William H. McRaven

Make Your Bed

1. IDEA 1

   Start each day with one task

   McRaven recalls Navy SEAL training, where recruits had to make their beds perfectly every morning. Completing that small task gives a sense of pride and leads to the next task, and a tidy bed waits at the end of a bad day.

2. IDEA 2

   Nobody paddles the boat alone

   In training, small teams carried and paddled boats together through cold surf. McRaven learned that success depends on others, and that you need people who help you when you are struggling.

3. IDEA 3

   Judge people by their heart

   McRaven describes a boat crew of shorter men who outperformed bigger, stronger teams. He concludes that size, background or appearance do not decide success; determination and heart matter far more than looks.

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