The Wisdom of the Bullfrog
The book “The Wisdom of the Bullfrog” written by Admiral William H. McRaven is recommended by my mentor Dylan. It contains 18 sayings or mottos used in the military, which inspire Admiral William and others throughout his 4 decades Navy SEAL career.
Some favorite quotes from the author:
Chapter Three - When in Command, Command
As a leader you must always appear to be in command, even on those days when you struggle with the pressures of the job. You must be confident. You must be decisive. You must smile. You must laugh. You must engage with your employees and be thankful for their work. You must have the look of a person in charge. You must instill in your men and women a sense of pride that their leader can handle any problem.
As a leader you can’t have a bad day. You must never look beaten, no matter the circumstance. If you sulk, if you hang your head, if you whine or complain about the leaders above you or the followers below you, then you will lose the respect of your men and women, and the attitude of despair will spread like wildfire.
Being a leader is an awesome responsibility. There are days when it can be frightening to know that the fate of the organization rests on your shoulders. But you must also realize that you were chosen to be the leader because you have proven yourself along the way. You have demonstrated that you know the business. You have shown that you can handle the pressures and be decisive. You have exhibited all the qualities necessary to lead. And even if none of the above holds true, now that you are the leader, you are in command. So, take the damn helm and command!
Chapter Five - The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday
The day you no longer believe you have something to prove, the day you no longer believe you must give it your all, the day you think you are entitled to special treatment, the day you think all your hard days are behind you, is the day you are no longer the right leader for the job.
Leadership requires energy. It requires stamina. It requires resilience. It requires everything you have and then some. The men and women that work for you will feed off your energy. If you look unprepared to deal with the challenges of the day, they will see this. If you look beaten down because today was harder than yesterday, they will feel this. If you are not prepared to give it your all, they will know this. And if you think this is just about leaders in combat, you’re mistaken. This is about every great leader who was given a difficult task and asked to inspire, motivate, and manage the people under their charge.
Chapter Six - Run to the Sound of the Guns
Good leaders understand that organizations are going to have challenges. That’s why you were hired to lead. Embrace the challenge. Accept the fact that you must attack each problem with vigor and that sometimes only you, the leader, can solve the most vexing of institutional crises. Never shy away. Never retreat from a difficult problem.
Chapter Eight - Who Dares Wins
It is better to err on the side of daring than the side of caution.
—Alvin Toffler, American writer and futurist
Chapter Ten - No Plan Survives First Contact with the Enemy
No plan of operations reaches with any certainty beyond the first encounter of the enemy’s main force.
In other words, always have a Plan B. A contingency plan. A backup plan. Because once you encounter the enemy, no plan survives first contact.
Chapter Fourteen - Expect What You Inspect
Truth is confirmed by inspection and delay; falsehood by haste and uncertainty.
—Tacitus, Roman historian