William H. McRaven Quotes

Paris in the fall is beautiful. The trees along the Champs-Élysées are just turning. The morning is crisp and the aroma of strong coffee and warm French pastries drifts through the air. At night they light up the Eiffel Tower, and the crowds of young and old alike snuggle under its large steel beams for both warmth and companionship. There is just something magical about Paris, particularly when you're thinking about it from Afghanistan.

If you want to change the world, sometimes you have to slide down the obstacle head first.

I saw this level of initiative time and again during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps understood that the nature of the fight required the generals and admirals allow the junior officers and enlisted to make tough combat decisions. We had to delegate responsibility because there just weren't enough senior officers to oversee all the tactical operations. We had to trust the rank and file to do the right thing.
It is always difficult for senior leaders to trust their subordinates with important decisions, decisions that invariably affect the reputation of the unit and that of the senior leader. But if you don't create a culture that allows the rank and file to act on their own, they will be mired in indecisiveness and that will stall any forward momentum. However, leadership is not always defined by the man or the woman at the top of the chain of command, and you don't have to be in command to lead.

The big men in the other boat crews would always make good-natured fun of the tiny little flippers the munchkins put on their tiny little feet prior to every swim. But somehow these little guys, from every corner of the nation and the world, always had the last laugh, swimming faster than everyone and reaching the shore long before the rest of us. SEAL training was a great equalizer. Nothing mattered but your will to succeed; not your color, not your ethnic background, not your education, and not your social status. If you want to change the world, measure a person by the size of their heart, not the size of their flippers.

As Americans, we should be frightened — deeply afraid for the future of the nation. When good men and women can’t speak the truth, when facts are inconvenient, when integrity and character no longer matter, when presidential ego and self-preservation are more important than national security — then there is nothing left to stop the triumph of evil.

Dear Mr. President: Former CIA director John Brennan, whose security clearance you revoked on Wednesday, is one of the finest public servants I have ever known. Few Americans have done more to protect this country than John. He is a man of unparalleled integrity, whose honesty and character have never been in question, except by those who don’t know him. Therefore, I would consider it an honor if you would revoke my security clearance as well, so I can add my name to the list of men and women who have spoken up against your presidency.

Death Before Dishonor (Be a person of integrity)
You Can't Surge Trust (Be trustworthy)
When In Command, Command (Be confident in yourself)
We All Have Our Frog Floats (Have a little humility)
The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday (Demonstrate that you have stamina)
Run To The Sound Of The Guns (Be aggressive in solving problems)
Sua Sponte (Encourage your employees to take the initiative)
Who Dares Wins (Be prepared to take risks!)
Hope Is Not A Strategy (Do the detailed planning necessary for success)
No Plan Survives First Contact With The Enemy (Have a Plan B)
It Pays To Be A Winner (Establish standards of conduct and performance
A Shepherd Should Smell Like His Sheep (Spend time on the "factory floor")
Troop The Line (Listen to your employees)
Expect What You Inspect (The quality of your work will depend on the quality of your oversight)
Communicate, Communicate, Communicate (Communicate your actions)
When In Doubt, Overload (Work hard to covercome your shortfalls)
Can You Stand Before The Long Green Table? (Be accountable for your actions)
Always Have A Swim Buddy (Have a partner in your leadership journey)

1. Be aggressive. When you see a problem, do something about it. That's what is expected of leaders.
2. Move to a place where you can best assess the nature of the problem and provide guidance and resources to resolve it as quickly as possible.
3. Communicate your intent every step of the way.

Over the past three years, I have been stopped on the street by great folks telling me their own stories: How they didn't back down from the sharks, how they didn't ring the bell, or how making their bed every morning helped them through tough times. They all wanted to know more about how the ten lessons shaped my life and about the people who inspired me during my career. This small book is an attempt to do so. Each chapter gives a little more context to the individual lessons and also adds a short story about some of the people who inspired me with their discipline, their perseverance, their honor, and their courage.

It's been 37 years to the day since I graduated from UT.

There is this great scene, that sometimes goes unnoticed. Clarence takes George to the graveyard, and there; there is a headstone of George’s younger brother, Terry. George notices that Terry died when he was just three years old, then George looks at Clarence, the second class wingless angel, and says that can’t be right. Harry not only lived past three years old, but he also saved an entire ship of being sunk by Kamikaze pilots, but reminds George, that because Paul was never born then, and he actually wasn’t there to save his younger brother from choking.

A good leader tries to embody the best qualities of his or her organization. A good leader sets the example for others to follow. A good leader always puts the welfare of others before himself or herself. Your leadership, however, has shown little of these qualities. Through your actions, you have embarrassed us in the eyes of our children, humiliated us on the world stage and, worst of all, divided us as a nation.

Being a leader is an awesome responsibility. There are days when it can be frightening to know that the fate of the organization rests on your shoulders. But you must also realize that you were chosen to be the leader because you have proven yourself along the way. You have demonstrated that you know the business. You have shown that you can handle the pressures and be decisive. You have exhibited all the qualities necessary to lead. And even if none of the above holds true, now that you are the leader, you are in command. So, take the damn helm and command!

If you want to change the world, don’t be afraid of the Circuses.

1. Be fair and honorable in your business dealings. It's the only way that you and your employees can leave a legacy to be proud of.
2. Never lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do. The culture of your organization starts with you.
Own your lapses in judgment. It happens to everyone. Correct the problem and return to being a person of good character.