The “comfort factor” of basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training is not well-known. Around 80% of the volunteers are eliminated during the six-month selection process because every day is a test and a chance to push them to the point of mental collapse.
In retrospect, there were some quotations that BUD/S instructors frequently recited for two reasons. As if running around with a boat on our heads wasn’t enough, it was also another way to teach us how to think, which would eventually shape us into something special. First of all, all SEALs have a sick sense of humour. Here are 10 “inspiring” sayings from BUD/S professors that every entrepreneur should be familiar with.
Being successful pays off
The startup mentality is one that is driven by competition. While financial gain can certainly be a driving force, many entrepreneurs pursue their business aspirations to meet needs for independence, and financial freedom, or to offer products with distinctive value.
A winner’s reward may or may not materialize
There is a limit to being all in all the time, of course. Understanding when to increase your efforts and when to simply put them in “park” is a necessary skill for any improvement.
We won’t give up until at least one quitter is found
Don’t let the rug pull out from under your eyes. Training, learning, and improvement never stop. Only the “next-state” exists; there is no “end-state.”
Nothing Remains the Same
According to As a Man Thinketh Author James Allen, “circumstance does not make the man, it reveals him.” The evolution of entrepreneurship is not rapid. Success only comes to those obstinate few who refuse to give up on the long-term goal of providing value in favour of the momentary discomfort of setbacks.
You simply must act; you don’t have to like it
Sometimes you just have to grit your teeth, run into the fray, and keep your head down.
Put them out
When we were wrong, which was always as SEAL trainees, there was a price to pay. When decisions are made incorrectly, there are egos, lives, and livelihoods on the line, whether it’s in an armed conflict or in business. Humility is what distinguishes exceptional leaders from the rest. Humility requires learning from and acknowledging mistakes.
You’d Better Be Hard If You’re Going to Be Stupid
I’m sorry, but there are stupid questions, and stupid people usually ask them. As a student undergoing SEAL training, the entire class would suffer whenever a student asked a silly question. We all have the ability to make decisions, and if you choose to do something “wrong,” you should be ready to experience the whirlwind. The best-selling book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey discusses how choice exists in the space between stimulus and reaction and how taking responsibility for one’s actions more often involves choosing the thought that will direct one’s behaviour. The bottom line is to take accountability for your deeds and own up to your errors.
There are two ways to complete an action: correctly and again
It is worthwhile to complete a task correctly if it is worth your time and effort. Sometimes you only have one opportunity to succeed. Make it count.
If I don’t care, it doesn’t matter; everything is a matter of the mind
A SEAL instructor would frequently reprimand the class by saying this to us. Many characteristics of entrepreneurs are common, including their independent thinking, and willingness to go against the grain and follow their passions even at great personal risk. Nothing else matters to them.
On Your Bellies, On Your Backs, On Your Bellies, On Your Backs. Feet!
When you least expect it, change occurs and lasts forever. The key to success is adaptability, not preparation. What enables you to thrive in the unknown is a personal readiness to accept change and adapt to it. Preparation is just the by-product of a willingness to try.
