Make your bed

Make your bed. William H. McRaven. 2017. 144 pp.

Back Cover

On May 17, 2014, Admiral William H. McRaven addressed the graduating class of the University of Texas at Austin on their Commencement day. Taking inspiration from the university's slogan, "What starts here changes the world," he shared the ten principles he learned during Navy Seal training that helped him overcome challenges not only in his training and long Naval career, but also throughout his life; and he explained how anyone can use these basic lessons to change themselves-and the world-for the better.

Admiral McRaven's original speech went viral with over 10 million views. Building on the core tenets laid out in his speech, McRaven now recounts tales from his own life and from those of people he encountered during his military service who dealt with hardship and made tough decisions with determination, compassion, honor, and courage. Told with great humility and optimism, this timeless book provides simple wisdom, practical advice, and words of encouragement that will inspire readers to achieve more, even in life's darkest moments.

 

The Autor

 

Admiral William H. McRaven (U.S. Navy retired) served with great distinction in the Navy. In his thirty-seven years as a Navy SEAL, he commanded at every level. As a Four-Star Admiral, his final assignment was as Commander of all U.S. Special Operations Forces. He is now Chancellor of the University of Texas System.

 

Summary + Notes

1. Start Your Day with a Task Completed... start off by making your bed. Making my bed correctly was not going to be an opportunity for praise. It was expected of me. I had done something well, something to be proud of, no matter how small the task. This sentiment of cleanliness and order applied to every aspect of military life. Sometimes the simple act of making your bed can give you the lift you need to start your day and provide you the satisfaction to end it right. If you want to change your life and maybe the world—start off by making your bed!
2. You Can’t Go It Alone… find someone to help you paddle. Everywhere we went during the first phase of SEAL training we were required to carry the raft. Occasionally, one of the boat crew members was sick or injured, unable to give it 100 percent. On those days, the other members picked up the slack. They paddled harder. They dug deeper. They gave me their rations for extra strength. And when the time came, later in training, returned the favor. I had numerous setbacks, and in each case, someone came forward to help me: someone who had faith in my abilities; someone who saw potential in me where others might not; someone who risked their own reputation to advance my career. I have never forgotten those people and I know that anything I achieved in my life was a result of others who have helped me along the way. Make as many friends as possible, and never forget that your success depends on others.
3. Only the Size of Your Heart Matters… measure a person by the size of their heart. “Bill, this is Tommy Norris.” Tom Norris, who had served in Vietnam, had on successive nights gone deep behind enemy lines to rescue two downed airmen. This was Tom Norris who, on another mission, was shot in the face by North Vietnamese forces and left for dead only to be rescued by Petty Officer Mike Thornton, who would later receive the Medal of Honor for those actions. This was Tom Norris, who battled back from his injury to be accepted into the FBI’s first Hostage Rescue Team. This quiet, reserved, humble man was one of the toughest SEALs in the long history of the Teams. In 1969, Tommy Norris was almost booted out of SEAL training. They said he was too small, too thin, and not strong enough. But Norris proved them all wrong and once again showed that it’s not the size of your flippers that count, just the size of your heart.
4. Life’s Not Fair—Drive On!... get over being a sugar cookie and keep moving forward. “Life isn’t fair and the sooner you learn that the better off you will be.” how they deal with life’s unfairness:" "try, no matter how good you are, you still end up as a sugar cookie. Don’t complain. Don’t blame it on your misfortune. Stand tall, look to the future, and drive on!"
5. Failure Can Make You Stronger... don’t be afraid of The Circus. The Circus was held every afternoon at the end of training. If you failed to meet the standard, your name was on the list. The Circus so feared by the students was not just the additional pain but also the knowledge that the day after The Circus you would be exhausted from the extra workout and so fatigued that you would fail to meet the standards again. Failure had a price. The Circus was punishing. But as The Circuses continued a funny thing happened. Our swims got better, and Marc and I began to move up in the pack. The Circus, which had started as a punishment for failure, was making us stronger, faster, and more confident in the water. “Well done, gentlemen. It looks like all that extra pain and suffering paid off.” In life you will face a lot of Circuses. You will pay for your failures. But, if you persevere, if you let those failures teach you and strengthen you, then you will be prepared to handle life’s toughest moments.
6. You Must Dare Greatly... slide down the obstacle headfirst. platoon. I sometimes fell short of being the best, but I never fell short of giving it my best. True leaders must learn from their failures, use the lessons to motivate themselves, and not be afraid to try again or make the next tough decision. “Who Dares Wins.” It is about how each of us should approach our lives. 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. Without pushing your limits, without occasionally sliding down the rope headfirst, without daring greatly, you will never know what is truly possible in your life.
7. Stand Up to the Bullies... don’t back down from the sharks. The waters off San Clemente were filled with sharks. Being alone, at night, in the middle of the ocean, knowing that lurking beneath the surface was a prehistoric creature just waiting to bite you in half. To be honorable and noble, gave us courage. Without courage, no great society can flourish. Bullies thrive on fear and intimidation. Bullies gain their strength through the timid and faint of heart. Courage is within all of us. Dig deep, and you will find it in abundance.
8. Rise to the Occasion... be your very best in the darkest moments. In that dark moment, reach deep inside yourself and be your very best. 
9. Give People Hope... start singing when you’re up to your neck in mud. Hope that in the very worst of times we could rise above the pain, the disappointment, and the agony and be strong. Not only to survive but also to inspire others.
10. Never, Ever Quit!... don’t ever, ever ring the bell. “If you quit, you will regret it for the rest of your life. Quitting never makes anything easier.” 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.

Start each day with a task completed. Find someone to help you through life. Respect everyone. Know that life is not fair and that you will fail often. But if you take some risks, step up when times are toughest, face down the bullies, lift up the downtrodden, and never, ever give up—if you do these things, then you can change your life… and the world for the better!