Helping leaders and organizations reduce uncertainty, gain clarity, and take the next meaningful step. U.S. Navy Captain (Ret.) | Leadership Coach | Author
Keep Your Mission Green 🟢
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Hi Reader, Back in the early ’80s, when I was serving aboard a nuclear submarine, my Chief Petty Officer gave me some advice I’ve never forgotten: “Of course you have a lot of things to do. You’re on a nuclear submarine, for crying out loud! Now go do the next thing and keep focusing on the mission, ya non-qual!” A “non-qual” was a sailor who hadn’t yet completed submarine qualifications—and Chiefs had a special way of reminding us. His point was simple: You don’t have to get everything done right now. You don’t have to finish everything today. You just need to take the next step. I’ve been using a simple idea in my coaching lately: Keep the Mission Green 🟢 Think about something important you’re working on right now—a business project, a leadership challenge, or anything else that matters to you. Now ask yourself: What’s one meaningful step I can take today? Maybe you only have 5, 10, or 15 minutes. Take the step. I call these Whitt Steps—small, meaningful steps toward something that matters. You don’t have to complete the entire project today. You just need to move it forward. Writing a strategic plan? Work on one section. Facing a leadership challenge? Identify the next decision you need to make. Then take the next step. And here’s something a coaching client recently taught me that I love: If the mission starts feeling too big, stop for a moment and look down at your feet. That’s where you are right now. Don’t worry about the entire journey ahead. Just ask: What’s the next step these feet can take to keep the mission green? Then take it. Tomorrow, take the next one. My Chief would be proud. Mission Green. 🟢 To Getting It Done! Michael A. Whitt
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To Getting It Done Leadership
Helping leaders and organizations reduce uncertainty, gain clarity, and take the next meaningful step. U.S. Navy Captain (Ret.) | Leadership Coach | Author
Hi Reader, People rarely need more information. They need less uncertainty. Over the past several weeks, I’ve learned something that has changed the way I coach leaders, write, and even think about solving problems. Most people aren’t looking for another book, another podcast, or another opinion. They’re looking for clarity. For years, I believed my job was to give people answers. I was wrong. Then something interesting started happening. Whether I was coaching a nonprofit executive, a...
Hi Reader, People rarely need more information. They need less uncertainty. Over the past several weeks, I’ve learned something that has changed the way I coach leaders, write, and even think about solving problems. Most people aren’t looking for another book, another podcast, or another opinion. They’re looking for clarity. For years, I believed my job was to give people answers. I was wrong. Then something interesting started happening. Whether I was coaching a nonprofit executive, a...
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