To me, basic SEAL training was a lifetime of challenges crammed into six months. William H. McRaven More Quotes by William H. McRaven More Quotes From William H. McRaven 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. . . . 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. William H. McRaven encouragement morning graduation If you can't do the little things right, you will never do the big things right. William H. McRaven military littles motivational You cant 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. William H. McRaven strong world needs If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed. William H. McRaven bed want world Following is one of the most underrated aspects of leadership.... I have seen many a good [military unit] underachieve, because someone...thought the commander was incompetent, and quietly worked to undermine his authority. William H. McRaven aspect authority military I think the best way to get a good night sleep is to work hard throughout the day. If you work hard and, of course, work out. William H. McRaven goodnight hard-work good-night If you want to change the world, find someone to help you paddle. William H. McRaven military want world 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. William H. McRaven encouragement home giving But if you want to change the world, don't be afraid of the circuses. William H. McRaven military want world To be a good leader, you have to be a good communicator. As a leader, you have to communicate your intent every chance you get, and if you fail to do that, you will pay the consequences. William H. McRaven good you chance leader We must challenge this statement and this sentiment that the news media is the enemy of the American people. This sentiment may be the greatest threat to democracy in my lifetime. William H. McRaven challenge democracy media people Flaws and all, I believe the free press is our country's most important institution - one I am more than happy to defend. One I did, in fact, defend for 37 years. William H. McRaven i-am happy believe country 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. William H. McRaven great training color education Keep your cool, even when those around you can't. William H. McRaven keep your cool you 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. William H. McRaven training sleep water long If you start focusing on the next job, then you're probably not going to do the one you have very well. William H. McRaven job start you next In a special operations mission, the concept of speed is simple. Get to your objective as fast as possible. Any delay will expand your area of vulnerability. William H. McRaven will speed simple special My wife and I make the bed every morning, but it's a queen size bed today, as opposed to a rack, you know, a small single bed, which I had in basic SEAL training. William H. McRaven you wife morning today I think ninjas are probably quieter than SEALs, but we are better swimmers, and also better with guns and blowing things up. William H. McRaven better things guns think As ISIS begins to gain momentum beyond where they already are, it really does create - but you see the surge of refugees and immigrants into Europe, and this is a major problem for the Europeans... But the United States is going to have to take the lead. William H. McRaven see you immigrants problem