Do you attack the day?

Because these former (and retired) United States Navy SEALs do. And before the sun comes up.

One of them, Jocko Willink (no stranger to this here blog), explains:

“If you have discipline, if you have willpower, the more you use them, the stronger they get. And when you wake up early in the morning and you work out and you get after it and get on a disciplined, time management schedule, you don’t lose will throughout the day. You don’t say, ‘Oh no! It’s one o’clock in the afternoon and where are the chocolate chip cookies?’ No. You feel good. You feel mentally strong, and you say nah, I don’t need any chocolate chip cookies, ‘WHERE’S THE BEEF JERKY?’ ‘Cause I’m gonna get it.”

They also tackle other main ideas, in addition to their main mantra (and book title) “extreme ownership.”

Like “there are no bad teams, just bad leaders.”

And how humility is the keystone trait to any effective, respected captain — and how to avoid allowing ego to get in the way of teamwork.

These two nuggets are thought-provoking as well:

If you get up early and sweat, you’ll have a better day.

You can push yourself very hard with very little.

Oh — and neither Leif or Jocko meditate. They “detach.”