“Make Your Bed” is the title of a speech and a book by four-star Admiral William H. McRaven. Based on Navy SEAL training, the speech was given at the University of Texas at Austin for the 2014 commencement. McRaven’s words have stayed with me as I’ve dealt with the challenges of leading and growing my company.
What does “make your bed” have to do with entrepreneurship and leadership? McRaven’s theory is that the task sets you up to approach the day intentionally—to attend to the little things that build discipline and structure, leading to a thoughtful, rewarding life. Making the bed ”…showed my attention to detail, and at the end of the day…a reminder that I had done something well, something to be proud of….”1 The words align with my commitment to cultivate excellence as a way of life.
A well-made bed is not the whole story. McRaven emphasizes the importance of people “to help you paddle,” along with determination, grit, and courage. In McRaven’s words, “don’t be afraid of the Circus,” referring to the punishing drills required for SEAL trainees who fail to complete physical and mental rigors designed to test one’s mettle. In other words, don’t be afraid of failure. Embrace it as an opportunity to learn. Don’t quit.
Steve Jobs concurs. “You’ve got to act. And you’ve got to be willing to fail…to crash and burn. If you’re afraid of failing, you won’t get very far.”2 Famously fired from Apple in 1985, Jobs never lost his nerve or gave up on his vision. He didn’t quit.
Further, an article in the Harvard Business Review, “Lessons from U.S. Army Special Ops on Becoming a Leader,” reports that businesses facing global uncertainty and technological disruption have adopted lessons from Army failure-based training. The curriculum comprises real-world situations designed to “coach the brain to learn from failure” and develop leaders who “excel in high-pressure situations.”3
In the world of sports, Novak Djokovic, winner of 24 Grand Slams, has spoken about the mental strength that sets champions apart. “It is not a gift. It…comes with work.”4 He disputes the mindset that there is no room for failure or doubt. “You’re only human.” The difference for those who make it to the top is to acknowledge the misstep and quickly reset and recover.
These examples illustrate that leaders in our volatile times need mental agility and strength, the ability to learn from difficulty and take an unconventional approach, as Jobs did upon his return to Apple. Reframing “little things” as integrity and discipline and “failure” as a way to learn offers a chance to move forward, to do better, and ultimately succeed. Thus, I try to attend to the small stuff and welcome the hard stuff. My goal is excellence.