That one small significant act can alter the course of your life. Any small behavior done consistently over time, can do so. Just ask Admiral William H. McRaven, ninth commander of U.S. Special Operations Command (Navy SEAL), who led the mission against Osama bin laden. He recently gave the commencement address at the University of Texas. He told the graduates about lessons he learned in basic SEAL training that will be of value to them as they move through life. Remember, the Why to do something is more important than the How.
Lesson #1: Make Your Bed
“Every morning in basic SEAL training, my instructors, who at the time were all Vietnam veterans, would show up in my barracks room, and the first thing they would inspect was your bed.
If you did it right, the corners would be square, the covers pulled tight, the pillow centered just under the headboard and the extra blanket folded neatly at the foot of the rack — rack, that’s Navy talk for bed.
It was a simple task — mundane at best. But every morning we were required to make our bed to perfection. It seemed a little ridiculous at the time, particularly in light of the fact that we were aspiring to be real warriors, tough, battle-hardened SEALs — but the wisdom of this simple act has been proven to me many times over.
If you make your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride, and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another.
By the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed. Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that little things in life matter.
If you can’t do the little things right, you will never do the big things right.
And, if by chance you have a miserable day, you will come home to a bed that is made — that you made — and a made bed gives you encouragement that tomorrow will be better.
If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.”
My friends, words to live by!
(You can read the full article of Admiral McRaven’s life lessons here: http://nypost.com/2014/05/24/10-life-lessons-from-the-seal-who-led-mission-for-bin-laden/)
Thanks to Lloyd Blumenfeld and his daughter Jill Rosenstein for bringing this article to my attention. Feel free to reach me anytime: markbrodinsky@gmail.com
Until next time, thanks for taking the time.
Mark
Mark Brodinsky, Author, Blogger, Financial Services
#1 Amazon Best-Seller: It Takes 2. Surviving Breast Cancer: A Spouse’s Story
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