Blinkist Summary Book

2021-09-08 06:40:08 Staring Down the Wolf
Part of 16/20

again that he was medically retired.
So what allowed Luttrell to push through failure and bounce back even when the odds were stacked against him? In a word: adaptability. Adaptability is the key to resilience. It’s being able to quickly get over failure and shift gears when things don’t go as planned.
Luttrell’s mission obviously didn’t go as he had hoped but he didn’t dwell on the past or curl up in a fetal position. Instead he forged ahead drawing on his training to come up with new solutions every step of the way. With this approach he was able to not just survive but to return to combat and contribute further to the larger mission.
This also speaks to a core element of resilience: a positive attitude. Optimism is easy when things are going well; the true test of a positive attitude is being able to ignore negative thinking in the midst of bad situations. Don’t let yourself dwell on the negative – take a deep breath focus and start asking how you’re going to get over this next Open / Comment

2021-09-08 06:40:07 Staring Down the Wolf
Part of 15/20

happens after they fail. They don’t just accept defeat and let their fear wolf in – they bounce back. This resilience makes all the difference. By learning from their mistakes being adaptable and refusing to quit SEALs make the best out of bad situations and learn how to prevent them from happening again in the future.
The key message here is: To become more resilient focus on being adaptable and maintain a positive attitude.
Ambitious missions can lead to big failures. In 2005 Marcus Luttrell was in Afghanistan as part of a four-man recon mission. When their location was inadvertently exposed to enemy combatants they had to scramble to extract themselves. Sadly Luttrell was the lone survivor.
He was injured but he didn’t quit. He managed to escape and a local Pashtun villager sheltered him until he was rescued a few days later. But that’s not the end of Luttrell’s story – after he recovered from his injuries he redeployed with a different SEAL unit. It was only after he was injured Open / Comment

2021-09-08 06:40:05 Staring Down the Wolf
Part of 14/20

different angles. While exploring ways to land troops in hostile areas undetected for example he helped develop the HAHO tactic. This “high altitude high opening” method of deploying parachutes immediately after jumping at commercial-airline cruising heights kept troops under the radar.
Innovation doesn’t necessarily mean creating an entirely new technique though. Sometimes just a 10-percent increase in performance is all it takes. Less is often more when developing a process so keep things simple and streamlined – it’ll produce better work and keep your team focused on their tasks.
To become more resilient focus on being adaptable and maintain a positive attitude.
No matter what you’re going to fail. It’s inevitable. Everyone fails from time to time regardless of expertise attention to detail or follow-through. And SEALs are no exception. Yes they often succeed in the face of insurmountable odds but they also fail plenty of times.
What sets the SEALs apart from others is what Open / Comment

2021-09-08 06:40:04 Staring Down the Wolf
Part of 13/20

ng to curiosity and innovation but keep it simple! 
Marcinko was never satisfied with the status quo. While others were busy commending his unit’s techniques technologies and accomplishments he was looking for ways to improve. This led to innovations like the “red team ” whose mission was to expose security vulnerabilities at US military bases by attacking them. 
His curiosity became infectious. It got to the point where his entire SEAL unit learned to fly drive and navigate any kind of craft so they could be resourceful if they ever found themselves behind enemy lines.
It doesn’t matter what the problem is – the curious are always searching for the next big question. They’re always asking things like Why is this being done? What should be done instead? How can we do it better? It’s this constant drive that generates excellence.
The other half of the equation is of course coming up with viable solutions. Marcinko was legendary for homing in on solutions by looking at problems from Open / Comment

2021-09-08 06:40:03 Staring Down the Wolf
Part of 12/20

ing new techniques locations or modalities from time to time.
Strive for excellence by committing to curiosity and innovation but keep it simple!
Navy SEALs aren’t just good – they’re excellent. They go above and beyond in challenging the status quo solving problems others haven’t even thought of and doing things previously deemed impossible. 
This commitment to excellence comes from an insatiable curiosity – something Richard Marcinko aka “Demo Dick ” knows all about. He was one of the most effective operators in the Vietnam War where he innovated new ways to fight the enemy. He later became the first commanding officer of SEAL Team Six (so named to dupe Soviet Intelligence; it was actually just Team Three).
He wanted his team to have maximum impact in the Navy. So he simplified their focus to be more specialized. This led to brilliant insights and successful outcomes – a tradition the SEALs continue to live by today.
The key message here is: Strive for excellence by committi Open / Comment

