AUTHOR: Admiral McRaven wrote this short but inspiring book after he delivered a commencement speech to the University of Texas on May 17, 2014.
10 Lessons That Shaped His Life
Start your day with a task completed.
It is the daily life that needs structure. The simple act of making your bed can give you the lift you need to start your day and provide you the satisfaction to end it right.
You can’t go at it alone.
None of us are immune from life’s tragic moments. You cannot paddle the boat alone. Find someone to share your life with. Make as many friends as possible, and never forget that your success depends on others.
Only the size of your heart matters.
It’s not the size of your flippers that count, just the size of your heart. He talks about how size is not what makes you great.
Life’s not fair – drive on!
It is easy to blame your lot in life on some outside force, to stop trying because you believe fate is against you. The common people and the great mean and women are all defined on how they deal with life’s unfairness. Sometimes no matter how hard you try, no matter how good you are, you still end up with the short end of the stick. Don’t complain. Don’t blame it on your misfortune. Stand tall, look to the future, and drive on!
Failure can only make you stronger.
He realized the past failures had strengthened him, taught him that no one is immune from mistakes. True leaders must learn from their failures, use the lessons to motivate themselves, and not be afraid to try again or make the next tough decision.
You must dare greatly.
Life’s a struggle and the potential for failure is ever present, but those who live in fear of failure or hardship, or embarrassment will never achieve their potential. Without pushing your limits, without daring greatly, you will never know that is truly possible in your life.
Stand up to the bullies.
If you don’t find the courage to stand your ground, they will strike. To achieve your goals in life you will have to be men and women of great courage. That courage is within all of us. Dig deep and you will find it in abundance.
Rise to the occasion.
At some point, we will all confront a dark moment in life. If not the passing of a loved one, then something else that crushes your spirit and leaves you wondering about your future. In that dark moment, reach deep inside yourself and be your very best.
Give people hope.
Hope is the most powerful force in the universe. With hope, you can inspire nations to greatness. With hope, you can raise up the downtrodden. With hope, you can ease the pain of unbearable loss. Sometimes all it takes is one person to make a difference.
Never, ever quit!
Life is full of difficult times. But someone out there always has it worse than you do. If you fill your days with pity, sorrowful for the way you have been treated, bemoaning your lot in life, blaming your circumstances on someone or something else, then life will be long and hard. If, on the other hand, you refuse to give up on your dreams, stand tall and strong against the odds – then life will be what you make of it – and you can make it great!
