what is the make your bed speech about

CHECK OUT OUR UPCOMING EVENTS! Fill your calendar with fun ways to give back! Have A Look!

Admiral William McRaven | One Person Can Change The World: The Power Of Hope

The “Make Your Bed” speech by US Navy Admiral, William H. McRaven, outlines the importance of doing the little things like making your bed, embracing the fears of life, taking risks, facing bullying, respecting others, and changing the world for generations to come.

00:00 – “Start Off By Making Your Bed”

00:46 – “Don’t Back Down From The Sharks”

01:45 – “Measure a Person by The Size of Their Heart not By The Size of their Flippers”

03:01 – “The Power of Hope – The Power of One Person”

Acknowledgements

Thank you Admiral William McRaven for your moving speech and thank you Goalcast.com for amplifying his message by creating this video. This content was not created by Boulder Crest Foundation or our partners. It has been added to our PTG Resource Library given the value it provides for our PTG community.

About the Authors

Explore more, matt leach | warrior pathh leads to posttraumatic growth, transformed by trauma: stories of posttraumatic growth documentary, 2023 warrior pathh year in review, give strength & hope to those who serve.

Your support powers life-changing programs offered at no charge to veterans, military, first responders, and their families. With your help, our Warriors won't just survive — they'll thrive.

You're subscribed!

We have received your email sign-up. Please tell us more about yourself.

YOUR GIFT FUELS TRANSFORMATION.

Support Our Nation's Heroes. Make a Gift to the Transformation Fund TODAY.

The Full Admiral McRaven Speech Transcript

O n May 17, 2014, Former Admiral William. H. McRaven advised the graduates of the class of 2014 at the University of Texas. He served in the Navy for many years.

The former Admiral McRaven’s speech is very motivational, and the whole purpose of the speech is to show that anyone can change the world. In his speech, he gives ten suggestions on how anyone can see the world.

Article Topics

What is the theme of admiral mcraven speech.

The general theme of his ‘make your bed speech’ is that anyone can change the world; all you need is the courage to do it. He also explains how giving up isn’t an option no matter what you’re going through. Eventually, it will pass, and you will win.

Admiral McRaven also explains how it isn’t necessary to change everyone’s lives for the world to change. All you need is to change the lives of only a few people, and the generations to come will feel the effect. You would have changed their entire lineage’s lives.

Watch and Listen to this motivational video of the Admiral McRaven Speech on YouTube

What advice did navy admiral william.h.mcraven give in his commencement address and well known 'make your bed speech'.

• Make your bed . Making your bed means that you’d have accomplished the first task of the day. It might seem small and mundane, but even after a long miserable day, at least you’ll come back to a made bed.
• Find someone to help you paddle . You can’t change the world on your own; you need a support team, people to cheer you up and help you change the world. We all need help.
• Measure a person by the size of their heart, not their flippers’ size . The physical aspects of who someone is don’t necessarily make up for a lot. What’s on the inside is what matters the most.
• Get over being a sugar cookie and keep moving forward . Sometimes the universe just doesn’t recognize your efforts no matter how much you’ve put in. This shouldn’t make you lose hope, get over it and keep pushing.
• Don’t be afraid of the circuses . Some situations will wear us down, but they are meant to strengthen your resolve by the end of the day.
• Sometimes you have to slide down the obstacle head first . Even in the hardest of situations, you have to take a risk and face your problems head first. Sometimes that’s the only way to win.
• Don’t back down from the sharks . Sharks are obstacles that you might face in your journey. Even when those obstacles show up, don’t back down. That’s the only way you’ll win.
• If you want to change the world, you must be the very best in your darkest moment . During the darkest moments, it gets hard to see what lies ahead, but be hopeful because, after that darkness, there can only be light.
• Start singing when you’re up to your neck in mud . In your darkest moments, be the person who stands up and gives others hope. Giving others hope will mean preventing them from giving up during those difficult moments.
• Don’t ever ring the bell . Ringing the bell is the easiest thing to do. But for you to succeed in life, you will have to assume that giving up isn’t an option, and that’s when you can concentrate on winning.

The Full Admiral McRaven Speech

It’s been almost 37 years to the day that I graduated from UT. I remember a lot of things about that day. I remember I had a throbbing headache from a party the night before. I remember I had a serious girlfriend, whom I later married (that’s important to remember, by the way), and I remember that I was getting commissioned in the Navy that day.

But of all the things I remember, I don’t have a clue who the commencement speaker was, and I certainly don’t remember anything they said. So, acknowledging that fact, if I can’t make this commencement speech memorable, I will at least try to make it short.

The University’s slogan is, “What starts here changes the world.” I’ve got to admit. I kind of like it. “What starts here changes the world.”

Tonight there are almost 8,000 students (there are more than 8000) graduating from UT. So, that great paragon of analytical rigor, Ask.Com, says that the average American will meet 10,000 people in their lifetime. That’s a lot of folks. But, if every one of you changed the lives of just ten people and each one of those people changed the lives of another ten people,(just ten people) then in five generations 125 years, the class of 2014 will have changed the lives of 800 million people.

Eight hundred million people — think about it — over twice the population of the United States. Go one more generation, and you can change the entire population of the world — eight billion people.

If you think it’s hard to change the lives of 10 people, change their lives forever, you’re wrong. I saw it happen every day in Iraq and Afghanistan: A young Army officer makes a decision to go left instead of right down a road in Baghdad, and the ten soldiers with him are saved from a close-in ambush.

In Kandahar province, Afghanistan, a non-commissioned officer from the Female Engagement Team senses that something isn’t right and directs the infantry platoon away from a 500-pound IED, saving the lives of a dozen soldiers.

But, if you think about it, not only were those soldiers saved by the decisions of one person, but their children were saved. And their children’s children were saved. Generations were saved by one decision, one person.

But changing the world can happen anywhere, and anyone can do it. So, what starts here can indeed change the world, but the question is — what will the world look like after you change it?

Well, I am confident that it will look much, much better. But if you will humor this old sailor for just a moment, I have a few suggestions that may help you on your way to a better world. And while these lessons were learned during my time in the military, I can assure you that it matters not whether you ever served a day in uniform. It matters not your gender, your ethnic or religious background, your orientation, or your social status.

Our struggles in this world are similar, and the lessons to overcome those struggles and to move forward — changing ourselves and changing the world around us — will apply equally to all.

I have been a Navy SEAL for 36 years. But it all began when I left UT for Basic SEAL training in Coronado, California. Basic SEAL training is six months of long torturous runs in the soft sand, midnight swims in the cold water off San Diego, obstacles courses, unending calisthenics, days without sleep, and always being cold, wet, and miserable.

It is six months of being constantly harassed by professionally trained warriors who seek to find the weak of mind and body and eliminate them from ever becoming a Navy SEAL.

But the training also seeks to find those students who can lead in an environment of constant stress, chaos, failure, and hardships. To me, basic SEAL training was a lifetime of challenges crammed into six months.

So, here are the ten lessons I learned from basic SEAL training that hopefully will be of value to you as you move forward in life.

1. Make your bed

Every morning in SEAL training, my instructors, who at the time were all Vietnam veterans, would show up in my barracks room, and the first thing they would do is inspect my bed. If you did it right, the corners would be square; the covers would be pulled tight, the pillow centered just under the headboard, and the extra blanket folded neatly at the foot of the rack.

It was a simple task, mundane at best. But every morning, we were required to make our bed to perfection. It seemed a little ridiculous at the time, particularly in light of the fact that we were aspiring to be real warriors, tough battle-hardened SEALs, but the wisdom of this simple act has been proven to me many times over.

If you make your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride, and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another. By the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed. Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that the little things in life matter. If you can’t do the little things right, you will never be able to do the big things right.

And, if by chance you have a miserable day, you will come home to a bed that is made — that you made — and a made bed gives you encouragement that tomorrow will be better.

If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.

2. Find someone to paddle with

During SEAL training, the students are broken down into boat crews. Each crew is seven students — three on each side of a small rubber boat and one coxswain to help guide the dingy. Every day your boat crew forms up on the beach and is instructed to get through the surf zone and paddle several miles down the coast. In the winter, the surf off San Diego can get to be 8 to 10 feet high, and it is exceedingly difficult to paddle through the plunging surf unless everyone digs in.

Every paddle must be synchronized to the stroke count of the coxswain. Everyone must exert equal effort, or the boat will turn against the wave and be unceremoniously dumped back on the beach.

For the boat to make it to its destination, everyone must paddle. You can’t change the world alone — you will need some help — and to truly get from your starting point to your destination takes friends, colleagues, the goodwill of strangers, and a strong coxswain to guide them.

If you want to change the world, find someone to help you paddle.

