US Marine Corps Leadership Principals Applied to the Corporate World

"Fortune favors the bold" 

You make your own luck. It means that true leaders have a bias for action. The act of moving forward itself can often improve your odds of success.

"Pain is only weakness leaving the body"

It's about sucking it up when you're faced with tough challenges. Operating outside of your comfort level is how you build mental toughness.

"Semper Gumby"

The official Marine Corps motto is Semper Fidelis--always faithful. However the unofficial motto is probably "Semper Gumby," meaning, always flexible.

"Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier"

If you believe you can accomplish something, you've improved your odds of achieving that objective.

"Indecision Kills"

Standing there with your mouth hanging open waiting for someone else to decide for you leads to bad things. This is true in combat and in life.

"Think Smooth” 

People react to pressure in one of two ways--freeze or charge. The better course is to be disciplined enough to move smartly, smoothly, and deliberately. Think smooth--and you'll be much more effective than the people around you who are freaking out.

"A good plan now is better than the perfect plan too late"

Dwight Eisenhower said, "Plans are useless, but planning is indispensable," and that's true--but there comes a point when it's time to act. Momentum is its own reward; no battle plan actually survives first contact with the enemy and no business plan survives initial contact with the market.

"Service over Self"

As a leader, you wind up with both privilege and responsibility. The thing to remember is that it's really not about you. Instead, your organization and the people you lead.