Make Your Bed

1. Start Your Day with a Task Completed: Make Your Bed

If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.

Small accomplishments matter. Initiating the morning with a completed task establishes an organized tone for the remainder of the day. This minor act provides a foundational sense of achievement and encourages the completion of subsequent duties. It serves as a practical application of discipline and highlights the necessity of precision in all actions.

Ripple effect of small actions. Executing simple responsibilities creates the necessary momentum to address more complex objectives. This practice functions as a baseline for life; if an individual cannot manage minor details, they will likely struggle with significant responsibilities. Even during difficult periods, a prepared environment serves as a physical reminder of one's ability to maintain order and effect change.

Benefits of making your bed:

• Starts the day with a sense of accomplishment
• Builds discipline and attention to detail
• Creates momentum for tackling larger tasks
• Provides a comforting constant in an unpredictable world

2. Teamwork is Essential: Find Someone to Help You Paddle

You can't change the world alone—you will need some help—and to truly get from your starting point to your destination takes friends, colleagues, the goodwill of strangers, and a strong coxswain to guide them.

Collaboration is key. Navigating difficult environments requires collective effort rather than individual labor. This principle holds true across professional and personal spheres. Significant milestones are rarely reached in isolation; they depend on the support, guidance, and cooperation of a functional group.

Diverse skills strengthen teams. A robust team relies on the integration of various strengths and viewpoints. By utilizing these differences, a group can solve problems that an individual could not manage alone. Successful cooperation is sustained through professional respect, transparent communication, and a unified objective.

Elements of successful teamwork:

• Synchronized efforts towards a common goal
• Diverse skills and perspectives
• Clear communication and leadership
• Mutual support and respect
• Resilience in the face of challenges

3. Judge People by Their Heart, Not Appearance

SEAL training was a great equalizer. Nothing mattered but your will to succeed; not your color, not your ethnic background, not your education, and not your social status.

Character trumps appearance. Performance is driven by internal resolve and grit rather than physical stature or social background. Evidence suggests that diverse groups, regardless of their outward appearance, can outperform those who appear more capable but lack the same level of determination and collaborative spirit.

Diversity strengthens teams. High-performing teams benefit from a wide array of perspectives and life experiences. By prioritizing an individual’s work ethic, integrity, and output over superficial traits, organizations and communities can build more effective and resilient structures.

Qualities that truly matter:

• Determination and perseverance
• Teamwork and cooperation
• Adaptability and problem-solving skills
• Integrity and strong work ethic
• Diversity of thought and experience

4. Life Isn't Fair: Overcome Challenges and Move Forward

Because, Mr. Mac, life isn't fair and the sooner you learn that the better off you will be.

Embrace adversity. Unexpected hardships and inequitable situations are inherent parts of the human experience. Successful individuals recognize this reality and choose to focus on navigating these obstacles rather than dwelling on the unfairness of the situation. This approach fosters both mental toughness and adaptability.

Learn from setbacks. Difficult experiences and seemingly arbitrary punishments offer critical lessons in endurance. By interpreting these challenges as opportunities for psychological growth, individuals can develop the internal strength required to face future complications with composed confidence.

Strategies for dealing with unfairness:

• Accept that life isn't always fair
• Focus on what you can control
• Learn from setbacks and failures
• Develop mental toughness through adversity
• Help others facing similar challenges

5. Failure Can Make You Stronger: Embrace The Circus

You can't avoid The Circus. At some point we all make the list. Don't be afraid of The Circus.

Growth through discomfort. Facing the consequences of failing to meet a standard can lead to significant personal improvement. While these experiences are often physically or mentally taxing, pushing through the resulting hardship builds superior resilience and long-term capability.

Reframe failure as opportunity. Failure should be viewed as a mechanism for learning rather than a reason for fear. Professional setbacks, such as being terminated or missing a target, can serve as the catalyst for developing the skills and leadership qualities necessary for future success. Perseverance through these low points is essential for reaching higher goals.

Lessons from embracing failure:

• Failure is a natural part of growth and learning
• Persistence through difficulty builds strength and resilience
• Setbacks often lead to unexpected opportunities
• Learning from mistakes improves future performance
• Overcoming failure builds confidence and self-esteem

6. Take Calculated Risks to Achieve Greatness

Life is a struggle and the potential for failure is ever present, but those who live in fear of failure, or hardship, or embarrassment will never achieve their potential.

