Make Your Bed
Make Your Bed, written by Admiral William H. McRaven, is a book that is concise, impactful, and easy to implement. The ten lessons within the book aim to teach individuals how to live their lives with purpose, drive, and grit. From the first chapter, where the author talks about the importance of starting your day with a completed task, to the last chapter, where he emphasizes the need to persevere even in the toughest of times, this book is a gem for anyone looking to improve their life.
One of the most significant takeaways from the book is the importance of starting your day with a small but significant win. Making your bed might seem like a trivial task, but it sets the tone for the rest of your day. It gives you a sense of accomplishment and the motivation to tackle bigger tasks. The act of making your bed can be compared to starting your day with a positive mindset, which leads to productivity and a more fulfilling life.
Another critical lesson the author discusses is the importance of seeking support from others. Life can be challenging, and going through it alone can be overwhelming. Having a support system helps us navigate life's ups and downs, learn from others' experiences, and grow as individuals. McRaven emphasizes the importance of seeking guidance from mentors and learning from others' experiences, as it can help us achieve success and avoid costly mistakes.
The book also emphasizes the importance of grit over talent. Talent alone does not guarantee success. Hard work, dedication, and persistence are crucial components of achieving success. The author shares his own experiences and those of others who have achieved success through sheer hard work and determination. He stresses that success is a product of relentless effort and not mere talent.
Another essential lesson is the need to embrace failure. The fear of failure often holds us back from taking risks and pursuing our dreams. The author argues that failure is an inevitable part of life and that we should embrace it as a learning opportunity. Failure provides us with valuable lessons that we can use to improve ourselves, our skills, and our approach to life.
McRaven also emphasizes the importance of taking calculated risks. Challenging our comfort zones and stepping outside of our boundaries can be intimidating, but it is crucial for growth and development. Taking calculated risks allows us to build confidence, increase our resilience, and develop a growth mindset.
The author also talks about standing up to bullies and fearmongers. Throughout life, we encounter individuals who try to diminish our confidence and make us feel inferior. McRaven emphasizes the importance of standing up for oneself and others, even when it seems challenging. He argues that standing up for oneself and doing what is right is essential for personal growth and integrity.
The book also stresses the importance of rising to the occasion when life gets tough. Tough times are inevitable, but our response to them can make all the difference. The author encourages readers to maintain their composure, stay focused on their goals, and remain true to their values during challenging times. The ability to maintain integrity during challenging times is a hallmark of true leadership and strength of character.
Lastly, the author encourages readers to inspire hope in others. Showing others that there is a way out of tough situations and encouraging them to be their best selves is an essential aspect of leadership. By lifting others, we also lift ourselves, and this leads to a more fulfilling life.
In conclusion, Make Your Bed is an inspiring book that teaches essential life lessons in a concise and impactful way. The book's lessons are straightforward to implement, and readers can start implementing them immediately. The lessons emphasize the importance of starting your day with a completed task, seeking support from others, embracing failure, taking calculated risks, standing up to bullies, and rising to the occasion when life gets hard. These are all essential qualities of success.
The 10 lessons therein are easy to put into play quickly.
Start your day with a completed task.
The simple task to make your bed is the whole book. If you start with a success or complete a task the moment you wake up, you set yourself up to find more success throughout the day.
Don’t go alone.
Others have tried your journey. Ask questions, seek supporters or community. It will serve you well to learn and work with those people.
Grit over talent
The ones dedicated to improvement will go further than talent. Talent is normally beaten by challenging work.
Life is not fair, get used to it.
Don’t expect life to hand you the answers. Don’t expect your hard work will even be recognized. Do the hard work you expect of your life and keep going.
Don’t Fear failure, embrace it.
You are going to screw up and miss the mark. Failure is part of the process. Once you fail, you’ll learn how to adapt around the problem or find a way right through it
Take calculated risks.
Challenge your comfort zone to overcome fear and anxiety. Take risks to increase your confidence.
Stand up to bullies.
Watch out for fearmongers. People who get their strength by making others feel weak or less. Stand up for yourself, when you are doing the right thing.
Rise to the occasion when life gets hard.
It’s an integrity thing. Be consistent when things are good or bad. It will help you steer your actions.
Start singing when you’re up to your neck in mud
Show others hope. Stand with them. Encourage the greatest in others.
Don’t ever, ever ring the bell.
Don’t give up. Progress is progress whenever progress is made.