20 Lessons to learn from SEALs

What is it about SEALS that captures our imaginations?  The images of BUDs training?  The knowledge of how far these individuals have gone to become a member of this elite team?  Knowing that most who try to become one, don’t make the cut?    For me it is a fascination with their teamwork, mentality, and culture.  These things says a lot about what creates success in any realm.

When I was Southern California, I was fortunate to get to know a few former SEALS coming out of business school and starting their civilian life.   I was not surprised to hear many similar attributes being described when I asked them what makes this team so successful.

1. Teamwork is Paramount: Rambo is just a movie.  There is nothing great or worthwhile that can be accomplished without a team.  Period.
2. Teams have a shared sense of purpose: Teamwork happens when the purpose is so big, clear and understood taht the teammates put the team above themselves.
3. Comfortable being uncomfortable:   Doing anything worthwhile is going to be hard … it is just a reality. Being comfortable being uncomfortable is how we make the impact we desire.
4. Build a mental habit of “segmenting”: How do we accomplish things which are hard?  Segmenting is breaking down things to the smallest possible level so we can see it and attack it.
5. Complaining is a waste: If you can’t affect it, then don’t worry about it. Good teammates take responsibility for what they can control, they shrug their shoulders and smile at the rest.
6. Be all in, all the time: whether you are cleaning your room, writing an email, in a meeting, running into battle, or with your family… be all in all the time.
7. Be Resilient: Resileincy is the ability to get better when things are hard. And here is a reality of life:  things will be hard.  So be resilient.  Be Gritty.
8. Mental rehearsal: SEALs have a saying “Anybody who is ambushed by difficulty is overwhelmed by it.” Mental Rehearsal is teaching yourself how to worry. It is premeditation of all the possible downside.
9. Mantra is better than a manifesto: A one or two word mantra means a lot more in a tough situation then a long paragraph.
10. Devotion cures distraction: when we are devoted to something bigger than oursevles is when distractions fall away.  When there is no meaning everything is distraction. Be devoted.
11.  Enemy of excellence is excuses. Excuses shield us from pain.   We can’t live a full life with excuses. Achievement and excellence arealways temporary. Excuses are permanent…which is why they are so hard to give up.  Give them up!
12. Write down what you are afraid of: We all have uneven courage, meaning we all are afraid.  When we are afraid, write it down.  It appears less than we thought and we can identify it.
13. Build a system for truth reminding:   There is a difference between head knowledge and heart knowledge.  For Heart knowledge, remind yourself of the most important things daily:  Create a system to remind ourselves of the truths we already know.
14. There will come a last day: no one will be here forever. Our time is limited and that is what makes it precious.  So what is there to fear?
15. Okay to fail: Perfection is impossible but excellence is achievable.   Forgive yourself.  Learn and grow. Dust yourslef off, spray some bactine in the wound, and start running again.
16. Living a life Service: Living a life for a purpose greater than ourselves animates everything we do. People who have life of service are so much stronger than the ones who do not.
17. Put yourself last:  In BUDS it is the world’s top athletes who were self focused that failed.  And it is those who cared for the person to the left and right who would hang on 10 more minutes and become SEALs.
18. Do something worthy each day:  Be able to look back at the end of the day and say ” I did something worthy” of the biggest purpose you are devoted to.
19. Plan, move, shoot:  Seals in battle are either planning, shooting, or moving.  One thing is for certain.  They are not idle.
20. Smile in face of Danger:  If we are selfless, committed to our team, believe in a bigger purpose, we can wink at our teammate while the bullets are flying…and then with a grin…attack!

So friends, to accomplish great things and be a leader in a great team:  don’t complain, don’t make excuses, serve your teammate, be in, all the time, fail but learn, do something worthy each day, don’t be idle, and smile in the face of danger!