Extreme Ownership
The first chapter begins with the recount of task unit Bruiser’s first operation in Ramadi. It just so happens to be the same operation Jocko narrates in his TED talk. A blue on blue incident as your first operation as a new leader has to be one of the biggest wake up calls a commander can experience.
My first job in the fitness industry was at a hotel. I ran the employee morning workouts M,W,F 5-6 AM, 6-7 AM. THOSE CLASSES WERE TERRIBLE! Granted this is to my current standard for leading any sort of class.I shudder to think of the programming I use to implement and the uninspired coaching that pervaded each class. I did such a bad job that after 3 months the second group refused to train with me. This was my first wake up call in the industry. When I graduated from my undergrad I thought I knew everything. I thought I was the next more successful Todd Durkin, I just needed to find my Drew Brees and Ladanian Tomlinson. That wake up call started what I now call the prime directive for my craft NEVER STOP LEARNING/LISTENING. Whether it is books, taking a class, or just observing another coach work at their craft
The example of Extreme ownership in business, Jocko lays out a situation in which a high level executive is unable to implement a new plan of operation. The overall failure of the plans implementation was directly tied to the executives inability to take ownership of the situation. AKA blaming everyone except himself for the plans failure. As a coach this can manifest itself in a million different ways with the clients and athletes you work with. Whether it is an infantry Marine or a 30 something year old trying to lose weight, the success of a well crafted strength and conditioning program hinges on the coaches ability to communicate the importance of whatever it is that the client/athlete is doing.This is always strengthened by the ability to relate a task or drill to the goal as a whole. In the Marines case there are more than often times where looking the part is more important than the basics of performance based training. “Why aren't we benching or doing curls?” It is my job to relate how what we do in the weight room affects how well they do their job.
Overall knowing the scope of your practice is what is going to dictate how much ownership you should take in a situation.knowing those key parameters that define your role within an organization will assist in keeping your world small (more on this to come) and avoid decision fatigue.
Cigarettes & Alcohol - OASIS
Oasis is what started my obsession for the British pop/rock invasion of the 90’s and early 00’s.Heavy guitar riffs simple but punchy drums and the lyrical genius of the Gallagher brothers. Cigarettes and Alcohol exudes what they did best in its rawest form.
C/S