3. Measure a person by the size of their heart, not the size of their flippers

Over a few weeks of difficult training, my SEAL class, which started with 150 men, was down to just 42. There were now six boat crews of seven men each. I was in the boat with the tall guys, but the best boat crew we had was made up of the little guys (the munchkin crew we called them) no one was over about five-foot-five.

The munchkin boat crew had one American Indian, one African American, one Polish American, one Greek American, one Italian American, and two tough kids from the midwest. They out-paddled, out-ran, and out-swam all the other boat crews.

The big men in the other boat crews would always make good-natured fun of the tiny little flippers the munchkins put on their tiny little feet prior to every swim. But somehow, these little guys, from every corner of the nation and the world, always had the last laugh, swimming faster than everyone and reaching the shore long before the rest of us.

SEAL training was a great equalizer. Nothing mattered but your will to succeed. Not your color, not your ethnic background, not your education, and not your social status.

If you want to change the world, measure a person by the size of their heart, not the size of their flippers.

4. Get over being a sugar cookie and keep moving forward.

Several times a week, the instructors would line up the class and do a uniform inspection. It was exceptionally thorough. Your hat had to be perfectly starched, your uniform immaculately pressed, your belt buckle shiny and void of any smudges.

But it seemed that no matter how much effort you put into starching your hat, or pressing your uniform, or polishing your belt buckle — it just wasn’t good enough. The instructors would find “something” wrong.

For failing the uniform inspection, the student had to run, fully clothed into the surf zone, and then, wet from head to toe, roll around on the beach until every part of your body was covered with sand. The effect was known as a “sugar cookie.” You stayed in the uniform the rest of the day — cold, wet, and sandy.

There were many a student who just couldn’t accept the fact that all their effort was in vain. That no matter how hard they tried to get the uniform right, it was unappreciated. Those students didn’t make it through training. Those students didn’t understand the purpose of the drill. You were never going to succeed. You were never gonna have a perfect uniform.

Sometimes no matter how well you prepare or how well you perform, you still end up as a sugar cookie. It’s just the way life is sometimes.

If you want to change the world, get over being a sugar cookie and keep moving forward.

5. Don’t be afraid of the circuses.

Every day during training, you were challenged with multiple physical events — long runs, long swims, obstacle courses, hours of calisthenics — something designed to test your mettle. Every event had standards — times you had to meet.

If you failed to meet those standards, your name was posted on a list, and at the end of the day, those on the list were invited to a “circus.” A circus was two hours of additional calisthenics designed to wear you down, to break your spirit, to force you to quit.

No one wanted a circus.

A circus meant that for that day, you didn’t measure up. A circus meant more fatigue, and more fatigue meant that the following day would be more difficult, and more circuses were likely. But at some time during SEAL training, everyone, everyone, made the circus list.

But an interesting thing happened to those who were constantly on the list. Over time those students — who did two hours of extra calisthenics — got stronger and stronger. The pain of the circuses built inner strength and physical resiliency.

Life is filled with circuses. You will fail. You will likely fail often. It will be painful. It will be discouraging. At times it will test you to your very core.

But if you want to change the world, don’t be afraid of the circuses.

6. If you want to change the world, sometimes you have to slide down the obstacle head first.

At least twice a week, the trainees were required to run the obstacle course. The obstacle course contained 25 obstacles, including a 10-foot high wall, a 30-foot cargo net, and a barbed wire crawl, to name a few.

But the most challenging obstacle was the slide for life. It had a three-level 30-foot tower at one end and a one-level tower at the other. In between was a 200-foot-long rope. You had to climb the three-tiered tower, and once at the top, you grabbed the rope, swung underneath the rope, and pulled yourself hand over hand until you got to the other end.

The record for the obstacle course had stood for years when my class began training in 1977. The record seemed unbeatable until one day; a student decided to go down the slide for life head first. Instead of swinging his body underneath the rope and inching his way down, he bravely mounted the TOP of the rope and thrust himself forward.

It was a dangerous move — seemingly foolish and fraught with risk. Failure could mean injury and being dropped from the course. Without hesitation, the student slid down the rope perilously fast. Instead of several minutes, it only took him half that time, and by the end of the course, he had broken the record.

If you want to change the world, sometimes you have to slide down the obstacle head first.

7. If you want to change the world, don’t back down from the sharks

During the land warfare phase of training, the students are flown out to San Clemente Island, which lies off the coast of San Diego. The waters off San Clemente are a breeding ground for the great white sharks.

To pass SEAL training, there are a series of long swims that must be completed. One is the night swim.

Before the swim, the instructors joyfully brief the trainees on all the species of sharks that inhabit the waters off San Clemente.

They assure you, however, that no student has ever been eaten by a shark — at least not that they can remember. But, you are also taught that if a shark begins to circle your position, stand your ground.

Do not swim away. Do not act afraid. And if the shark, hungry for a midnight snack, darts towards you, then summon up all your strength and punch him in the snout, and he will turn and swim away.

There are a lot of sharks in the world. If you hope to complete the swim, you will have to deal with them.

So, if you want to change the world, don’t back down from the sharks.

8. Be your very best in the darkest moments.

As Navy SEALs, one of our jobs is to conduct underwater attacks against enemy shipping. We practiced this technique extensively during training. The ship attack mission is where a pair of SEAL divers is dropped off outside an enemy harbor and then swims well over two miles — underwater — using nothing but a depth gauge and a compass to get to their target.

During the entire swim, even well below the surface, there is some light that comes through. It is comforting to know that there is open water above you. But as you approach the ship, which is tied to a pier, the light begins to fade. The steel structure of the ship blocks the moonlight, it blocks the surrounding street lamps, it blocks all ambient light.

To be successful in your mission, you have to swim under the ship and find the keel — the centerline and the deepest part of the ship. This is your objective. But the keel is also the darkest part of the ship — where you cannot see your hand in front of your face, where the noise from the ship’s machinery is deafening, and where it is easy to get disoriented and you can fail.

Every SEAL knows that under the keel, at the darkest moment of the mission, is the time when you must be calm when you must be composed — when all your tactical skills, your physical power, and all your inner strength must be brought to bear.

If you want to change the world, you must be your very best in the darkest moments.

9. Start singing when you’re up to your neck in mud

The ninth week of training is referred to as “Hell Week.” It is six days of no sleep, constant physical and mental harassment, and one special day at the Mud Flats. The Mud Flats are area between San Diego and Tijuana where the water runs off and creates the Tijuana slues, a swampy patch of terrain where the mud will engulf you.

It is on Wednesday of Hell Week that you paddle down to the mudflats and spend the next 15 hours trying to survive the freezing cold mud, the howling wind, and the incessant pressure to quit from the instructors. As the sun began to set that Wednesday evening, my training class, having committed some “egregious infraction of the rules,” was ordered into the mud.

The mud consumed each man till there was nothing visible but our heads. The instructors told us we could leave the mud if only five men would quit — just five men — and we could get out of the oppressive cold. Looking around the mudflat, it was apparent that some students were about to give up. It was still over eight hours till the sun came up — eight more hours of bone-chilling cold.

The chattering teeth and shivering moans of the trainees were so loud it was hard to hear anything. And then, one voice began to echo through the night, one voice raised in song. The song was terribly out of tune but sung with great enthusiasm. One voice became two, and two became three, and before long, everyone in the class was singing.

The instructors threatened us with more time in the mud if we kept up the singing, but the singing persisted. And somehow, the mud seemed a little warmer, the wind a little tamer, and the dawn not so far away.

If I have learned anything in my time traveling the world, it is the power of hope. The power of one person — Washington, Lincoln, King, Mandela, and even a young girl from Pakistan, Malala — one person can change the world by giving people hope.

So, if you want to change the world, start singing when you’re up to your neck in mud.

10. Don’t ever, ever ring the bell.

Finally, in SEAL training, there is a bell. A brass bell that hangs in the center of the compound for all the students to see. All you have to do to quit is ring the bell.

Ring the bell, and you no longer have to wake up at 5 o’clock. Ring the bell, and you no longer have to be in the freezing cold swims. Ring the bell, and you no longer have to do the runs, the obstacle course, the PT — and you no longer have to endure the hardships of training. All you have to do is ring the bell and be out.

If you want to change the world, don’t ever, ever ring the bell.

Why does Admiral McRaven say to make your bed?

He emphasizes making your bed first thing in the morning because by doing that, you have accomplished your first task of the day. Making your bed means; you have already won something even before you’ve begun. And even if your day ends up being not perfect, at the end of the day, you will come back home to a well-made bed to rest on.

Making your bed in the morning will give you a sense of pride and accomplishment and help you get through the day. Having accomplished your first task in the morning will give you the encouragement needed to accomplish the other tasks ahead of you, making it not just one task but a couple of others that followed.

When did Admiral McRaven make his speech?

