How to Take the Helm and Navigate A Life of Success

elcome aboard, gentlemen! It is time to look beyond the fog, forget about the maelstrom, and take the helm of your life back. Whether you're the captain of a ship, the CEO of your company, or just a guy trying to navigate life's choppy waters, taking unconditional ownership is the key to staying afloat. So sit tight, grab a cup of coffee, and let's set sail on this journey together.

Following the Footsteps of a Naval Officer

It happens every so often in life where you sail up on a lost treasure of a book that gives you that clear vision ahead. Extreme Ownership is that book. Written by two former US Navy SEALs Jocko Willink and Leif Babin, this ship's log emphasizes the importance of owning every aspect of your life - from the decisions you make to the outcomes they produce. By taking full responsibility for your actions and those of your team, you gain a level of control and direction that can set you on a path towards success. That means that when things go wrong, not blaming the external factors or other people, but stepping back and humbly owning the outcome. Take a sip of your warm coffee and think about that for a moment.

Taking Ownership in Your Daily Life

Everyone is a leader in one way or another. As a father, in the office, as a part of your faith or religion, and even in your online guild, we all have leadership responsibilities over various aspects of our lives. Taking this level of ownership goes beyond owning up to the mistakes or errors that we personally make, but owning any and all mistakes made by factors or people in our areas of responsibility or influence. But if you didn't directly make the mistake or error, why should you be held responsible?

Mastering the High Seas of Leadership

You, the captain of a ship are out to sea; it is the night watch and you are comfortably getting a few hours of sleep in your stateroom after a long day. You are awakened by a loud crashing noise and an uncomfortable hissing. The sound is constant and unrelenting, as if the ship is being swallowed whole by the relentless force of the water. You rush in haste to the bridge, take control of the helm, and sound a commanding order across the cold damp airways of the ship: "All hands on deck, man your stations; seal any water tight doors on the portside." Minutes that seem likes hours go by and finally you hear over the intercom, "Flooding secured." What could have possibly happened? You left the bridge as you have a thousand times, knowing that everything was on course and your destination was drawing near. After a debrief with the crew, the veil of issues are made known; sonar was no longer properly functioning, the helmsman was fighting the darkness of the night and the drowsiness of his eyes, the charts had become outdated, and the officer of the watch is still wet behind his ears. Yet you, the captain, must take the ownership to ensure you can make it safely back to port. Why?

How easy is it, and how many times have we pointed the finger in another direction when things go wrong? Could the finger be pointed back towards us in that situation? If the blame is being dodged by any and all parties, who then takes the responsibility? Sure the crew may have made errors in judgment or failed to follow proper procedures, but ultimately it is the captain who must take responsibility for ensuring that the ship is properly equipped, the crew is trained, and all procedures are followed. By taking ownership of the situation, the captain can learn from any and all mistakes that were made and take steps to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future. This doesn't end with the captain, though; if each member is to be a successful leader, they must take ownership of the situation.

There are no bad teams, only bad leaders. [Jocko Willink]

Recognizing our leadership roles in all aspects of our lives, we can become better equipped to navigate the challenges that come our way and achieve success in all our endeavors. By doing so, we not only become better leaders, but also inspire those around us to do the same. Therefore, let us all strive to take ownership and lead by example in all aspects of our lives.

Challenge:

Commit to retaking ownership in your life instead of blaming the external factors around you. See the Objective(s) for ideas.

Post your progress in The Old Gate - Discord Channel - 🏆︱reach-the-milestone

Objective(s):

1. Write down or think about the areas of your life where you consider yourself to be the leader. Think beyond even areas with your family and work.
2. Write down or think about areas in life that you may struggle or have conflict.
3. Inquire from others, write down, and think about your reputation in these areas.
4. Ask yourself: Based on these evaluations, are there areas where you can improve or retake full ownership?
5. Check out the book Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin.