Successful people aren’t just born – they’re built. In and out of the military, Navy SEALs like Brandon Webb have proven themselves to be successful by overcoming every obstacle placed in their path. Here are some of the biggest pieces of advice that SEALs have for everyone who wishes to succeed.
1. Visualize Success
This advice is used by everyone from surgeons to athletes. Imagining specific actions and visualizing your success is a common tactic for addressing difficult situations in everyday life. Visualizing the successful completion of a job interview, sales pitch or physical activity can help you to identify potential obstacles before they appear and will allow you to mentally road map your course to success.
2. Wake Up Early
Waking up early gives you time to start your day without distractions. While everyone else sleeps, you can start accomplishing tasks. One of the major advantages of this freedom from distraction is that you will be more focused and more productive. Waking up early doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to have a 4 a.m. alarm; even a few minutes of time at the beginning of the day will give you a jump start and allow you to set the pace for the rest of your day.
3. Realize the Power of Micro goals
Goal setting is widely used to improve the daily performance of employees and individuals. In fact, most of us already set goals frequently. However, large goals can sometimes be overwhelming. Instead of facing large goals with lofty aspirations, focus on small goals that can be accomplished with relative ease or within a shortened period of time. Then, build these goals on top of each other until you are able to reach your ultimate goal.
4. Keep Moving Forward
Even though you might experience disappointment and setbacks that make you feel like giving up, don’t. The key to success is to keep moving forward, even when times get tough or things don’t go according to plan.
5. Take Ownership
Not everything that you do will turn out well, and that is to be expected. Taking ownership of the bad that you do as well as the good shows that you have a sense of integrity and makes others more willing to trust you. When others view you more positively, your leadership opportunities may begin to appear more frequently.
6. Seek Out Mentors
Taking a step outside of your comfort zone and acknowledging your areas of weakness is a huge step toward becoming a better person all the way around. Finding “mentors”, or individuals that you can develop a relationship with and learn from will allow you to gain new skills and a new understanding of yourself and the way you operate.
7. Be Less Judgmental
Avoid judging others at work. Keep an open mind and realize that everyone is in a different place personally and professionally. By avoiding judgment, you allow yourself the opportunity to build relationships with coworkers and create a positive environment for your team.
8. Be Humble
In addition to avoiding judgment, it’s always beneficial to stay humble. Thinking that you have all of the answers is rarely beneficial. If you have a skill that is lacking or don’t know an answer, be honest and work to find the answer or improve. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, ideas, or advice from those around you.
9. Help Others
Valuing your teammates and coworkers in important. Even if you are usually a solitary person, stepping outside of your comfort zone and allowing yourself to support others or be supported will enhance your ability to persevere in tough times. Developing close working relationships can also improve your job satisfaction and inspire you to continue learning and growing within your career.
10. Work Hard
Hard work is the key to a successful career. Being prepared, putting in the extra effort, or putting in the extra hours will give you an edge every single day. Even when you know your job well and have the ability to do it easily, it is important to seek out opportunities for professional growth. Success will only come to those willing to work.
Brandon Webb is a former U.S. Navy SEAL, Sniper, and finished his time in the Navy as the Naval Special Warfare Sniper Course Manager. A passionate Entrepreneur (SOFREP.com & Crateclub.us) and a New York Times bestselling author. Brandon Webb is a member of YPO New York City and, Harvard Business School OPM 56. Thank you from Brandon Webb for all of the readers out there!
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