Each person in Navy SEALs training thinks they’ll make it. Six months later, 25 percent do. The rest quit, mostly in the first month. Admiral Eric Olson, former Commander of Navy SEALs and of USSOCOM, wanted to know why. What he learned was more of a “when.”
Those who quit don’t do it in the field but during breakfast or lunch. “People remove themselves from their greatest dream—in some cases a lifelong goal or ambition— for fear of failure,” Olson says. “Not because they actually fail.” The 25 percent who make it? “People who were thinking past the moment,” Olson says. Or past breakfast.
Olson was one of six highly successful leaders in the Conscientious Capitalism speaker series, sharing insight on how to apply virtue and purpose to personal development and growth as business leaders. Among those joining Olson were David Krane, CEO and Managing Partner, Google Ventures; John Donahoe, former CEO, eBay; and Howard Behar, former COO of Starbucks.
One gem: “Talented people want to follow authentic leaders,” Donahoe says.
For more about the Conscientious Leadership Speaker Series read Conscientious Capitalists.