Admiral McRaven, the ninth U.S. Special Operations Command, made his speech at the University of Texas commencement on May 17, 2014.

Final Words

The Admiral’s speech is the most memorable speech ever given due to the amount of wisdom and advice. It is an encouragement to everyone that making a change in the world doesn’t require much except for will and drive. Never giving up is a very great tool that he shares multiple times in his speech.

The Complete List of the 10 Best Masterclass Classes

The 5 most common meditation frequencies.

Luke Ocean is a writer, self-proclaimed bio-hacker, wellness advocate and yoga expert. Luke grew up on a small ranch in Montana and enlisted in the Navy to study and become a cryptologist. He later graduated from the US Naval Academy with a Minor in Mandarin and a Bachelor's of Science for General Engineering and a Major of English Literature. Luke's interests and career span multiple industries and various disciplines.  Luke resides in San Antonio and is a Certified Yoga Instructor, a student of Zen Buddhism, practitioner of Holistic Psychology and has completed his CYT-200 and is studying for his 300-hour yoga teacher training.

Privacy Overview

• Integrative Health
• Mental Health
• Yoga Philosophy
• Positive Psychology
• Personal Development
• Yoga Teacher Training
• Yoga Practice
• Martial Arts
• Relationships
• Spirituality
• Entrepreneurship
• Professional Development
• Energy Healing
• Sound Healing

Book Summaries

Book Collections

Articles: Wisdom Collected from Interviews, Books, and More

This page shares my best articles to read on topics like creativity, decision making, strategy, and more. The central questions I explore are, “How can we learn the best of what others have mastered? And how can we become the best possible version of ourselves?”

Humankind progresses by adding to our shared body of knowledge. We all benefit from the insights of our ancestors. I like the idea of leaving a great “intellectual inheritance” and I’m trying to add a little bit of knowledge to the pile by curating the best ideas throughout history.

Ready to dive in? You can use the categories below to browse my best articles.

Self-improvement tips based on proven scientific research . No spam. Just the highest quality ideas you'll find on the web.

Thanks for subscribing! You’re all set.

You’ll be notified every time I share a new post.

Craftsmanship

Decision making, life lessons, money & investing, peak performance, self mastery, 30 days to better traction & results: a simple step-by-step guide for achieving more each day..

• Take the guesswork out of achieving more . 11 email lessons walk you through the first 30 days of peak performance practices step-by-step, so you know  exactly what to do.
• Get the tools and strategies you need to take action . The course includes a 20-page PDF workbook (including templates and cheatsheets), plus new examples and applications that you won’t find elsewhere.
• Learn a framework that works for any goal . You can use this course to help you achieve any goal — from getting fit to daily meditation. Everything I share is time tested and science backed.

Enroll in the free email course. Get your first lesson today.

You will get one short email every three days for a month. You can unsubscribe any time.

“Make Your Bed“ Speech by Admiral William H. McRaven

This speech was delivered as the commencement address to the graduates of The University of Texas at Austin on May 17, 2014.

Speech Transcript

President Powers, Provost Fenves, Deans, members of the faculty, family and friends and most importantly, the class of 2014. Congratulations on your achievement.

It's been almost 37 years to the day that I graduated from UT. I remember a lot of things about that day. I remember I had throbbing headache from a party the night before. I remember I had a serious girlfriend, whom I later married — that's important to remember by the way — and I remember that I was getting commissioned in the Navy that day.

But of all the things I remember, I don't have a clue who the commencement speaker was that evening, and I certainly don't remember anything they said. So, acknowledging that fact, if I can't make this commencement speech memorable, I will at least try to make it short.

The University's slogan is, “What starts here changes the world.” I have to admit — I kinda like it. “What starts here changes the world.”

Tonight there are almost 8,000 students graduating from UT. That great paragon of analytical rigor, Ask.Com, says that the average American will meet 10,000 people in their lifetime. That's a lot of folks. But, if every one of you changed the lives of just 10 people — and each one of those folks changed the lives of another 10 people — just 10 — then in five generations — 125 years — the class of 2014 will have changed the lives of 800 million people.

800 million people — think of it — over twice the population of the United States. Go one more generation and you can change the entire population of the world — eight billion people.

If you think it's hard to change the lives of 10 people — change their lives forever — you're wrong. I saw it happen every day in Iraq and Afghanistan: A young Army officer makes a decision to go left instead of right down a road in Baghdad and the 10 soldiers in his squad are saved from close-in ambush. In Kandahar province, Afghanistan, a non-commissioned officer from the Female Engagement Team senses something isn't right and directs the infantry platoon away from a 500-pound IED, saving the lives of a dozen soldiers.

But, if you think about it, not only were these soldiers saved by the decisions of one person, but their children yet unborn were also saved. And their children's children were saved. Generations were saved by one decision, by one person.

But changing the world can happen anywhere and anyone can do it. So, what starts here can indeed change the world, but the question is — what will the world look like after you change it?

Well, I am confident that it will look much, much better. But if you will humor this old sailor for just a moment, I have a few suggestions that may help you on your way to a better a world. And while these lessons were learned during my time in the military, I can assure you that it matters not whether you ever served a day in uniform. It matters not your gender, your ethnic or religious background, your orientation or your social status.

Our struggles in this world are similar, and the lessons to overcome those struggles and to move forward — changing ourselves and the world around us — will apply equally to all.

I have been a Navy SEAL for 36 years. But it all began when I left UT for Basic SEAL training in Coronado, California. Basic SEAL training is six months of long torturous runs in the soft sand, midnight swims in the cold water off San Diego, obstacles courses, unending calisthenics, days without sleep and always being cold, wet and miserable. It is six months of being constantly harrassed by professionally trained warriors who seek to find the weak of mind and body and eliminate them from ever becoming a Navy SEAL.

But, the training also seeks to find those students who can lead in an environment of constant stress, chaos, failure and hardships. To me basic SEAL training was a lifetime of challenges crammed into six months.

So, here are the 10 lessons I learned from basic SEAL training that hopefully will be of value to you as you move forward in life.

Every morning in basic SEAL training, my instructors, who at the time were all Vietnam veterans, would show up in my barracks room and the first thing they would inspect was your bed. If you did it right, the corners would be square, the covers pulled tight, the pillow centered just under the headboard and the extra blanket folded neatly at the foot of the rack — that's Navy talk for bed.

It was a simple task — mundane at best. But every morning we were required to make our bed to perfection. It seemed a little ridiculous at the time, particularly in light of the fact that were aspiring to be real warriors, tough battle-hardened SEALs, but the wisdom of this simple act has been proven to me many times over.

If you make your bed every morning you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride, and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another. By the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed. Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that little things in life matter. If you can't do the little things right, you will never do the big things right.

And, if by chance you have a miserable day, you will come home to a bed that is made — that you made — and a made bed gives you encouragement that tomorrow will be better.

If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.

During SEAL training the students are broken down into boat crews. Each crew is seven students — three on each side of a small rubber boat and one coxswain to help guide the dingy. Every day your boat crew forms up on the beach and is instructed to get through the surfzone and paddle several miles down the coast. In the winter, the surf off San Diego can get to be 8 to 10 feet high and it is exceedingly difficult to paddle through the plunging surf unless everyone digs in. Every paddle must be synchronized to the stroke count of the coxswain. Everyone must exert equal effort or the boat will turn against the wave and be unceremoniously tossed back on the beach.

For the boat to make it to its destination, everyone must paddle. You can't change the world alone — you will need some help — and to truly get from your starting point to your destination takes friends, colleagues, the good will of strangers and a strong coxswain to guide them.

If you want to change the world, find someone to help you paddle.

Over a few weeks of difficult training my SEAL class, which started with 150 men, was down to just 35. There were now six boat crews of seven men each. I was in the boat with the tall guys, but the best boat crew we had was made up of the the little guys — the munchkin crew we called them — no one was over about five-foot-five.

The munchkin boat crew had one American Indian, one African American, one Polish American, one Greek American, one Italian American, and two tough kids from the midwest. They out-paddled, out-ran and out-swam all the other boat crews. The big men in the other boat crews would always make good-natured fun of the tiny little flippers the munchkins put on their tiny little feet prior to every swim. But somehow these little guys, from every corner of the nation and the world, always had the last laugh — swimming faster than everyone and reaching the shore long before the rest of us.

SEAL training was a great equalizer. Nothing mattered but your will to succeed. Not your color, not your ethnic background, not your education and not your social status.

If you want to change the world, measure a person by the size of their heart, not the size of their flippers.

Several times a week, the instructors would line up the class and do a uniform inspection. It was exceptionally thorough. Your hat had to be perfectly starched, your uniform immaculately pressed and your belt buckle shiny and void of any smudges. But it seemed that no matter how much effort you put into starching your hat, or pressing your uniform or polishing your belt buckle — it just wasn't good enough. The instructors would find “something” wrong.

