READ THIS: EXTREME OWNERSHIP How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win Written and read by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin Our Coverage Sponsored by Maine Woolens
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Quite often, the concept of excellence is cumulative winning.
If you have been reading us over the past nearly seven years, you know that whomyouknow.com is based on Ever to Excel which comes from Peachy Deegan's Boston College experience. There came a day when she had to graduate, so she wanted to spread this concept everywhere because we want to only be around people that like to excel. And win.
We publish on a patriotic day on purpose: Happy Birthday, Marines!
Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALS Lead and Win by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin is a must-read for all who are motivated to excel and brilliant enough to execute well. The cream always rises to the top, and reading what they have to say from both their military and consulting perspective, and the second results from the first, is and will be of great interest to others in similar or contrasting disciplines that share the vision to excel.
We like how this work opens with 9/11/01, which is obviously a huge part of Manhattan to this day and will be forever. We know. We were there when it happened, literally on the same block. One of our favorite quotes:
"When leaders who epitomize Extreme Ownership drive their teams to achieve a higher standard of performance, they must recognize that when it comes to standards, as a leader, it's not what you preach, it's what you tolerate...leaders must enforce standards. Consequences for failing need not be immediately severe, but leaders must ensure that tasks are repeated until the higher expected standard is achieved." (p. 54)
Leadership concepts throughout this book are based on the concept of team, and the success of the group. A lot of what they mention is second nature to leaders but it is helpful to be reminded of the literal concepts that are the pillars of success. Of course, one should always take ownership of both good and bad. The importance of the size of a team and an organizational chart and the flow of leadership are also key discussions.
Explanation of why is just as important as explanation of how, and this is something that might not occur to all leaders. However, it is essential in motivating the followers. The followers need to believe in the leader's vision and understanding the why. (see page 84. Only smart people ask questions...) Minimizing complexity is discussed on p. 139 and this is important.
We like their straight-shooting language. Chapter Two is titled: No Bad Teams, Only Bad Leaders. At Whom You Know, we spent a lot of time covering NYCFC in their inaugural season and we think great things will be happening in the second season. Interestingly while we were reading this book, Ex-Head Coach Jason Kreis was let go last week and yesterday New Head Coach Patrick Vieira was hired. This is not only a great book for business people but also we would encourage athletes to read it.
Two thumbs up for mentioning Chris Kyle in Chapter 11; you already know we love Clint Eastwood, Bradley Cooper and American Sniper.
In reading some text we saw "men" applied and not women or people; we did not have military aspirations so do not know all - but it seems like only men can be SEALS right now. So be aware that men is correct, but we believe women can also be "physically tough and out-think their adversaries" (p. 42). This book is not just for boys because you know some of the best leaders are women.
The importance of humility is also emphasized for leaders, and emotional intelligence is necessary also-that goes without saying. Civilians might start using military language because they are so inspired by this book...are you covering and moving today? We'd prefer that to go viral over what does actually go viral.
We applaud the authors for respecting and honoring military confidentiality throughout this book.
Extreme Ownership is Highly Recommended by Whom You Know in both audio and hardcover. Prioritize your schedule, and execute: Read This! Sustain your own victory.
True-life stories of U.S. Navy SEALs capture headlines, inspire movies and awe the public. SEALs are considered the elite of military units worldwide, recognized for their ability to take on the most difficult, seemingly impossible missions and win. But what is the key to their success? What are their guiding leadership principles? How can these be applied to business and everyday life? In, 
EXTREME OWNERSHIP: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win ( October 20, 2015) Jocko Willink and Leif Babin provide the answers.
EXTREME OWNERSHIP: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win ( October 20, 2015) Jocko Willink and Leif Babin provide the answers.
Two combat-proven U.S. Navy SEAL officers, who led the most highly decorated special operations unit of the Iraq War, demonstrate how powerful SEAL leadership principles apply to business and life. Both recipients of the Silver Star Medal, Jocko Willink and Leif Babin led SEAL Team Three’s Task Unit Bruiser, a team of exceptional warriors that included American Sniper, Chris Kyle. Through months of heavy combat in the Battle of Ramadi, Task Unit Bruiser delivered extraordinary impact and played a key role in that pivotal U.S. military victory. In Extreme Ownership, Babin and Willink share gripping, firsthand accounts of heroism, tragic loss, and hard-won victories. They demonstrate that leadership—at every level—is the most important factor in whether a team succeeds or fails. Since leaving the SEAL Teams, Willink and Babin applied their SEAL leadership principles to the business world through their company, Echelon Front, teaching business teams how to dominate their battlefields.
Read by the authors themselves, the audiobook is a riveting, page-turning narrative. Extreme Ownership details the crucial combat leadership lessons learned and demonstrates how to apply these same Navy SEAL leadership principles to any arena, in business and life. With powerful instruction and direct application, Extreme Ownership revolutionizes business management and challenges leaders everywhere to fulfill their ultimate purpose: lead and win.
EXTREME OWNERSHIP
Written and read by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin
Unabridged I ISBN: 978-1-4272-6429-9 I 7 CDs I 8.5 hours
Published simultaneously with the hardcover edition from St. Martin’s Press
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
LEIF BABIN is a decorated former Navy SEAL officer, author of Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win, and co-founder of Echelon Front, where he serves as leadership instructor, speaker, and executive coach. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Leif served thirteen years in the Navy, including nine as a Navy SEAL. As a SEAL platoon commander in SEAL Team Three’s Task Unit Bruiser, he planned and led major combat operations in the Battle of Ramadi that helped the “Ready First” Brigade of the US Army’s 1st Armored Division bring stability to the violent, war-torn city. Task Unit Bruiser became the most highly decorated special operations unit of the Iraq War.
Leif returned from combat as the primary leadership instructor for all officers graduating from the SEAL training pipeline. There, he reshaped SEAL leadership training to better prepare SEAL officers for the immense challenges of combat. During his last tour, Leif served as Operations Officer and Executive Officer at a SEAL Team where he again deployed to Iraq with a Special Operations Task Force.
He is the recipient of the Silver Star, two Bronze Stars, and a Purple Heart. In 2011, Leif left active duty and co-founded Echelon Front, a leadership consulting company that helps others build their own high-performance winning teams. Clients include individuals, companies, and organizations across a wide-range of industries. Leif speaks on leadership, U.S. military strategy, and foreign policy matters. His editorials have been published in the Wall Street Journal and he has appeared on a variety of national television news and radio programs.
JOCKO WILLINK is a decorated retired Navy SEAL officer, author of the book Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win, and co-founder of Echelon Front, where he is a leadership instructor, speaker, and executive coach. Jocko spent 20 years in the U.S. Navy SEAL Teams, starting as an enlisted SEAL and rising through the ranks to become a SEAL officer. As commander of SEAL Team Three’s Task Unit Bruiser during the battle of Ramadi, he orchestrated SEAL operations that helped the “Ready First” Brigade of the US Army’s First Armored Division bring stability to the violent, war-torn city.
Task Unit Bruiser became the most highly decorated Special Operations Unit of the Iraq War. Jocko returned from Iraq to serve as Officer-in-Charge of training for all West Coast SEAL Teams. There, he spearheaded the development of leadership training and personally instructed and mentored the next generation of SEAL leaders who have continued to perform with great success on the battlefield.
During his career, Jocko was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and numerous other personal and unit awards. In 2010, Jocko retired from the Navy and launched Echelon Front where he teaches the leadership principles he learned on the battlefield to help others lead and win. Clients include individuals, teams, companies, and organizations across a wide-range of industries and fields.
