Jocko Willink - Action and Responsibility
Few men have managed to make an impact on my life as Jocko Willink has.
The principles of masculinity, responsibility, and duty are taught within both Jocko's podcasts as well as his best selling novel Extreme Ownership. Each medium provides a different look into the man's values and teachings, with each being immensely valuable. Through stories and direct lessons, Jocko Willink communicates his principles for his audience of thousands to great effect.
First, a brief background of Mr. Willink. Jocko Willink is a retired United States Navy SEAL officer as a former member of SEAL Team 3. SEALS are the special forces group of the United States Navy, and are some of the most formidable warriors worldwide. Throughout his extensive service, Jocko earned a silver star, a bronze star, and the rank of lieutenant commander by the end of his career. Currently, he is co-founder of management consultancy group, Echelon Front and hosts the weekly Jocko Podcast in which he discusses his values through war-time experiences.
The most important elements of Jocko's philosophy are his notion of "extreme ownership," his direct form of communication, and his emphasis on emotional control.
"Extreme ownership" is the doctrine that one should be in complete control of their environment, to the furthest possible extent. Put simply, while certain events and actions taken around us may not be our fault, they become our responsibility as they relate to us. For instance, if I am playing a gaming of soccer, and my teammate continues to miss a shot at the goal, it wouldn't be prudent of me to complain about their lack of skill. A proper response (under "extreme ownership") would be to ask oneself what more I can provide to the team so we can win, rather than engaging in unproductive bickering about skill. Especially as a leader, extreme ownership allows for better performance through positive thinking and action, rather than blaming those other than ourselves.
Jocko's best quality in teaching self-improvement lessons is how direct he is toward his audience. Short, clear-cut lessons can be dictated and displayed, which I believe is something many lack. Self-improvement gurus are usually very full of woo, and want you to buy into a philosophy that is more guided and less direct. The directness of Jocko's messaging coupled with its aggressiveness is much more resonant, and also is a quality way behaving when tackling your day-to-day.
Emotional control is communicated more through Zen-like traits and breathing techniques in today's self-help material than more traditional methods. Jocko approaches most emotionally charged situations with a simple phrase: "No Factor." If something is out of your control, no factor. If something is irrelevant in a situation, no factor. Most importantly, if emotionality doesn't add positive action to a situation, no factor.
My personal experience with Jocko is also relevant to the discussion of his effectiveness. Many of those oriented towards self-improvement such as Jordan Peterson, are impactful but less direct. Jocko helps to light a fire under the ass of those who have been lulled into complacency by other self-improvement learning. Action is a primary component that differentiates and adds to the value of Jocko's message.
Responsibility and action are the most important elements of Jocko's philosophy and lessons. We have responsibility for our lives, and must take action accordingly. No sugar-coating, no complication, just the basic facts.