For failing the uniform inspection, the student had to run, fully clothed into the surfzone and then, wet from head to toe, roll around on the beach until every part of your body was covered with sand. The effect was known as a “sugar cookie.” You stayed in that uniform the rest of the day — cold, wet and sandy.

There were many a student who just couldn't accept the fact that all their effort was in vain. That no matter how hard they tried to get the uniform right, it was unappreciated. Those students didn't make it through training. Those students didn't understand the purpose of the drill. You were never going to succeed. You were never going to have a perfect uniform.

Sometimes no matter how well you prepare or how well you perform you still end up as a sugar cookie. It's just the way life is sometimes.

If you want to change the world get over being a sugar cookie and keep moving forward.

Every day during training you were challenged with multiple physical events — long runs, long swims, obstacle courses, hours of calisthenics — something designed to test your mettle. Every event had standards — times you had to meet. If you failed to meet those standards your name was posted on a list, and at the end of the day those on the list were invited to a “circus.” A circus was two hours of additional calisthenics designed to wear you down, to break your spirit, to force you to quit.

No one wanted a circus.

A circus meant that for that day you didn't measure up. A circus meant more fatigue — and more fatigue meant that the following day would be more difficult — and more circuses were likely. But at some time during SEAL training, everyone — everyone — made the circus list.

But an interesting thing happened to those who were constantly on the list. Over time those students — who did two hours of extra calisthenics — got stronger and stronger. The pain of the circuses built inner strength, built physical resiliency.

Life is filled with circuses. You will fail. You will likely fail often. It will be painful. It will be discouraging. At times it will test you to your very core.

But if you want to change the world, don't be afraid of the circuses.

At least twice a week, the trainees were required to run the obstacle course. The obstacle course contained 25 obstacles including a 10-foot high wall, a 30-foot cargo net and a barbed wire crawl, to name a few. But the most challenging obstacle was the slide for life. It had a three-level 30-foot tower at one end and a one-level tower at the other. In between was a 200-foot-long rope. You had to climb the three-tiered tower and once at the top, you grabbed the rope, swung underneath the rope and pulled yourself hand over hand until you got to the other end.

The record for the obstacle course had stood for years when my class began training in 1977. The record seemed unbeatable, until one day, a student decided to go down the slide for life head first. Instead of swinging his body underneath the rope and inching his way down, he bravely mounted the TOP of the rope and thrust himself forward.

It was a dangerous move — seemingly foolish, and fraught with risk. Failure could mean injury and being dropped from the training. Without hesitation the student slid down the rope perilously fast. Instead of several minutes, it only took him half that time and by the end of the course he had broken the record.

If you want to change the world sometimes you have to slide down the obstacle head first.

During the land warfare phase of training, the students are flown out to San Clemente Island which lies off the coast of San Diego. The waters off San Clemente are a breeding ground for the great white sharks. To pass SEAL training there are a series of long swims that must be completed. One is the night swim.

Before the swim the instructors joyfully brief the trainees on all the species of sharks that inhabit the waters off San Clemente. They assure you, however, that no student has ever been eaten by a shark — at least not recently. But, you are also taught that if a shark begins to circle your position — stand your ground. Do not swim away. Do not act afraid. And if the shark, hungry for a midnight snack, darts towards you — then summon up all your strength and punch him in the snout, and he will turn and swim away.

There are a lot of sharks in the world. If you hope to complete the swim you will have to deal with them.

So, if you want to change the world, don't back down from the sharks.

As Navy SEALs one of our jobs is to conduct underwater attacks against enemy shipping. We practiced this technique extensively during basic training. The ship attack mission is where a pair of SEAL divers is dropped off outside an enemy harbor and then swims well over two miles — underwater — using nothing but a depth gauge and a compass to get to their target.

During the entire swim, even well below the surface, there is some light that comes through. It is comforting to know that there is open water above you. But as you approach the ship, which is tied to a pier, the light begins to fade. The steel structure of the ship blocks the moonlight, it blocks the surrounding street lamps, it blocks all ambient light.

To be successful in your mission, you have to swim under the ship and find the keel — the centerline and the deepest part of the ship. This is your objective. But the keel is also the darkest part of the ship — where you cannot see your hand in front of your face, where the noise from the ship's machinery is deafening and where it is easy to get disoriented and fail.

Every SEAL knows that under the keel, at the darkest moment of the mission, is the time when you must be calm, composed — when all your tactical skills, your physical power and all your inner strength must be brought to bear.

If you want to change the world, you must be your very best in the darkest moment.

The ninth week of training is referred to as “Hell Week.” It is six days of no sleep, constant physical and mental harassment, and one special day at the Mud Flats. The Mud Flats are area between San Diego and Tijuana where the water runs off and creates the Tijuana slues, a swampy patch of terrain where the mud will engulf you.

It is on Wednesday of Hell Week that you paddle down to the mud flats and spend the next 15 hours trying to survive the freezing cold mud, the howling wind and the incessant pressure to quit from the instructors. As the sun began to set that Wednesday evening, my training class, having committed some “egregious infraction of the rules” was ordered into the mud.

The mud consumed each man till there was nothing visible but our heads. The instructors told us we could leave the mud if only five men would quit — just five men — and we could get out of the oppressive cold. Looking around the mud flat it was apparent that some students were about to give up. It was still over eight hours till the sun came up — eight more hours of bone-chilling cold.

The chattering teeth and shivering moans of the trainees were so loud it was hard to hear anything. And then, one voice began to echo through the night, one voice raised in song. The song was terribly out of tune, but sung with great enthusiasm. One voice became two and two became three and before long everyone in the class was singing. We knew that if one man could rise above the misery then others could as well.

The instructors threatened us with more time in the mud if we kept up the singingbut the singing persisted. And somehow the mud seemed a little warmer, the wind a little tamer and the dawn not so far away.

If I have learned anything in my time traveling the world, it is the power of hope. The power of one person — Washington, Lincoln, King, Mandela and even a young girl from Pakistan, Malala — one person can change the world by giving people hope.

So, if you want to change the world, start singing when you're up to your neck in mud.

Finally, in SEAL training there is a bell. A brass bell that hangs in the center of the compound for all the students to see. All you have to do to quit is ring the bell.

Ring the bell and you no longer have to wake up at 5 o'clock. Ring the bell and you no longer have to do the freezing cold swims. Ring the bell and you no longer have to do the runs, the obstacle course, the PT — and you no longer have to endure the hardships of training. Just ring the bell.

If you want to change the world don't ever, ever ring the bell.

To the graduating class of 2014, you are moments away from graduating. Moments away from beginning your journey through life. Moments away from starting to change the world — for the better. It will not be easy.

But, YOU are the class of 2014, the class that can affect the lives of 800 million people in the next century.

Start each day with a task completed. Find someone to help you through life. Respect everyone.

Know that life is not fair and that you will fail often. But if take you take some risks, step up when the times are toughest, face down the bullies, lift up the downtrodden and never, ever give up — if you do these things, then the next generation and the generations that follow will live in a world far better than the one we have today.

And what started here will indeed have changed the world — for the better.

Thank you very much. Hook 'em horns.

Browse more of history's greatest speeches →

The speech was originally published on the University of Texas website .

About the author

‍ Daniel Scrivner is an award-winner designer and angel investor. He's led design work at Apple, Square, and now ClassDojo. He's an early investor in Notion, Public.com, and Anduril. He founded Ligature: The Design VC and Outlier Academy . Daniel has interviewed the world’s leading founders and investors including Scott Belsky, Luke Gromen, Kevin Kelly, Gokul Rajaram, and Brian Scudamore.

Thanks for reading. You can get more actionable ideas in my popular email newsletter. Each week, I share 5 ideas, quotes, questions, and more to ponder this weekend. Over 25,000 people subscribe . Enter your email now and join us.

Friday 5 Newsletter

Get weekly wisdom that you can read in 5 minutes. Add remarkable ideas and actionable insights to your inbox. Enter your email and try my free newsletter.

Make Your Bed Book Summary, Review, Notes

“Make Your Bed” by Admiral William McRaven is an uplifting and inspiring book that draws on the author’s experiences as a Navy SEAL and his training to give readers tips for getting ahead in life. McRaven’s hard-won collection of life lessons includes lessons on taking risks, not giving up, and working with others .

The book’s main idea is that making your bed every morning is a good way to start building the habits and self-discipline you need to do well in anything. The author says that these seemingly small steps can lead to big changes if taken with a positive attitude and a willingness to work hard.

Book Title— Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life… And Maybe Even the World. Author— Admiral William McRaven Date of Reading— May 2023 Rating— 9/10

What Is Being Said in Detail

Chapter 1.   start your day with a task completed dealing with inner conflict.