2021-09-08 06:40:01 Staring Down the Wolf
Part of 11/20

ty as a leader you have to embrace the discomfort of this challenge. It doesn’t just teach you new skills; it builds character. You actually become more aware of yourself and what you’re capable of. 
Think about your lifestyle. What do you want to change? Maybe it’s your diet your exercise habits or your tendency to avoid healthy communication. Whatever it is challenge yourself to make the change and get it done!
Keep in mind that every challenge has two important components: a good mentor and variety. Mentors are invaluable. Their experience can provide you with much-needed advice – including what to watch out for so you can safely fail. They can also help you get back up if you need a nudge once in a while.
And as for variety that’s in your hands. Be sure to mix things up to avoid falling into unhelpful patterns. SEALs are constantly adjusting their training conditions and routines to introduce new skills. For example if you’re building an exercise routine keep things fresh by add Open / Comment

2021-09-08 06:39:58 Staring Down the Wolf
Part of 10/20

pected a bit of unpredictability is also sprinkled into the mix. One night Divine’s trainee class was relieved to get a four-hour break after a two-day session of physical drills and paddling off the coast. They were put in a warm comfy room and were finally allowed to rest . . . for 40 minutes! Then sirens and smoke grenades rattled them awake and they were commanded back out to the surf.
The key message here is: Challenge is a catalyst for growth so commit to pushing yourself.
Why do the SEALs endure Hell Week? Because growth only comes through challenging yourself to do what you previously thought was impossible. Moving past a plateau and transforming into something better is never a seamless process; your fear wolf wants you to remain stagnant and avoid the pain of change. But here’s the thing: the temporary pain of transformation is better than the long-term pain of regret. Challenging yourself is hard yes – but you’ll become a better person for it. 
To reach your full capabili Open / Comment

2021-09-08 06:39:57 Staring Down the Wolf
Part of 9/20

same way O’Connell showed he was secure in himself and had nothing to hide.
Transparency and clarity can also help build respect. That’s why O’Connell always took it upon himself to make sure his team clearly understood military orders and what was expected of them. Your fear wolf wants to hide behind ambiguity secrets and excuses – and it’s not until you lay out clear standards for success and failure that you can see positive change. That’s what O’Connell did. He committed to giving his men the tools to succeed. In return they gave him respect.
Challenge is a catalyst for growth so commit to pushing yourself.
One of the most famous rites of passage during SEAL training is Hell Week. It’s exactly what it sounds like – six days of hell designed to break down trainees. It tests physical endurance mental strength ability to work under duress and more. Think strenuous operational training under nasty conditions while sleep-deprived. 
And since a SEAL should always expect the unex Open / Comment

2021-09-08 06:39:55 Staring Down the Wolf
Part of 8/20

tuations – so they need their teams to act fast and be on point. That’s where respect comes in. While you might not be dealing with the same stakes the approach to earning respect is the same: positive and accurate communication.
Positive communication helps maintain your team’s morale and accurate communication is the source of integrity – the most important element of garnering respect. Integrity means being honest and consistent while following a strong moral compass. This takes discipline and a willingness to stand up against what is morally wrong even though it may be easier to just walk away. It can be tough but when your team sees you standing by your words and actions they’ll know you’re worthy of respect.
Some leaders preach integrity and then act differently depending on who they’re with. But to someone like Captain Jim O’Connell integrity requires total authenticity. That means showing your true self to everyone regardless of rank. By treating officers and enlisted men the Open / Comment

2021-09-08 06:39:54 Staring Down the Wolf
Part of 7/20

arn from them.
Commit to integrity clarity and authenticity in order to cultivate respect.
After 9/11 Captain Jim O’Connell a shining example of how to lead with respect was called back from retirement as second-in-command of an elite SEAL counterterrorism unit. Although he had a comfortable post-retirement life he returned because he believed his country needed him. Little wonder then that his team had immense respect for him.
You might think that a military leader automatically gains respect just by climbing up the ranks. But even for SEAL teams respect is earned – not given. And just like Captain Jim O’Connell leaders can earn respect through their communication and actions every single day. So stare down the fear wolf of emotional baggage and reclaim whatever may be causing you to fumble.
The key message here is: Commit to integrity clarity and authenticity in order to cultivate respect.
SEAL team leaders are often faced with making life-or-death decisions in high-stake si Open / Comment