Courage to take risks. Reaching one's full potential requires the willingness to step outside established comfort zones and confront the possibility of failure. Taking action despite fear is a necessary component of personal evolution and the attainment of significant milestones.

Balance risk and reward. While risk is necessary, it must be balanced with objective assessment. Professional success often involves weighing potential gains against possible dangers and making informed decisions. This methodical approach to uncertainty allows for the achievement of objectives that might otherwise seem unattainable.

Benefits of taking calculated risks:

• Personal growth and expanded capabilities
• Increased confidence and self-awareness
• Discovery of new opportunities
• Overcoming limitations and fears
• Achieving goals that seemed impossible

7. Stand Up to Bullies and Face Your Fears

Bullies are all the same; whether they are in the school yard, in the workplace, or ruling a country through terror. They thrive on fear and intimidation.

Courage conquers fear. Confronting sources of intimidation is the primary way to reduce their influence. By facing fears directly—whether they stem from aggressive individuals or dangerous environments—one minimizes the power those fears hold and provides a model of courage for others to follow.

Persistence defeats bullies. Oppressive behavior and intimidation rely on the compliance or silence of others. Consistently maintaining one's ground and refusing to be intimidated can disrupt the cycle of bullying, leading to positive shifts in environments ranging from the workplace to the broader community.

Strategies for confronting bullies and fears:

• Recognize that bullies often prey on perceived weakness
• Build self-confidence through preparation and practice
• Stand firm in your convictions and values
• Seek support from others when facing intimidation
• Remember that courage is contagious – your actions inspire others

8. Be Your Best in the Darkest Moments

It's cold and dark out there. It will be darker under the ship. So dark that you can get disoriented. So dark that if you get separated from your swim buddy, he will not be able to find you.

Resilience in adversity. Difficult and disorienting circumstances act as the ultimate test of an individual's character. In these periods of extreme pressure, maintaining operational focus and internal resolve is essential to navigating through the darkness and overcoming the situation.

Preparation meets opportunity. Performing at a high level during a crisis requires prior discipline and mental preparation. By striving for excellence during routine tasks, individuals develop the technical skills and psychological fortitude needed to manage life’s most demanding and hazardous moments.

Ways to excel in difficult times:

• Maintain focus on your goals and values
• Draw strength from past successes and overcomeings
• Support and lean on others when needed
• Stay calm and think clearly under pressure
• Remember that challenging times are temporary

9. Inspire Others and Give People Hope

Hope is the most powerful force in the universe. With hope you can inspire nations to greatness. With hope you can raise up the downtrodden. With hope you can ease the pain of unbearable loss.

Power of positivity. A single individual's constructive attitude can significantly influence the collective morale of a group. By projecting hope and maintaining a steady resolve during hardship, one can encourage others to endure and eventually overcome collective challenges.

Empathy and shared experiences. Connecting with others through genuine empathy and shared understanding provides a powerful source of resilience. Offering support and hope to those experiencing loss or failure can assist them in navigating their most difficult periods and inspire them to recover.

Ways to inspire hope in others:

• Lead by example with a positive attitude
• Share your own experiences of overcoming adversity
• Offer genuine empathy and support
• Highlight the potential for positive change
• Encourage and celebrate small victories

10. Never, Ever Give Up

If you fill your days with pity, sorrowful for the way you have been treated, bemoaning your lot in life, blaming your circumstances on someone or something else, then life will be long and hard. If, on the other hand, you refuse to give up on your dreams, stand tall and strong against the odds—then life will be what you make of it—and you can make it great.

Perseverance is key. Maintaining a commitment to one's goals despite extreme physical or situational obstacles is the primary factor in overcoming adversity. A refusal to quit, even when faced with significant personal loss or overwhelming odds, serves as a catalyst for success and an inspiration to others.

Attitude determines outcome. A solution-oriented mindset is critical when facing life's obstacles. By rejecting self-pity and focusing on actionable possibilities rather than personal limitations, individuals can transform their circumstances and achieve significant outcomes through sheer persistence.

Strategies for never giving up:

• Maintain a positive, solution-focused mindset
• Set small, achievable goals to build momentum
• Learn from setbacks and adjust your approach
• Surround yourself with supportive, encouraging people
• Remember that persistence often leads to unexpected opportunities and success

Last updated: January 22, 2025