opens in a new tab). Or drop me a message via the contact page (external link, opens in a new tab).
I’d be delighted to discuss these topics with you.
Dr. Peter von Wartenberg (12.21)