Post by raphbaph on Jul 9, 2016 2:04:38 GMT -8
I stumbled upon Jocko and his podcast through a friend of mine, and then Tim Ferris Podcast.
Recently downloaded the audiobook of "Extreme Ownership" on Audible and loved it.
Straight away applicable, I utilised the insights on a troubled IT project I lead, that was going nowhere.
I found out it was me who was responsible, I wasn't giving it any time and attention, just wanted it done and out of the way.
That mindset was clearly visible in any part of my team and in every aspect of implementation and communication.
Owning up to that, and in this process discovering my reasons for being reluctant (major parts of the project would not be implemented for at least another 3 years due to company IT evolution), but then finding reasons I could still immediately benefit form successfully implementing my part to the fullest, turned the project around with astonishing speed and satisfaction.
I admire the toughness and the "Getting after it!" mindset, that Jocko epitomises. So much there that I can own and learn.
I'm definitely much more lazy and convenient. I also have a rebellious streak a mile wide, and so constantly question the larger picture and operative agendas in my company, often refusing to work in that direction, when I don't see the benefits. This sometimes becomes an excuse for lesser performance, to everyones detriment, including my own. Still the constant search for new angles, new ways of going about it, and ways to achieve more with less effort clearly have provided many great boosts to my projects and those of my superiors.
Also, being born in Austria, my grandfather was part of the German "Wehrmacht" during 1938-1945. What I learned from inheriting some of the blame for the atrocious war crimes of WWII was: "Nobody has the right to obey!" (!) And this is a very central takeaway from these dark times.
So I venture this: Every mindset has a cost. Accepting yourself as a part of whole is great, so is surrendering your ego to the bigger cause. Accomplishing the missions you are tasked with. But: Question everything, find new ways! Is the ship steered in the right direction? Is the mission worthy? Are my leaders or their superiors honest? To us? To themselves? What am I not seeing?
I'm offering these questions not as a critique of the mindset set forth here. I gained so much from it, and am striving to incorporate more of it into my life, personal and professional, every day.
I'm offering these questions as a way to give back.
My hope is that they will be perceived this way.
I thank the authors of "Extreme ownership" for the concise and entertaining way they offered their hard-won wisdom to a broader public.
Please keep up the good work! (Well, I think, you're not ones to get stopped easily anyway
)
Recently downloaded the audiobook of "Extreme Ownership" on Audible and loved it.
Straight away applicable, I utilised the insights on a troubled IT project I lead, that was going nowhere.
I found out it was me who was responsible, I wasn't giving it any time and attention, just wanted it done and out of the way.
That mindset was clearly visible in any part of my team and in every aspect of implementation and communication.
Owning up to that, and in this process discovering my reasons for being reluctant (major parts of the project would not be implemented for at least another 3 years due to company IT evolution), but then finding reasons I could still immediately benefit form successfully implementing my part to the fullest, turned the project around with astonishing speed and satisfaction.
I admire the toughness and the "Getting after it!" mindset, that Jocko epitomises. So much there that I can own and learn.
I'm definitely much more lazy and convenient. I also have a rebellious streak a mile wide, and so constantly question the larger picture and operative agendas in my company, often refusing to work in that direction, when I don't see the benefits. This sometimes becomes an excuse for lesser performance, to everyones detriment, including my own. Still the constant search for new angles, new ways of going about it, and ways to achieve more with less effort clearly have provided many great boosts to my projects and those of my superiors.
Also, being born in Austria, my grandfather was part of the German "Wehrmacht" during 1938-1945. What I learned from inheriting some of the blame for the atrocious war crimes of WWII was: "Nobody has the right to obey!" (!) And this is a very central takeaway from these dark times.
So I venture this: Every mindset has a cost. Accepting yourself as a part of whole is great, so is surrendering your ego to the bigger cause. Accomplishing the missions you are tasked with. But: Question everything, find new ways! Is the ship steered in the right direction? Is the mission worthy? Are my leaders or their superiors honest? To us? To themselves? What am I not seeing?
I'm offering these questions not as a critique of the mindset set forth here. I gained so much from it, and am striving to incorporate more of it into my life, personal and professional, every day.
I'm offering these questions as a way to give back.
My hope is that they will be perceived this way.
I thank the authors of "Extreme ownership" for the concise and entertaining way they offered their hard-won wisdom to a broader public.
Please keep up the good work! (Well, I think, you're not ones to get stopped easily anyway
)
