Story #1
As a Navy SEAL, I learned 2 things are contagious during stressful times:
1. Negative Attitudes
2. Humor
I chose humor.
It was during the middle of Navy SEAL Hellweek when I realized the strength humor possesses during hard times. My BUD/s Class was cold, wet, sandy, and sleep deprived. We had been up for 3 straight days and had 3 more to go. Our instructors told us to lock arms and lay down in the cold Pacific Ocean during the middle of the night...this was known as surf torture.
We would lay there with our heads submerged in the water until we were seconds from hypothermia. Guys would complain and question whether or not they still wanted to become Navy SEALs. I, on the other hand chose to utilize humor to make the stressful event go by faster. I would turn to the guy next to me and sarcastically say, “ hey man, it could be worse- we could be laying in the Pacific Ocean cold, wet, and sleep deprived.”
9 out of 10 times my sarcastic humor would be greeted with laughter and my teammate next to me during surf torture never quit. Negative attitude is contagious, but so is humor.
As I’ve transitioned from the SEAL Teams into the private sector, I’ve realized that humor still has it's place in every job- find yours and use it to beat negativity.
Story #2
It was my first nighttime skydive as a Navy SEAL. My heart was racing and it was cold at altitude.
The light turned green and I walked towards the exit ramp at the rear of the military aircraft. I had confidence in my training up until this point and knew I was ready.
I couldn’t help but continue to replay in my head what my instructor had said to me before we boarded the plane, “just remember, you’re dead once you leave the aircraft unless you do something about it.”
Once I left the aircraft I felt like everything was in slow motion, I felt at peace. Calm, Cool, and Collected.
When I landed on the ground I felt empowered from the training and experience I had received. In this particular situation: proactive meant staying alive and reactive meant death.
What if you applied the same actions to everything within your life?
Proactive instead of reactive.
Trust your training. Trust yourself. Be Proactive.
Story #3
Why are Navy SEALs successful time after time?
A successful team is created with individuals who share a common goal and work together to achieve it.
Take a “boat crew” in Navy SEAL selection (BUD/s) for example. It’s 6 guys holding a heavy rubber boat up with their heads.
They are essentially under the boat throughout the entirety of the first 8 weeks of SEAL training.
They know the pain is only temporary and if they don’t carry their equal weight, then they are placing the weight on their teammates under the boat.
So, they sacrifice their own comfort for their team and to reach the next chapter of training, together.
Temporary Sacrifice...also known as Teamwork.
Authored By: Jacob Werksman, Former Navy SEAL Sniper
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