McRaven explains his fundamental opinion that people with solid foundations and ideas follow regular routines.

Discipline and organization are the cornerstones of trustworthiness and success. It’s the opposite for McRaven, who recalls his time guarding Saddam Hussein following his capture by US forces and says that Hussein “never made his bed.”

Navy SEALS are typically obliged to report to morning drills at a specified time and to go to sleep at a specific time. Arriving one minute late for morning workouts might result in hours or even days of punishment. 

Consequently, after a few days in camp, a Navy SEAL realizes that deviating a little from what is demanded of him can mean misfortune. Self-discipline needs that you always adhere to your strategy regardless of the distractions.

The same is true for anybody desiring success. When things don’t go according to plan, it’s important to stick to your strategy, even if it means finding a new way to accomplish your goals.

While you are aware that you should continue and adhere to your plans and goals, a part of you, may, at some point, wish to throw in the towel and give up. 

However, there is a part of you that desires to continue pushing until you attain your objectives. This internal struggle is referred to as “inner conflict,” and it is the primary impediment to self-discipline.

The first step toward developing self-discipline is to learn and recognize how to resolve internal conflict.

When it comes to Navy SEALs, they have instructors who are always pushing them, making sure that they don’t have any time to think about their own thoughts and feelings. Either they follow the rules, or they will be punished or removed from the institution.

You, on the other hand, do not have Navy SEAL instructors, so you must learn how to be your own mentor. You can do this by “recognizing your opponent.”

There are usually two opposing sides in any battle. The reason you are frequently unsure which side to take is that there is not always a right or wrong answer. Part of your wishes to preserve your energy and stay stress-free, which is good for your health on all levels, body, mind, and spirit alike, because you would be at peace.

However, the force driving you to follow through on your plans and accomplish your goals realizes that in order to sustain happiness and peace of mind for an extended period of time, you must first work to accomplish your goals in the short term. That part of you knows that if you work hard now, you’ll have plenty of time later on to relax.

Now, while you are in the midst of internal conflict, you should learn to discern which side to listen to, and you must listen to the side that makes the most logical case.

You must avoid making rash decisions at all costs.  Navy SEALS are well-known for not making abrupt, impulsive judgments because the decision, may put them in serious trouble. 

You must adopt a similar mindset and recognize that each and every decision and action you take has a substantial impact on your life and future, and that each and every choice must be thoroughly evaluated.

CHAPTER 2. YOU CAN’T GO IT ALONE

While training as a SEAL, McRaven and his small raft crew were required to carry their rubber raft with them at all times. The rest of the team had to work harder if one member was slacking off. There were always others to help and support one another if one member was ill or weak.

McRaven was reminded of this lesson many years later when he was injured during a parachute jump. The long and difficult recuperation was made easier by his wife’s constant support and her ability to keep him from sinking into self-pity. Whether in civilian or military life, we all rely on the assistance and support of those around us.

He still remembers that during these times, the other members of the crew would step up to the plate. In order to keep digging, the others would paddle even harder. 

Members of the group would donate some of their own food to aid the sick or injured person’s recovery. Afterwards, when the crew member was feeling better, he would do the same for the other person in return.

This test demonstrated to them that they could not complete SEAL training on the basis of their own strength. They discovered that they would be unable to survive fighting on their own. 

You can’t get through the tough moments all by yourself, and this lesson applies to regular life as well. You need the help of those who are close to you. Twenty-five years later, McRaven still held this philosophy.

As a leader , you must play a variety of roles. Even if you’re leading a small group or a large-scale organization, these responsibilities tend to be present. Management is an example of one of these roles. As a matter of fact, management is so important that it is almost regarded as a synonym for leadership.

Management is defined as the process of dealing with people and things, according to the dictionaries. While management is present at all levels of the hierarchical system, it is of particular importance to those in positions of leadership. Here are a few of the reasons why good management is a powerful weapon in the battle against leadership difficulties.

CHAPTER  3. ONLY THE SIZE OF YOUR HEART MATTERS

During SEAL training, it looked as if everyone was attempting to prove something to the rest of the group. He relates an incident that happened before he became a SEAL, when he was in college and participated in the ROTC program. 

On an informal visit to a SEAL training center in Coronado, one of the officers introduced him to someone he had previously seen in the hallway.

McRaven was taken aback to see the slender, almost frail-looking man in a facility known for extraordinarily strong and powerful special operations soldiers. It wasn’t until he met this gentle-appearing man that McRaven recognized he needed to stop looking at appearances when developing judgments of what people were capable of doing.

The size of your heart is the most important factor in determining your worth.

Make a plan for the next five to ten years and stick to it! Do you aspire to be the company’s financial director? Do you aspire to be the boss of your own company? Do you want to generate passive income?

There are no two people’s objectives that are exactly alike, and if you create goals based on what other people have set, you’ll be disappointed and they won’t be sufficient to keep you motivated. You’ll be more likely to stick with your objectives if you think about what you want your life to be like and create specific goals to get there.

If you only think about the things you want in life, such as “I want to have a car.” That sort of thinking will make the path more difficult. This is because it looks like a big goal that would be hard to reach. 

However, if you break down this aim and establish a goal like, “I’m going to save $5,000 this year toward purchasing my own car at the end of the year,” your goal becomes smaller and more manageable. You should break down your long-term goals into smaller ones once you have set down all of your long-term life goals.

Starting with five-year, one-year, monthly, weekly, and daily goals is a great way to organize your priorities. Every single day, you should be actively working towards those goals in order to keep attention and the essential amount of discipline that would enable you to achieve them.

To achieve your goals, you must have a clear picture of the steps you need to take. Break down those actions into smaller, more manageable parts. If, for example, you want to buy a house in the next few years but your wage only covers the cost of a car, you’ll need a better career and possibly additional sources of income.

Although, multitasking can be a good thing, but it isn’t always beneficial. One step at a time from your list of possible courses of action should be your primary focus. 

If you’re working on your resume first, devote all of your time and energy to it, and then go on to something else only once you’ve completed that task. If you’re looking for a job this week, don’t switch gears until you’ve found one that works for you.

When you concentrate on a single task at a time, it’s much easier to keep your mind organized and your self-control strong. The more tasks you have, the more likely it is that you will procrastinate and have internal conflict, which can stop you from getting things done and making progress.

To truly develop mental toughness, you must keep raising the bar. Beginning SEAL training, a Navy SEAL is given a series of less and more challenging tasks to perform, which gradually get tougher. Setting the bar higher and higher is the only way to build true mental toughness.

CHAPTER  4. LIFE’S NOT FAIR-DRIVE ON!

It’s easy to blame outside forces for one’s misfortune, to give up, and to believe that it’s pointless to try to change the course of destiny. It’s easy to believe that your upbringing and education shape your destiny. 

Nothing could be more false. Admiral William H. McRaven recalls the uniform inspections in this chapter in order for us to understand this point.

While he was on the Navy Seal, uniform inspections were done meticulously. The belt buckle had to be polished and free of scuffs, and the cap had to be perfectly starched. Nevertheless, despite the trainees’ best attempts, their attire was never considered enough. They were often criticized by their professors.

As a result of the uniform check, the soldier who didn’t pass was punished with the “sugar cookie.” This practice consisted of jumping into the ocean in full uniform. Afterwards, they had to roll in the sand until every inch of his body was completely covered with sand. The rest of the day would be spent sandy, wet, and freezing.

In truth, the goal of this exercise was to demonstrate that no matter how much work is put into achieving a flawless uniform, it is still unattainable. When bad luck strikes , you have to embrace the fact that you may be a part of the problem. The learner can be subjected to this apparent torment at any time to serve as a reminder to them that life isn’t always fair or easy.

By the time McRaven was assigned the sugar cookie penalty, it had been given to him by an instructor called Moki Martin, a clever and skilled soldier who later became disabled in an accident on his bike. Moki never questioned why this occurred to him; he simply adapted to the shift in his life and moved on. 

Self-pity and remorse have no value in the long run. A successful person does not question what cards they have been dealt; instead, they play the hand with the best of their abilities and see what comes out of it.

Next, McRaven shows us how to anticipate things and expand our creative brainpower. He discusses the types of projects that we should be planning. As well as when and how they should be planned.

Typical Planning Steps

• Make a Detailed Strategy
• Thinking Outside the Box
• Set a Date in Your Calendar
• Organize Your Living Areas

Finally, if you’ve developed the habit of directing your energy in the appropriate direction, it’s time to commit to excellence. It’s not enough to accomplish your goals and be successful at them. 

In order to grow, you must invest in yourself. You’ve already achieved one of the many goals you set for yourself. Becoming the best version of yourself is a matter of “Being All That You Can Be!”

