people want to know how to stop the laziness and they won’t know how to stop
laziness and they won’t know how to stop
laziness and they won’t know how to stop the procrastination and you know they
the procrastination and you know they
the procrastination and you know they have some idea in their head you know
have some idea in their head you know
have some idea in their head you know some kind of a vision what they want to
some kind of a vision what they want to
some kind of a vision what they want to do but they don’t know where to start
do but they don’t know where to start
do but they don’t know where to start and in order start it you know they
and in order start it you know they
and in order start it you know they don’t know where to start and say they
don’t know where to start and say they
don’t know where to start and say they say hey where do I start
say hey where do I start
say hey where do I start and when’s the best time to start and I
and when’s the best time to start and I
and when’s the best time to start and I have a very simple answer for that here
have a very simple answer for that here
have a very simple answer for that here and now that’s it you you want to
and now that’s it you you want to
and now that’s it you you want to improve you want to get better you want
improve you want to get better you want
improve you want to get better you want to get on a workout program or a clean
to get on a workout program or a clean
to get on a workout program or a clean diet you want to start a business you
diet you want to start a business you
diet you want to start a business you want to write a book or make a movie or
want to write a book or make a movie or
want to write a book or make a movie or build a house or a computer or put
build a house or a computer or put
build a house or a computer or put together some mobile application where
together some mobile application where
together some mobile application where do you start you start right here and
do you start you start right here and
do you start you start right here and when do you start you start right now
when do you start you start right now
when do you start you start right now you initiate the action aggressively you
you initiate the action aggressively you
you initiate the action aggressively you go because the idea isn’t gonna execute
go because the idea isn’t gonna execute
go because the idea isn’t gonna execute itself and the book isn’t gonna write
itself and the book isn’t gonna write
itself and the book isn’t gonna write itself and the weights out in the gym
itself and the weights out in the gym
itself and the weights out in the gym they’re not gonna move themselves you
they’re not gonna move themselves you
they’re not gonna move themselves you have to do it and you have to do it now
and that means you gotta stop thinking
and that means you gotta stop thinking about it and stop dreaming about it and
about it and stop dreaming about it and
about it and stop dreaming about it and stop researching every aspect of it and
stop researching every aspect of it and
stop researching every aspect of it and reading all about it and debating the
reading all about it and debating the
reading all about it and debating the pros and cons of it just start doing it
take that first step and make it happen
take that first step and make it happen get after it
get after it
get after it and get after it here and now
war is a nightmare or is awful it is
war is a nightmare or is awful it is indifferent and devastating and evil war
indifferent and devastating and evil war
indifferent and devastating and evil war is help the war is also an incredible
is help the war is also an incredible
is help the war is also an incredible teacher a brutal teacher and it teaches
teacher a brutal teacher and it teaches
teacher a brutal teacher and it teaches you lessons that you will not forget in
you lessons that you will not forget in
you lessons that you will not forget in war you are forced to see humanity at
war you are forced to see humanity at
war you are forced to see humanity at its absolute worst and you are also
its absolute worst and you are also
its absolute worst and you are also blessed to see Humanity in its most
blessed to see Humanity in its most
blessed to see Humanity in its most glorious moments war teaches you about
glorious moments war teaches you about
glorious moments war teaches you about sorrow and loss and pain and it teaches
sorrow and loss and pain and it teaches
sorrow and loss and pain and it teaches you about the preciousness and the
you about the preciousness and the
you about the preciousness and the fragility of human life and in that
fragility of human life and in that
fragility of human life and in that fragility war teaches you about death
but war also teaches you about
but war also teaches you about Brotherhood and honor and humility and
Brotherhood and honor and humility and
Brotherhood and honor and humility and leadership and unfortunately war teaches
leadership and unfortunately war teaches
leadership and unfortunately war teaches you the most when things go wrong and
you the most when things go wrong and
you the most when things go wrong and for me one of the most impactful lessons
for me one of the most impactful lessons
for me one of the most impactful lessons that I learned from war was in the
that I learned from war was in the
that I learned from war was in the spring of 2006 in the city of Ramadi
spring of 2006 in the city of Ramadi
spring of 2006 in the city of Ramadi Iraq which at the time was the epicenter
Iraq which at the time was the epicenter
Iraq which at the time was the epicenter of the insurgency where brutal and
of the insurgency where brutal and
of the insurgency where brutal and determined
determined
