Reading like it's my job #20 - Extreme Ownership
Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin (312 pages)
This was on my list of leadership reads for this year and I finished it a couple weeks ago. It was a fast and easy read with engaging combat stories that paralleled every-day leadership lessons. I skimmed the combat stuff in an attempt to get to the leadership lessons, but now that I’m reflecting back on the book, I’m remembering the leadership principles by recalling the combat stories. It’s a “made to stick” situation where the authors did an excellent job making the leadership principles memorable by telling a good story to go with it.
Other than that, I have been struggling a bit with what to say about this book. The principles are ones you've heard before, but the authors are eliminating any excuses you can come up with for why they wouldn't work in your situation. If they can work in the heat of battle in Iraq for the most bureaucratic organization on earth, they can work in your air conditioned office and your company. I wish I had taken better notes or made plans for putting the principles into practice. I will do so in the coming weeks and let you know how it goes.
Books by former SEALs have become somewhat of an industry. Below is a sampling of titles, some I have read and some I haven’t.
Resilience by Eric Greitens – I read this a couple years ago and it really spoke to me. It would be worth a re-read because it is packed full of actionable advice, but Greitens had to step down as governor of Missouri due to controversy and that's a little off-putting.
Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell – This story is unbelievable. Whenever I’m uncomfortable or want to complain for any reason, I think “Would a Navy SEAL whine about this?” These four guys were pinned down by dozens of insurgents, badly injured, and just kept going. And they suffered it all because they showed mercy. The movie is intense and almost too much, but I recommend it if you have the stomach for it.
Make Your Bed by Admiral William McRaven – Read this last year and loved it. Quick, easy read. Admiral McRaven gave a popular 20 minute commencement speech you can watch on YouTube and then he expanded on that for the book.
American Sniper by Chris Kyle – Haven’t read it yet or seen the movie but I’d like to do both. Chris Kyle was in Jocko and Leif’s company.
No Easy Day by Mark Owen – This sounds like a fascinating read about the team that took down Osama Bin Laden. I’ve been meaning to read it for years now.
Raising Men by Eric Davis – As a parent, this seems like a must read. I’m filing it under my list of parenting books to read.
For anyone interested, the website www.sofrep.com has a comprehensive list of 80 Navy SEAL books that you can find here. What's your favorite SEAL book?
Thanks for reading,
Kyle