Helping leaders and organizations reduce uncertainty, gain clarity, and take the next meaningful step. U.S. Navy Captain (Ret.) | Leadership Coach | Author
Resending: Giving Up Already?
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Hi Reader, Bottom Line Up Front: Take action now. The "gurus" will tell you that Decision is king. Others say Momentum is everything. I say no. You can’t have momentum without movement, and a decision without a deed is just a daydream. In my 38 years of Naval leadership, I learned one truth: Action is the engine that drives everything else.Do you stall because you don’t "feel" like it? Are you waiting for a perfect plan? I’ve been there. I’ve drifted while waiting for the "right mood"—until I learned that Action defeats all. I learned this the hard way on my first submarine, the USS MEMPHIS (SSN 691). I learned things there that carried me through the tough times that followed on aircraft carriers to combat zones in Iraq. Honestly, I didn’t know "diddly" when I first arrived at those commands. My survival tool was simple: Establish a practice of taking action now. On the MEMPHIS, we didn't have the internet, email, or faxes. We had to plan personnel and admin tasks six months in advance just to ensure the mission could continue while we were at sea. Dealing with 150 crew members and their families was a massive undertaking. The number of tasks was overwhelming, often requiring 18-hour days before catching a few hours of sleep and doing it all again before the crack of dawn. If you take massive action every day, you are successful every day. On the other hand, I saw other “boats” (submarines) that weren’t so successful. I’ve seen leaders spend an hour creating a “to-do list” with over 100 items. It never worked. They were paralyzed by the plan. If they had just taken action on the next most important task, they would have eliminated defeat and achieved victory. I’ve also seen leaders who try to lead by “feel” first. I say “No”! It’s like putting the cart before the horse. This never works and always leads to disappointment because you are trying to get feelings now, before you take any action. Action first, then results, then feelings is what always works for me (and oftentimes I’d just stamp out that last part-feelings). This “Take Action Now” tool has served me well for four decades, and it will do the same for you. Yes, it’s “Captain Obvious” territory—but remember, I was a Captain in the Navy, and sometimes the obvious is exactly what needs to be said. How can this serve you today?
Don't worry about planning the whole mountain. Just take action on the next most important thing. You’ve been successful before, and you can do it again. Take action now! Smooth Sailing, Captain Michael Whitt, USN, Ret. Execution Architect To Getting It Done Leadership
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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, 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...
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...