determined terrorists ruled the streets with
terrorists ruled the streets with
terrorists ruled the streets with torture and rape and murder and it was
torture and rape and murder and it was
torture and rape and murder and it was in one neighborhood of that city during
in one neighborhood of that city during
in one neighborhood of that city during an operation that I was in charge of
an operation that I was in charge of
an operation that I was in charge of when all hell broke loose we had
when all hell broke loose we had
when all hell broke loose we had multiple units out on the battlefield
multiple units out on the battlefield
multiple units out on the battlefield fighting the enemy we had friendly Iraqi
fighting the enemy we had friendly Iraqi
fighting the enemy we had friendly Iraqi soldiers we had US Army soldiers and US
soldiers we had US Army soldiers and US
soldiers we had US Army soldiers and US Marines
Marines
Marines along with small elements of my SEAL
along with small elements of my SEAL
along with small elements of my SEAL team and then the fog of war rolled in
team and then the fog of war rolled in
team and then the fog of war rolled in with its confusion and chaos and mayhem
and with its gunfire an enemy attacks
and with its gunfire an enemy attacks and screaming men and blood and death
and in that fog of war through a series
and in that fog of war through a series of mistakes and human error and poor
of mistakes and human error and poor
of mistakes and human error and poor judgment and Murphy’s Law and just plain
judgment and Murphy’s Law and just plain
judgment and Murphy’s Law and just plain bad luck a horrendous firefight broke
bad luck a horrendous firefight broke
bad luck a horrendous firefight broke out but this firefight it wasn’t between
out but this firefight it wasn’t between
out but this firefight it wasn’t between us and the enemy this firefight
us and the enemy this firefight
us and the enemy this firefight tragically was between us and us
friendly forces against friendly forces
friendly forces against friendly forces fratricide the mortal sin of combat and
fratricide the mortal sin of combat and
fratricide the mortal sin of combat and the most horrific part of war and when
the most horrific part of war and when
the most horrific part of war and when it was over and the fog of war lifted
it was over and the fog of war lifted
it was over and the fog of war lifted one friendly Iraqi soldier was dead two
one friendly Iraqi soldier was dead two
one friendly Iraqi soldier was dead two more were wounded one of my men was
more were wounded one of my men was
more were wounded one of my men was wounded the rest of my seals were badly
wounded the rest of my seals were badly
wounded the rest of my seals were badly shaken and it was only through a miracle
shaken and it was only through a miracle
shaken and it was only through a miracle that no one else was killed and it was
that no one else was killed and it was
that no one else was killed and it was reported up the chain of command what
reported up the chain of command what
reported up the chain of command what had happened that we had fought and
had happened that we had fought and
had happened that we had fought and wounded and killed each other and when
wounded and killed each other and when
wounded and killed each other and when we got back to base things didn’t get
we got back to base things didn’t get
we got back to base things didn’t get much better there was a message waiting
much better there was a message waiting
much better there was a message waiting for me from my commanding officer and it
for me from my commanding officer and it
for me from my commanding officer and it said shut down all operations it said
said shut down all operations it said
said shut down all operations it said that the commanding officer the Master
that the commanding officer the Master
that the commanding officer the Master Chief and the investigating officer were
Chief and the investigating officer were
Chief and the investigating officer were inbound to my location and they told me
inbound to my location and they told me
inbound to my location and they told me to prepare a debrief to explain exactly
to prepare a debrief to explain exactly
to prepare a debrief to explain exactly what had happened on the operation and
what had happened on the operation and
what had happened on the operation and what had gone wrong
now I knew what this meant it meant that
now I knew what this meant it meant that somebody had to pay it meant that
somebody had to pay it meant that
somebody had to pay it meant that somebody had to be held accountable
somebody had to be held accountable
somebody had to be held accountable it meant that somebody had to get fired
it meant that somebody had to get fired
it meant that somebody had to get fired for what had happened so I began to
for what had happened so I began to
for what had happened so I began to prepare my debrief and in it i tailed
prepare my debrief and in it i tailed
prepare my debrief and in it i tailed every mistake that was made and who made
every mistake that was made and who made
every mistake that was made and who made it and I pointed out every failure in
it and I pointed out every failure in
it and I pointed out every failure in the planning and the preparation and the
the planning and the preparation and the
the planning and the preparation and the execution in the operation and I pointed
execution in the operation and I pointed
execution in the operation and I pointed out who was responsible for that failure
out who was responsible for that failure
out who was responsible for that failure there was plenty of blame to go around
there was plenty of blame to go around