CHAPTER  5. FAILURE CAN MAKE YOU STRONGER

During their Navy training, William H. McRaven and the other trainees had to regularly demonstrate their physical talents on a variety of challenging tests. They were all meant to test the candidates’ mental toughness as well as their physical endurance and stamina. The duration and number of repetitions for each exercise were clearly stated.

As a result, if a candidate was unsuccessful, they were added to a list. A “Circus” was planned for everyone on the list at the end of the day. A “Circus” was two extra hours of calisthenics aimed at persuading candidates to resign. 

A “Circus,” in addition to showing that the trainee was not up to the task that day, also suggested that he would be even more tired, which meant that the next day would be even more tough, increasing the likelihood of another Circus.

During the training, however, everyone, without exception, ends up on the Cirque’s list at some point. Even more astounding for individuals who were always on that list was how much stronger they were by completing an additional two hours of calisthenics a day over the course of time. 

This Circus build inner strength and physical toughness with their grueling workouts. You will become more resilient if you experience failure.

It’s common for people to wait until it’s too late before they notice that their negative self-talk is having an effect on their behavior.  As humans, we all encounter difficulties at one point or another. It’s impossible to prevent it.

With experience and habits, we may overcome our human nature’s tendency to avoid problems and find the easy way out of difficult situations. We must first understand it in order to overcome it.

In a variety of situations, we feel the need to flee from the difficulties that confront us. The author sorted them into three groups based on how challenging they were to overcome.

• Challenges that we’ve already failed at
• New challenges that we are unfamiliar with
• Challenges we’ve overcome in the past.

Negative thoughts can manifest in a slew of different ways. One of the most common is mentally replaying a poor event in the same situation. All the bad things that happened as a result of your failure, including being laughed at, are still fresh in your mind. 

It’s all part of our built-in defense system. As a result, they will ensure that we avoid any obstacles that could potentially “hurt” ourselves. As a result, our task is to battle these natural tendencies and confront these obstacles head-on, hopefully defeating them.

It’s the only way we can learn and grow that we have to face and overcome obstacles over and over again in order to keep progressing. If you do this enough, you’ll become addicted to it because life gets boring and monotonous when there are no new challenges to overcome.

CHAPTER  6. YOU MUST DARE GREATLY

It was mandatory for Navy SEAL recruits to complete the “Combat Course” at least twice a week while they were in basic training. A three-meter-high wall, a nine-meter-sided net, and barbed wire were among the twenty-five obstacles in the course.

A thirty-meter rope crossing between nine-meter and three-meter towers was the most demanding test for the author. Rather than clambering up the tallest tower, you had to grab a rope and hang from it like a koala, then pull yourself up to the three-meter tower with your arms until your arms gave out from the strain.

There was a speed record in place for this race that had been established years earlier. As if it couldn’t be topped. However, one day, a student made a radical reversal in their course of action. 

As opposed to hanging from the end of the rope, he decided to climb it and pull himself over to the other end. His training would be effectively finished by an accidental fall from such an altitude. 

He didn’t hesitate, however, and ended up breaking the record by a long shot. In the weeks following the incident, McRaven admitted that he had conquered his fear and made it to the other side of the rope headfirst for the first time.

People who are emotionally healthy and conscious of their thoughts and behaviors are better able to deal with the stresses and anxieties that are a normal part of daily life. 

If you poison it with bad ideas, the body quickly deteriorates and becomes immersed in disease and worry. Negative thoughts are rooted in and stem from the mind, and they are clearly communicated when the body is unwell.

People that are susceptible to negative thoughts are those who are constantly afraid.

A clean body is the result of a clean mind and heart. Thought is the root of both action and life. Hence, every action is based on a thought. Only if you are aware of your feelings and how you control them, can you improve your emotional well-being.

Meditation and other relaxation techniques might help you put your emotions back into balance.

CHAPTER  7. STAND UP TO THE BULLIES

The Navy SEALs are the first people who need to keep their emotions, particularly their anxieties, in check because they’re constantly exposed to life-threatening situations. 

The Navy SEALs are the ideal people to learn from when it comes to mastering terror control. They use a strategy called “The Big Four,” which has four components: goals, visualization, positive self-talk, and reactivity regulation.

In war, this level of bravery defies all concepts of patriotism and instead reflects the purity of the fearless spirit and is the ultimate epitome of sacrifice and loyalty to the soldier beside you in combat.

Setting goals is as prevalent among successful individuals as breathing is among those who aren’t. The distinction between average, successful people and Navy SEALs is that the SEALs’ goals are very explicit and specific, as opposed to general or ambiguous. 

How precise can you be? Their goals are separated into micro, short-term, intermediate, and long-term objectives.

Consider the Navy SEALs’ BUDS training program as an illustration of how exact they can be in defining goals. Rather than seeing the program as a six-month commitment, the most successful candidates broke it down into smaller, more manageable parts. 

A good illustration of this is their early morning 90-minute grinder sessions, which take place before they eat their breakfast. Before they think about anything else, they concentrate solely on completing the 90-minute program. So much so that they even further divide it up into sets, on which they concentrate solely. 

By breaking down their goals into smaller, more manageable chunks that are both specific and basic, they are better able to concentrate on a single objective at a time. 

As a result, Navy SEALs have a unique ability to keep track of and deal with their own problems because they set short-term goals and then work these goals into larger ones that are more long-term.

Why not use it in your personal life as well? Make a daily to-do list of the things you have to get done. Instead of looking at your schedule on a daily basis, look at it on a task-by-task basis. Concentrate your efforts and attention on a single task at a time , as the successful Navy SEAL candidates do. 

Put off starting a new task until you’ve finished the existing one completely. The mind of a Navy SEAL, on the other hand, is trained to be relentless in the pursuit of a goal through this method.

CHAPTER 8. RISE TO THE OCCASION

As part of their training to become SEALs, trainees learn how to attack enemy ships with submarines. With only a depth gauge and a compass, one of the tasks involves swimming more than three kilometers underwater to reach the destination. 

Even from a great distance, you can still see the lights of the nearby harbor. But as soon as they get close enough to have a look, the lights go out. The metal frame of the ship shuts out the moonlight, the street lighting, and the ambient light.

The trainees’ task is to locate the ship’s keel in the darkest and most remote portion of the ship. To do so, they’ll have to dive beneath the ship. When the machinery starts up, the noise level quickly rises to unbearable levels. With so much going on, it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle.

Every Navy SEAL knows that if you want to rely on your tactical and physical skills, you have to remain calm under the keel, where it is darkest. That is the place where the inner strength of everyone is revealed. To make a difference in the world, you must give your all, even when things look gloomiest.

Admiral William H. McRaven believes that facing and overcoming one’s anxieties, doubts, and exhaustion are critical. Everything depends on him finishing his assignment successfully, regardless of what occurs.

According to recent findings, the brain functions similarly to a muscle. Depending on how much effort you put into it, its condition either improves or worsens. Even if the brain does benefit from “exercise,” it’s not something we’re used to thinking of as a necessity. Here are the actions you can take to accomplish that.

• Battle-proofing

Emergency conditioning, or “battle-proofing,” is the process of training your brain to handle the stress of combat. While lying in their bunks, Navy SEALs try to imagine they are in the thick of battle. It’s important for them to picture the sights, smells, physical exertion, and tiredness that they might see and smell in the middle of a fight, as well as other things.

Furthermore, the more details you include in your imagined experience, the more deeply embedded it is in your brain. So, whether you’re running a race or fighting in a battle, the more vividly you’ve visualized it, the better prepared you are for the event.

The term “trigger” can refer to a variety of things, but in this context of Navy SEAL mental fitness, the trigger is that which you have decided to focus on in order to kickstart all of your training. Think about what you want your trigger to be before you do anything else. 

This image can serve as a reminder of whatever is most important to you right now. You’ll save the use of your trigger for those moments when it’s absolutely critical, or in the case of the SEALs, if it’s life or death. When you use the trigger, your mental and physical strength are brought together, and you are ready to face anything that comes your way.

• Changing your story

A productive person will either make the appropriate phone call, take the appropriate action, or simply stand by and do nothing at all. There will be occasions when any of these options will be the best reaction, but losing your calm is rarely the appropriate thing to do.

• Waiting for the next best answer

While it’s important to pay attention to your gut feelings, there’s a vast difference between following your instincts and acting on impulses. 

Taking action on the spur of the moment, when adrenaline is pumping, is nearly always a mistake. It is very, very likely that you will choose the smarter option if you take your time, slow down, and wait for your instinctual, smart answer.

This is what Navy SEALs are trained to do. They work very hard to avoid acting on a hunch or a gut feeling. As the situation worsens, this becomes increasingly critical. It’s up to you whether or not to go with the second idea that pops into your head or stick with your initial plan. In the end, it’s up to you. The most crucial thing is to decide on the best next step.

