The Wisdom of the Bullfrog Ch 4

Frogman Experience and Humility

• Ensign McRaven, a new UDT-11 member, was summoned by the commanding officer.
• The commanding officer wanted McRaven to lead the construction of a "Frog Float" for the Fourth of July parade.
• McRaven initially felt disappointed, but his senior enlisted man, Master Chief Davis, motivated him to approach the task with pride and excellence.
• McRaven successfully designed and built a winning Frog Float for the parade.

The Frog Float Project

• The Frog Float was a large green frog figure, smoking a cigar and holding dynamite.
• The project was a significant community event, and the commodore (the man in charge of SEALs) wanted a float.
• McRaven's project involved getting materials and constructing the float.
• The float won top prize and became a symbol of the team's pride.

The Importance of Humble Work

• The author learned that every member of a team will be asked to do tasks that they may dislike, or even view as beneath their perceived status.
• This project and the advice from Master Chief Davis emphasized the importance to complete these tasks meticulously.
• Humility involves properly evaluating oneself —similar to how God views us— not just self-deprecation.
• Effective leadership is measured by an employee's willingness and ability to excel in small tasks.
• The author's experience highlights the interconnectedness of seemingly minor tasks in contributing to overall success and a higher perception of leadership, rather than being looked at separately.

Humility as an Aspect of Leadership

• Humility is crucial in any type of leadership.
• In the SEALs, humility was portrayed both in the willingness to carry out any tasks, big or small, and in the acceptance that sometimes these small tasks, will be considered difficult.
• The lesson highlights a broader principle of effectiveness and success for leadership.