#197 – Jocko Willink: War, Leadership, and Discipline

Quote

"It's not what you preach, it's what you tolerate. If there are no consequences for poor performance, that becomes the new standard."

Ideas

1. Those who suffer together, bond with each other.

During times of suffering, we often look to each other as a source of strength to help each other through those tough times.

And often, the stronger the suffering, the stronger the bonds that are formed.

As much as I wouldn't wish much of the suffering I've had onto others, I'd never trade it for the bonds that I've been fortunate enough to create.

2. When you go into war, you have to be willing to kill.

Kill not just your enemy, but also civilians and your own troops. No matter how disciplined or skilled your army or soldiers are, people on both sides are guaranteed to die.

War should be our last resort, it's foolish and should be avoided at all costs. But if there was a bear or a wolf that was trying to get into your house, would it be foolish to shoot that bear or wolf?

3. Really good leaders have to balance the dichotomy of being humble and being confident.

The best people are those that are humble enough to know that there's always opportunities for improvement but confident enough to inspire others and move forward with their decisions.

If you're not humble, then you're not going to spend time actively looking for ways to improve, and if you're not confident, then those around you won't have faith in you.

Questions

1. Can you think of someone you bonded with through joint suffering?

What else is in the episode

1. The complexity of wars and the parallels between Jiu Jitsu and war

2. What makes a great leader, case studies of Elon Musk, Steve Jobs & Sundar Pichai

3. What discipline means and a day in the life of Jocko

Who is Jocko Willink?

1. An author, podcaster, and retired naval officer who served in the Navy SEALs. He also co-authored the books Extreme Ownership and The Dichotomy of Leadership and co-founded the management consulting firm Echelon Front and hosts the Jocko Podcast