CHAPTER  9. GIVE PEOPLE HOPE

Hell Week, the most difficult week of SEAL training, includes six days of no sleep, strenuous physical activity, and verbal and physical abuse. Instructors put trainees under extreme stress on the mudflats on Wednesday of Hell Week, forcing them to give up and leave.

They would be exposed to six days of torment and little sleep during Hell Week. This week was designed to pick out individuals who didn’t have what it takes to be a SEAL, and they were expected to perform at a high level.

This training portion of a SEAL’s journey is a life-altering experience. There are many benefits to mental testing, even for individuals who fail to make it through training. An individual will be able to take the required measures to become the best version of themselves. 

It’s impossible to return to one’s pre-training self. In the end, they’ll be better equipped to deal with anything that comes their way. This will have a long-term impact on their well-being.

That same mental strength may be developed and strengthened by people who are not interested in attending SEAL training. The mental strength it will require to achieve one’s goals is something we rarely consider when setting goals for ourselves. 

Whether or not you run 20 minutes a day to lose 30 pounds is a mental decision that must be made only if you are determined to do it. To achieve a goal takes more than a few tweaks to your daily routine; it also demands mental preparation.

People realize that they live the way they do because it’s convenient for them. It doesn’t matter if we aren’t progressing, losing weight, or becoming a better version of ourselves; our daily routines have made us happy. 

To be successful, one must be willing to adapt to new situations. What is effective today may not be effective in the future.

When confronted with the demon of comfort, it is challenging yet rewarding to take a risk. Their perception of themselves prior to Hell Week is vastly different from who they are today. 

That previous version was never going to be good enough or successful enough for us to move on with it. The newly retrained SEAL is fully capable of completing any mission.

The objective is to make you realize that standing still does not work. Get out of your comfort zone, improve yourself, and pursue the dreams you’ve had for a long time. There is a glimmer of optimism, and it is conceivable for things to change. 

Don’t ever forget this. However, in order to achieve transformation, it requires a great deal of mental preparation. Because it’s hard, don’t be discouraged, because the rewards are enormous. In the best-case scenario, you’ll be able to look back on this time and see a completely different person.

When it comes to survival, William H. McRaven believes that we all have the ability to overcome our obstacles. We all have the potential to serve as role models for others. By clinging to hope, it is possible to alleviate the agony of loss.

CHAPTER  10. NEVER, EVER QUIT

SEAL training is well known for being the most physically demanding training available in the United States Armed Forces. In addition to extreme physical and mental stress, it tests one’s ability to function under severe sleep deprivation while dealing with extreme pain, sub-zero temperatures, and a positive attitude towards fellow recruits. 

It also tests one’s ability to function under extreme physical and mental stress. Recruits will consume up to 7,000 calories per day throughout this exercise and still lose weight.

They have made the decision that their dream of becoming a Navy SEAL will not come to pass, though it gives them instant relief. Even if you put in the effort to try and have made progress so far, the small sense of pleasure that comes from ringing the bell is tempered by the disappointment of failing.

They’re one day closer to achieving their goal for every day they don’t ring the bell, and they’re one step closer to achieving their goal. Resilience and perseverance , as well as the refusal to give up in the face of adversity, are demonstrated by this gesture. 

The Navy SEAL mindset is to resist the temptation to constantly succumb to failure, no matter how difficult the situation seems. Despite this, it is clear that this is not an easy task, as evidenced by the fact that 80 percent of SEAL applicants do not complete the training.

Although you are unlikely to be put through the same brutal physical and mental tests that SEALs receive during their training, the concept of ringing the bell can still convey an important message. 

You must make the decision to never wear a bell in your normal life. Do not give up or deny yourself the opportunities to achieve the goals you want so much. Don’t take the easy way out and deprive yourself of more substantial benefits.

Keep in mind that you yourself are your biggest impediment and at the end of the day, you will be responsible for most of your failures. Senior officers are available to keep SEAL candidates in check and on track to complete the program, but this is a privilege most of us don’t have on a regular basis, which is a significant disadvantage. Instead, you must maintain your determination and drive to maximize your potential and achieve success.

Most Important Keywords, Sentences, Quotes

Chapter 1. start your day with a completed task..

“If you want to change the world… start off by making your bed.”

“Making my bed correctly was not going to be an opportunity for praise. It was expected of me. It was my first task of the day and doing it right was important. It demonstrated discipline. It showed my attention to detail, and at the end of the day it would a reminder that I had done something well, something to be proud of, no matter small the task.”

“In battle soldiers die, families grieve, your days are long and filled with anxious moments. You search for something that can give you solace, that can motivate you to begin your day, that can be a sense of pride in an oftentimes ugly world. 

It is daily life that needs this same sense of structure. Nothing can replace the strength and comfort on one’s faith, but sometimes the simple act of making your bed can give the lift you need to start your day and provide you the satisfaction to end it right.”

CHAPTER 2. You Can’t Go It Alone.

“If you want to change the world… find someone to help you paddle.”

“I learned early on in SEAL training the value of teamwork , the need to rely on someone else to help you through the difficult task.”

“No SEAL could make it through combat alone and by extension you need people in your life to help you through the difficult times.”

“You cannot paddle the boat alone. Find someone to share your life with. Make as many friends as possible, and never forget that your success depends on others.”

CHAPTER 3. Only the Size of Your Heart Matters.

“If you want to change the world… measure a person by the size of their heart.”

“SEAL training was always about proving something. Proving that size didn’t matter. Proving that the color of your skin wasn’t important. Proving that money didn’t make you better. Proving that determination and grit were always more important than talent. I was fortunate to learn that lesson a year before training began.”

“In 1969, Tommy Norris was almost booted out of SEAL training. They said he was too small, too thin, and not strong enough. But much like the young sailor in my class, Norris proved them all wrong and once again showed that it’s not the size of your flippers that count, just the size of your heart.”

CHAPTER 4. Life’s Not Fair – Drive On!

“If you want to change the world… get over being a sugar cookie and keep moving forward.”

“Because, Mr. Mac, life isn’t fair and the sooner you learn that the better off you will be.”

“Sometimes no matter how hard you try, no matter how good you are, you still end up as a sugar cookie. Don’t complain. Don’t blame it on your misfortune. Stand tall, look to the future, and drive on!”

CHAPTER 5. Failure Can Make You Stronger.

“If you want to change the world… don’t be afraid of The Circus.”

“In life you will face a lot of Circuses. You will pay for your failures. But, if you persevere, if you let those failures teach you and strengthen you, then you will be prepared to handle life’s toughest moments.”

“I realized that the past failures had strengthened me, taught me that no one is immune from mistakes. True leaders must learn from their failures, use the lessons to motivate themselves, and not be afraid to try again or make the next decision… You can’t avoid The Circus. At some point we all make the list. Don’t be afraid of The Circus.”

CHAPTER 6. You Must Dare Greatly.

“If you want to change the world… slide down the obstacle headfirst.”

“That obstacle course is going to beat you every time unless you start taking some risk.”

“It was a simple lesson in overcoming your anxieties and trusting your abilities to get the job done. The lesson would serve me well in the years to come.”

“Life is a struggle and the potential for failure is ever present, but those who live in fear of failure or hardship, or embarrassment will never achieve their potential. Without pushing your limits, without occasionally sliding down the rope headfirst, without daring greatly, you will never know what is truly possible in your life.”

CHAPTER 7. Stand Up to the Bullies.

“If you want to change the world… don’t back down from the sharks.”

“Our goal, which we believed to be honorable and noble, gave us courage, and courage is a remarkable quality. Nothing and nobody can stand in your way. Without it, others will define your path forward. Without it, you are at the mercy of life’s temptations. 

Without courage, men will be ruled by tyrants and despots, without courage, no great society can flourish. Without courage, the bullies of the world rise. With it, you can accomplish any goal. With it, you can defy and defeat evil.”

“Bullies gain their strength through the timid and faint of heart. They are like sharks that sense fear in the water. They will circle to see if their prey is struggling. They will probe to see if their victim is weak. If you don’t find the courage to stand your ground, they will strike. 

In life to achieve your goals, to complete the night swim, you will have to be men and women of great courage. That courage is within all of us. Dig deep, and you will find it in abundance.”

CHAPTER 8.  Rise to the Occasion.

“If you want to change the world… be your very best in the darkest moments.”

“Tonight, you will have to be your very best. You must rise above your fears, your doubts, and your fatigue. No matter how dark it gets, you must complete the mission. This is what separates you from everyone else.”

“At some point we will all confront a dark moment in life. If not the passing of a loved one, then something else that crushes your spirit and leaves you wondering about your future. In that dark moment, reach deep inside yourself and be your very best.”

CHAPTER 9. Give People Hope.

“If you want to change the world… start singing when you’re up to your neck in mud.”