there was plenty of blame to go around there were so many people that I could
there were so many people that I could
there were so many people that I could incriminate with guilt but something
incriminate with guilt but something
incriminate with guilt but something wasn’t right but for some reason I just
wasn’t right but for some reason I just
wasn’t right but for some reason I just couldn’t put my finger on who was at
couldn’t put my finger on who was at
couldn’t put my finger on who was at fault and who specifically I should
fault and who specifically I should
fault and who specifically I should blame for what had happened and I sat
blame for what had happened and I sat
blame for what had happened and I sat and I went over it again and again and I
and I went over it again and again and I
and I went over it again and again and I struggled for an answer and then when I
struggled for an answer and then when I
struggled for an answer and then when I was about ten minutes from starting the
was about ten minutes from starting the
was about ten minutes from starting the debrief that answer came and it hit me
debrief that answer came and it hit me
debrief that answer came and it hit me like a slap in the face and I realized
like a slap in the face and I realized
like a slap in the face and I realized that there was only one person to blame
that there was only one person to blame
that there was only one person to blame for the confusion only one person to
for the confusion only one person to
for the confusion only one person to blame for the wounded men and only one
blame for the wounded men and only one
blame for the wounded men and only one person to blame for the dead Iraqi
person to blame for the dead Iraqi
person to blame for the dead Iraqi soldier and I knew exactly who that
soldier and I knew exactly who that
soldier and I knew exactly who that person was and with that knowledge I
person was and with that knowledge I
person was and with that knowledge I walked into the debriefing room with my
walked into the debriefing room with my
walked into the debriefing room with my commanding officer and the Master Chief
commanding officer and the Master Chief
commanding officer and the Master Chief and the investigating officer were
and the investigating officer were
and the investigating officer were sitting there waiting for me along with
sitting there waiting for me along with
sitting there waiting for me along with the rest of my men including my seal
the rest of my men including my seal
the rest of my men including my seal that had been wounded who’s sitting in
that had been wounded who’s sitting in
that had been wounded who’s sitting in the back
the back
the back the room with his head and his face all
the room with his head and his face all
the room with his head and his face all bandaged up and I stood up before them
bandaged up and I stood up before them
bandaged up and I stood up before them and I asked them one simple question
and I asked them one simple question
and I asked them one simple question whose fault was this one of my seals
whose fault was this one of my seals
whose fault was this one of my seals raised his hand and he said it was my
raised his hand and he said it was my
raised his hand and he said it was my fault I didn’t keep control of the Iraqi
fault I didn’t keep control of the Iraqi
fault I didn’t keep control of the Iraqi soldiers I was with and they left their
soldiers I was with and they left their
soldiers I was with and they left their designated sector and that was the root
designated sector and that was the root
designated sector and that was the root of the all these problems and I said no
of the all these problems and I said no
of the all these problems and I said no it wasn’t your fault
it wasn’t your fault
it wasn’t your fault and then another seal raised his hand
and then another seal raised his hand
and then another seal raised his hand and said it was my fault I didn’t pass
and said it was my fault I didn’t pass
and said it was my fault I didn’t pass our location over the radio fast enough
our location over the radio fast enough
our location over the radio fast enough so no one knew what building we were in
so no one knew what building we were in
so no one knew what building we were in and that’s what caused all this
and that’s what caused all this
and that’s what caused all this confusion it was my fault and I said no
confusion it was my fault and I said no
confusion it was my fault and I said no it wasn’t your fault either
it wasn’t your fault either
it wasn’t your fault either and then another seal raised his hand
and then another seal raised his hand
and then another seal raised his hand and he said boss this was my fault
and he said boss this was my fault
and he said boss this was my fault I didn’t properly identify my target and
I didn’t properly identify my target and
I didn’t properly identify my target and I shot and killed that friendly Iraqi
I shot and killed that friendly Iraqi
I shot and killed that friendly Iraqi soldier this was my fault and I said no
soldier this was my fault and I said no
soldier this was my fault and I said no this wasn’t your fault either and it
this wasn’t your fault either and it
this wasn’t your fault either and it wasn’t yours or yours or yours I said as
wasn’t yours or yours or yours I said as
wasn’t yours or yours or yours I said as I pointed to the rest of the seals in
I pointed to the rest of the seals in
I pointed to the rest of the seals in the room and then I told them that there
the room and then I told them that there
the room and then I told them that there was only one person at fault for what
was only one person at fault for what
was only one person at fault for what had happened there was only one person
had happened there was only one person
