Podcast
Questions and Answers
What was the outcome for the author and his swim buddy Mark when they finished the swim and crossed onto the beach?
What was the outcome for the author and his swim buddy Mark when they finished the swim and crossed onto the beach?
The "circus" is a reward for students who perform exceptionally well in SEAL training.
The "circus" is a reward for students who perform exceptionally well in SEAL training.
False
What happens to students who fail to meet the standard on any event in a day?
What happens to students who fail to meet the standard on any event in a day?
The "circus" is a special training program designed to help struggling students catch up.
The "circus" is a special training program designed to help struggling students catch up.
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What was the purpose of the "circus" in the SEAL training program?
What was the purpose of the "circus" in the SEAL training program?
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The author and Mark Thomas were the last pair to finish the final open ocean swim.
The author and Mark Thomas were the last pair to finish the final open ocean swim.
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What was the result of the author's attempt to change the way his squadron was organized, trained, and conducted missions?
What was the result of the author's attempt to change the way his squadron was organized, trained, and conducted missions?
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The author's reputation as a SEAL officer was enhanced after being fired from his position.
The author's reputation as a SEAL officer was enhanced after being fired from his position.
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What was the author's attitude towards failure in life?
What was the author's attitude towards failure in life?
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What was the speaker's motivation after experiencing failure?
What was the speaker's motivation after experiencing failure?
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The speaker became a one-star admiral leading troops in a war zone in 2003.
The speaker became a one-star admiral leading troops in a war zone in 2003.
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What was the outcome of the speaker's leadership in the war zone?
What was the outcome of the speaker's leadership in the war zone?
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The speaker was selected to command a SEAL team of their own.
The speaker was selected to command a SEAL team of their own.
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Study Notes
SEAL Training
- The author and their swim buddy, Vincent Mark, were struggling to keep up with their SEAL training class.
- The instructors would yell for them to pick up the pace, but the harder they swam, the farther they fell behind.
- As swim buddies, they were physically tied to each other on underwater dives and were partnered on long swims.
- If one of them failed an event, both of them suffered the consequences, reinforcing the importance of teamwork.
The Circus
- The author and Mark made the "circus" list, which meant they had to undergo additional calisthenics and harassment by SEAL combat veterans.
- The circus was a death spiral, causing many students to quit training due to exhaustion and repeated failure.
- The instructors would tailor the circus to target specific weaknesses, making it a punishment for failure.
- However, the circus also made the author and Mark stronger, faster, and more confident in the water.
Overcoming Failure
- The author and Mark were determined not to allow the circus to beat them and continued to persevere despite the pain and failure.
- They eventually completed a five-mile open ocean swim, which was essential to graduating from SEAL training.
- The author learned that failure can be a valuable lesson, teaching them to persevere and strengthen themselves.
Career and Leadership
- The author was relieved of their SEAL squadron for trying to change the way the organization was structured and operated.
- They were given a second chance to deploy overseas as the officer in charge of a SEAL platoon.
- The author took advantage of the opportunity to prove themselves, leading by example and outworking everyone in the platoon.
- They eventually regained the respect of their men and went on to command a SEAL team and lead troops in combat zones.
Leadership and Failure
- The author learned that true leaders must learn from their failures, use the lessons to motivate themselves, and not be afraid to try again.
- They realized that the past failures had strengthened them, teaching them that no one is immune to mistakes.
- The author's experiences taught them to be prepared to handle life's toughest moments and not be afraid of the circus.
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Description
Recalling a challenging experience during Navy SEAL training, where the author and their buddy struggled to keep up with the rest of the class. The instructors pushed them to swim faster, but they felt like they were falling behind.