“Once again, we had learned an important lesson: the power of one person to inspire those around him, to give them hope. If that one person could sing while neck deep in mud, then so could we. If that one person could endure the freezing cold, then so could we. If that one person could hold on, then so could we.”

“Hope is the most powerful force in the universe. With hope you can inspire nations to greatness. With hope you can raise up the downtrodden. With hope you can ease the pain of unbreakable loss. Sometimes all it takes is one person to make a difference.” 

As last statements he continues with, “We will all find ourselves neck deep in mud someday. That is the time to sing loudly, to smile broadly, to life up those around you and give them hope that tomorrow will be a better day.”

CHAPTER 10. Never, Ever Quit!

“If you want to change the world… don’t ever, ever ring the bell.”

“If you quit, you will regret it for the rest of your life. Quitting never makes anything easier.”

“Of all the lessons I learned in SEAL training, this was the most important. Never quit.”

“Life is full of difficult times. But someone out there always has it worse than you do. If you fill your days with pity, sorrowful for the way you have been treated, bemoaning your lot in life, blaming your circumstances on someone or something else, then life will be long and hard. 

If, on the other hand, you refuse to give up on your dreams, stand tall and strong against the odds-then life will be what you make of it-and you can make it great. Never, ever, ring the bell!”

“Remember… start each day with a task completed. Find someone to help you through life. Respect everyone. Know that life is not fair and that you will fail often. But if you take some risks, set up when times are toughest, face down the bullies, lift the downtrodden, and never, ever give up-if you do these things, then you change your life for the better… and maybe the world!”

Book Review (Personal Opinion):

Although the concepts discussed in Make Your Bed are not particularly groundbreaking, Admiral McRaven’s anecdotes and examples are inspiring and instructive. Since I had almost no prior knowledge of the Navy, I was genuinely interested in most field experiences.

A lot of times, the best advice is also the easiest. In my perspective, that is the book’s main premise. The author’s ten lessons are useful to everyone looking to succeed and improve oneself . Even though they may seem obvious, it’s helpful to be reminded of them occasionally.

Most readers won’t take longer than a few hours to finish this. The book was fairly easy to understand thanks to the author’s clear and concise writing style.

Rating: 9/10

This Book Is For:

• People who want to change their lives for the better and to find purpose.
• People who want to learn to make tough decisions with determination, compassion, honor, and courage.
• People who want to achieve more, even during difficult moments.

If You Want to Learn More

Here is the video of Admiral William H. McRaven’s 2014 Commencement Speech at the University of Texas. University of Texas at Austin 2014 Commencement Address – Admiral William H. McRaven.

How I’ve Implemented the Ideas from The Book

After experiencing a lack of motivation and a feeling of purpose in my life, I began making my bed every morning, even if I was rushed or fatigued. 

Making my bed was difficult to get into at first, but in the long run it provided me a sense of control and order, which transferred to other aspects of my life. I discovered that I was more motivated to do other duties and set and attain goals.

During a particularly difficult period at work, the lessons from the book came in handy. I was dealing with a difficult project and felt overwhelmed, but I reminded myself of the value of perseverance and little, incremental efforts. I was able to complete the project successfully and with a stronger sense of accomplishment by being disciplined and focused.

One Small Actionable Step You Can Do

If you want to use some of the ideas from “Make Your Bed,” one small step you can take is to make your bed every morning. It might seem like a small thing, but it can give you a sense of success and organization that can help you in other parts of your life. 

Also, setting specific goals or tasks for the day ahead can help you stay focused and inspired.

books that slay

book summaries & discussion guides

Make Your Bed Summary and Key Lessons

“Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life…And Maybe the World” is a book by Admiral William H. McRaven, based on a commencement speech he gave at the University of Texas at Austin in 2014. 

The book expands on the core message of that speech, presenting profound principles McRaven learned during his training and service as a U.S. Navy SEAL. These lessons are distilled into ten chapters, each originating from a fundamental habit or principle that can lead to insane personal success.

Make Your Bed Summary

The first and titular principle of starting your day with a complete task emphasizes the importance of beginning each day with a small win—making your bed. 

This simple act is symbolic of the larger discipline required in life, providing a sense of pride and a foundation to accomplish further tasks throughout the day. McRaven extends this lesson to life’s challenges, illustrating that tackling the small things can prepare us for the more significant, more complex tasks that come our way. 

This segues into the book’s second principle, which is about finding someone to help you paddle. 

McRaven uses anecdotes from SEAL training to demonstrate that no one achieves success alone; partnerships and collaborative efforts are crucial to overcoming life’s challenges.

In subsequent chapters, McRaven delves into the theme of resilience. 

He recounts grueling SEAL training scenarios, particularly “ The Circus ,” a punishing extra workout designed to test the limits of trainees’ physical and mental stamina. 

The lesson of not backing down from the sharks is a metaphor drawn from a harrowing night swim with sharks. It suggests that in life, one must face fears head-on to move forward, rather than shy away from them. 

Another principle, “ You Must Be Your Very Best in Your Darkest Moments ,” stems from survival training, emphasizing the importance of maintaining one’s composure and excellence under pressure.

Hope and Belief

McRaven also discusses the importance of hope and belief to drive action. 

He shares a story of an innovative approach during an obstacle course, highlighting that sometimes taking risks and breaking with convention can lead to significant rewards. 

It’s about daring to take the initiative, to approach problems with creativity and courage.

Another lesson is to “Don’t Ever, Ever Ring the Bell,” a reference to the bell that SEAL trainees can ring to quit training. This chapter speaks to the power of perseverance, encouraging the reader to push through difficult times without giving up, no matter how tempting it may be to stop.

The final chapters of the book resonate with themes of hope, courage, and the importance of doing the right thing . McRaven underscores the need for unwavering determination in the face of setbacks. 

His life lessons converge to a fundamental conclusion: the actions of individuals have the power to ripple outward, impacting others and, potentially, the world, culminating in the conviction that small , everyday practices, like making one’s bed, encapsulating the discipline and thoughtfulness will help in leading a truly impactful lives.

Key Lessons

1. the power of starting your day with a completed task.

The simple act of making your bed every morning is not only a practice of self-discipline, but it also sets the tone for the rest of the day and gives you a sense of pride in accomplishing a task. 

It symbolizes one’s dedication to taking charge of one’s life, no matter how small the initial task. This act can create a positive chain reaction of completing tasks throughout the day.

Application

Implement this lesson by establishing a morning routine that starts with a structured task, like making your bed. 

By doing so, you create a momentum that can carry you through more complex and challenging tasks with a mindset geared towards action and accomplishment. This ritual serves as a daily reminder that little things matter and that attention to detail can lead to larger successes.

2. The Importance of Teamwork and Relying on Others

No individual is an island, and success is often a collective endeavor. McRaven recounts his SEAL training exercises , where the importance of working together and supporting one another was constantly emphasized. 

Learning to rely on others and offering support when they need it is fundamental in any challenging situation, be it in the military, the workplace, or personal life.

Foster a culture of collaboration in your own life. 

At work, create and participate in team projects where each member can contribute their unique skills and support each other . In your personal life, nurture relationships where mutual support is a priority. Recognize that asking for help is not a sign of weakness but a strategy for greater strength and success. 

By helping others, you build a network of trust and collaboration that benefits everyone involved.

3. Facing Your Fears and Challenges Head-On

Fear is a natural response to danger, uncertainty, and challenge, but it should not paralyze you. 

McRaven shares his experience of night-swimming among sharks , which is a powerful metaphor for confronting one’s fears. He suggests that when we head straight into the dark waters of our fears, we often find the strength and courage we didn’t know we had. 

Moreover, actively confronting fears can diminish their power over us and sometimes reveal that what we feared wasn’t as insurmountable as we thought.

Identify the “sharks” in your life—those fears that are holding you back from achieving your goals. Confront these fears with calculated courage. 

This might mean taking on a project that intimidates you, speaking up in a meeting, or tackling a difficult conversation . By facing these fears instead of avoiding them, you’ll develop resilience and the confidence that you can handle the challenges that come your way. 

Moreover, you set an example for others who may be struggling with their own fears, creating a culture of courage and determination.

Final Thoughts

Throughout “Make Your Bed,” Admiral McRaven uses his experiences as a Navy SEAL to impart wisdom that transcends military life. 

The book is a compelling blend of memoir and self-help , offering a roadmap not only for individual success but also for contributing to the greater good. 

With its accessible prose and relatable storytelling, “Make Your Bed” aims to inspire us to achieve more through discipline, teamwork, and moral courage.

Read our other summaries

• Humans Are Underrated | Book Summary
• You are a Badass | Book Summary
• The Four Hour Body | Book Summary
• 10% Happier | Book Summary
• Late Bloomers | Book Summary