had happened there was only one person to blame and that person was me I am the
to blame and that person was me I am the
to blame and that person was me I am the commander I am the senior man on the
commander I am the senior man on the
commander I am the senior man on the battlefield and I am responsible for
battlefield and I am responsible for
battlefield and I am responsible for everything that happens everything and
everything that happens everything and
everything that happens everything and then I went on to explain to them some
then I went on to explain to them some
then I went on to explain to them some new tactics techniques and procedures
new tactics techniques and procedures
new tactics techniques and procedures that we were going to implement to
that we were going to implement to
that we were going to implement to ensure that this kind of travesty never
ensure that this kind of travesty never
ensure that this kind of travesty never happened again
and I will tell you something it hurt it
and I will tell you something it hurt it hurt my ego it hurt my pride to take the
hurt my ego it hurt my pride to take the
hurt my ego it hurt my pride to take the blame but I also knew I knew that to
blame but I also knew I knew that to
blame but I also knew I knew that to maintain my integrity as a leader and as
maintain my integrity as a leader and as
maintain my integrity as a leader and as a man I had to take responsibility and
a man I had to take responsibility and
a man I had to take responsibility and in order to do that I had to control my
in order to do that I had to control my
in order to do that I had to control my ego so that my ego did not control me
ego so that my ego did not control me
ego so that my ego did not control me and you know what I didn’t get fired
and you know what I didn’t get fired
and you know what I didn’t get fired in fact my commanding officer who had
in fact my commanding officer who had
in fact my commanding officer who had expected excuses and finger-pointing
expected excuses and finger-pointing
expected excuses and finger-pointing when I took responsibility when I took
when I took responsibility when I took
when I took responsibility when I took ownership he now trusted me even more
ownership he now trusted me even more
ownership he now trusted me even more and my men they didn’t lose respect for
and my men they didn’t lose respect for
and my men they didn’t lose respect for me instead they realized that I would
me instead they realized that I would
me instead they realized that I would never shirk responsibility and I would
never shirk responsibility and I would
never shirk responsibility and I would never pass that heavy birdie of command
never pass that heavy birdie of command
never pass that heavy birdie of command down the chain and onto them and you
down the chain and onto them and you
down the chain and onto them and you know what they had the same attitude
know what they had the same attitude
know what they had the same attitude unlike a team where no one takes
unlike a team where no one takes
unlike a team where no one takes ownership of the problems and therefore
ownership of the problems and therefore
ownership of the problems and therefore the problems never get solved with us
the problems never get solved with us
the problems never get solved with us everyone took ownership of their
everyone took ownership of their
everyone took ownership of their mistakes everyone took ownership of the
mistakes everyone took ownership of the
mistakes everyone took ownership of the problems and when a team takes ownership
problems and when a team takes ownership
problems and when a team takes ownership of its problems the problems get solved
and that is true on the battlefield it
and that is true on the battlefield it is true in business and it is true in
is true in business and it is true in
is true in business and it is true in life
so I say take ownership take extreme
so I say take ownership take extreme ownership don’t make excuses don’t blame
ownership don’t make excuses don’t blame
ownership don’t make excuses don’t blame any other person or any other thing get
any other person or any other thing get
any other person or any other thing get control of your ego don’t hide your
control of your ego don’t hide your
control of your ego don’t hide your delicate pride from the truth take
delicate pride from the truth take
delicate pride from the truth take ownership of everything in your world
ownership of everything in your world
ownership of everything in your world the good and the bad take ownership of
the good and the bad take ownership of
the good and the bad take ownership of your mistakes take ownership of your
your mistakes take ownership of your
your mistakes take ownership of your shortfalls take ownership of your
shortfalls take ownership of your
shortfalls take ownership of your problems and then take ownership of the
problems and then take ownership of the
problems and then take ownership of the solutions that will get those problems
solutions that will get those problems
solutions that will get those problems solved take ownership of your mission
solved take ownership of your mission
solved take ownership of your mission take ownership of your job of your team
take ownership of your job of your team
take ownership of your job of your team of your future and take ownership of
of your future and take ownership of
of your future and take ownership of your life and lead lead lead yourself
your life and lead lead lead yourself
your life and lead lead lead yourself and your team and the people in your
and your team and the people in your
and your team and the people in your life lead them all to victory
”
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