Jocko Willink Does Not Have Time
“The trouble is you think you have time.” — Buddha
It’s said we should never meet our heroes.
We will be disappointed and underwhelmed.
No chance they live up to the hype we built them up to in our mind.
Not this time.
I had the opportunity to meet one of mine, Ex-NAVY SEAL Jocko Willink.
Jocko is a best-selling author, podcaster, and co-founder of the leadership constituency Echelon Front.
Jocko held an event in my hometown of Philly called “The Decisive Engagement.”
It was an amazing experience.
Jocko teaches a form of leadership called, “Extreme Ownership.”
It’s based on the principle that we are responsible for the outcome of every aspect of our life.
We need to own the results of everything that happens to us.
“The Decisive Engagement”
I brought my oldest son along as my wingman.
He just finished his freshman year of college and trains Jiu Jitsu with me when home on break.
He was as pumped as I was as we drove into Philly on 90+ degree Saturday afternoon.
We were lucky enough to attend the pre-show event where Jocko held a small group Q&A. (Thank you JC!)
Jocko dropped the wisdom learned from serving 20+ years in the SEAL Teams and leading Task Unit Bruiser during the Battle of Ramadi in the Iraq War.
No matter if you lead a Fortune 500 Company, a sales team or your family, the content was gold.
Here are 3.5 things I learned From Jocko Willink’s “Decisive Engagement”:
1) Help Others
You would think a Navy Seal would tell you the keys to life are running through walls and blowing things up.
Not the case.
One of the common themes Jocko spoke of was that leadership is about helping others.
We need to find ways to be of service.
Help others accomplish their goals. Especially when they’re struggling though a rough patch in their life.
Jocko said, “There is nothing better than helping other people.”
So simple.
So powerful.
2) We Decide the Meaning
Everyone faces challenges.
It’s up to us to get back up and decide what our struggles mean.
No matter what happens, we control our response.
We decide the impact.
We define what it means.
Jocko said, “Don’t let situation dictate you, you dictate the situation.”
Word.
3) Listening is a Superpower
You may expect someone with 20+ years in the SEAL Teams and author of multiple best-selling books to preach.
Negative.
Jocko told the crowd, “The most under used leadership skill is listening. One of the most powerful things a leader can do to connect with their people is ask earnest questions and listen to their answers.”
We need to listen more.
We need to preach less.
Want to connect better with your people?
Listen.
Then listen some more.
3.5) You Don’t Have time
My highlight and most impactful part of the night was when my 19-year-old son got the courage to ask a question during a Q & A session.
“Jocko, what advice would you give to your 19-year-old self?”
Earnest question.
Jocko’s answer was a wakeup call.
Jock told him, “You think you have time, but you don’t.”
No matter your age.
No matter your status.
Jocko said, “Twenty years in the Navy flew by like this. Snap.”
And…
“I’ve been retired from the Navy for thirteen years. That seems insane to me. It feels like 13 minutes.”
We think we have time.
We don’t.
We think we will live forever.
We won’t.
Time disappears fast.
Tomorrow is not guaranteed.
If there is something to do, we need to do it now.
Time to get after it.
Tick, Tick, Tick…
Joe Ciccarone
Connect:
Blog: JoeCiccarone.com
Podcast: BuiltNotBornPodcast.com
IG: jciccarone
